Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Under New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25), parents or guardians may provide “equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school” for children ages 6 to 16. Homeschooling offers families tremendous flexibility: there is no requirement for a teaching certification or college degree, and parents are free to design their own educational approach without adhering to a specific curriculum, fixed schedule, or standardized testing (unless the child returns to public school). This freedom extends to families of children with special needs, who can tailor learning to their unique strengths and challenges, as well as to families who prefer either religious or secular instruction.

No. You can choose, design, or combine any curriculum that works for your family. Some families use structured programs, while others take eclectic or child-led approaches. As of 2025, there are no requirements or restrictions on the chosen curricula. Stay tuned to the Bills section of our website for legislative updates.

Yes, you can! Yes. Homeschooling is legal and available for children with all abilities. Parents can tailor lessons, therapies, and supports to meet their child’s needs. The New Jersey laws on compulsory attendance(N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25) have no restrictions on homeschooling special needs students. They are under the same guidelines as any student between the ages of 6 and 16. Parents/legal guardians can provide instruction at home that is equivalent to instruction received in the public schools.

Every student, regardless of learning differences or medical diagnoses, is uniquely and wonderfully made. One of the beautiful aspects of homeschooling is that we can tailor our teaching to each child's abilities, interests and needs. For more resources, read our blog post.

The age old question and the myth that persists is that homeschooled children are isolated and are not socialized as much as their public school peers. Homeschooled children typically socialize through co-ops, sports, church groups, clubs, community programs, playdates, and volunteering. Socialization happens differently, not less.

For actual research that dispels socialization myths, learn more from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) 

Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests  like the SAT and ACT) regardless of their parents formal education or their family's household income.

To learn more about learner outcomes, read more here.

We firmly oppose any form of child abuse—whether a child is in public, private, charter school, or homeschooled. Current research does not show that homeschooling causes higher rates of abuse, neglect, or child fatalities. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies a range of risk factors for child abuse—and homeschooling is not among them.

To review a fact sheet about child abuse and neglect, click here.