How many hours of homeschool per day?

It depends on your state — many expect roughly 4–6 instructional hours per day or a set annual total. FaithSchool tracks the running total so you can compare against your own requirement.

Do homeschool hours have to be logged by subject?

Some states want hours broken down by subject; others only want a total. Logging by subject covers both and makes a portfolio far easier to assemble.

What records prove homeschool hours?

Attendance dates, hours by subject, lessons completed, short daily notes, work samples and grades. Together they form an evidence pack you can produce on request.

Is there an app that tracks homeschool hours automatically?

Yes — FaithSchool auto-calculates hours from planned lessons and your daily log, then exports them as an evidence pack or CSV. Start with the attendance tracker.

Which state's homeschool law do I follow?

The state where you are physically present — even temporarily. If you'll live in another state for more than a month while its public schools are in session, HSLDA recommends complying with that state's homeschool requirements, even if you pay taxes or own property elsewhere.

Can I homeschool a child with special needs?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal for special-needs students in every US state, and many families find it lets them tailor the pace and supports to the child. Check your state's special-needs provisions for any specific rules.

Homeschool record keeping

Homeschool hours by state: what to keep and how to log it.

Most homeschool record stress comes from one question: what if someone asks me to prove it? Hours are the part families worry about most — here is how instructional-time expectations generally work, what to keep, and how to log it in five minutes a day.

Try the attendance tracker Start free in FaithSchool

How instructional-time expectations work

Most US states set an annual instructional-time or days expectation and may request a portfolio, log or assessment at review.
You rarely submit records proactively, but you must be able to produce them: dates attended, hours by subject, work samples and progress.
Always verify the specifics with your own state authority or HSLDA — rules and review processes differ widely between states.

How states are regulated (the four tiers)

No-notice states: you don't notify any school district or agency to begin homeschooling.
Low-regulation states: you send a notice of intent to your local school district.
Moderate-regulation states: notice plus test scores and/or a professional evaluation of your child's progress.
High-regulation states: notice and testing or evaluation, plus extras — such as curriculum approval, parent qualifications or home visits.
HSLDA groups every US state into one of these four tiers — check your own state before you start.

What counts as an instructional hour

Lessons, read-alouds and direct instruction
Field trips, projects and hands-on study
Life-skills and practicals where your state allows them
Note: what qualifies varies by state — keep the log honest and specific

Homeschool requirements by state

Open your state for its exact notice, assessment, hours and reporting rule, with the official regulator link. See the full homeschool laws index.

How to log hours daily (5 minutes)

Pick a weekly aim

Decide the week's focus before adding lessons — it keeps the log honest and the week calm.

Log attendance

Mark present / absent / excused each school day so the calendar reflects reality.

Track hours by subject

Hours add up from planned lessons and logged activities, with a running total against your target.

Close the day with one note + photo

One short note and a photo of work is enough — done in under two minutes.

Export when asked

Compile dates, hours, lessons and grades into a date-range evidence pack and CSV in one tap.

Frequently asked

Log a little every day.

This is general guidance, not legal advice. Verify your own state's homeschool requirements with your local authority or HSLDA.