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What Are The Vaccination Requirements For Home School?

Homeschooling has become a modern educational phenomenon alternative to delivering quality education to every child, even without leaving their homes. This system of educating individuals is bound by regulations based on mandatory school laws imposed in different states.

If you choose to homeschool your kids, does this mean you can do away with the vaccination requirement?

The answer is a resounding NO.

HS students

States impose different state vaccination laws that require school-aged children to be vaccinated before school entry. It is required in both public and private schools. Implementing state and local vaccination requirements help in maintaining high vaccination coverage in the country. Through mandating vaccination, more children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and ultimately lowering the rates of VPDs.

State laws also provide exemptions due to medical, religious, or philosophical reasons. And there are mechanisms in place for the enforcement of both school vaccination requirements and exemptions.

HOMESCHOOL AND VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

There are different home school charters in the United States, and each has set out different rules to be a follower. Homeschools generally do not fit into the definition of a traditional school. In most states, homeschools are exempt from the vaccination requirement. But in some states and school districts, they are considered private schools; therefore, vaccination is a requirement before entry. 

These requirements vary from one state to another. To give you a quick rundown of the information, we have collected several data from various federal state websites and compiled them in a table. Below, you will see the different vaccination requirements of the 50 states in the country. 

OVERVIEW:

  • Out of the 50 states, 11 states do not require parents to inform or alert their local school districts that their children are homeschooled
  • 25 states do not have a clear mandate concerning homeschooling
  • Two states do not require parents to vaccinate their children due to religious and philosophical exemptions
  • Some states impose that parents keep a record of their child’s vaccination, while some states do not require any record
  • The majority of the states do not require parents or guardian to submit proof of their children’s academic progress
  • In most states, parents can homeschool their children without having to prove educational attainment, while some require that parents be at least competent in teaching their children
  • No state requires that parents should be college degree holders
State Immunization Requirement
Alabama No for homeschooled kids; only required for students in public and private schools
Alaska No/Yes; only required students in public and private schools, but is also required for homeschooled children through the state’s correspondence school programs
Arizona No for homeschooled kids; only required for students in public and private schools
Arkansas No for homeschooled kids; only required for students in public and private schools 
California No state immunization laws do not include students in home-based educations setup
Colorado Yes, immunization is a requirement for parents homeschooling their children under that homeschool statute and keeping records of immunization. The same does not apply to parents homeschooling under private tutor arrangement
Connecticut No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Delaware No for homeschooled kids; only required for students in public and private schools 
Florida No for students under the home school statute, independent of any school homeschool programs or under private tutor arrangement
Yes, for students enrolled in private homeschool programs
Georgia No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Hawaii No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Idaho No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Illinois Yes required for all students before entry to any school program; homeschool is considered private school in the state
Indiana Yes, all children in Indiana are required to be vaccinated before admission to any school program, including homeschool
Iowa Yes required for all students before entry to any school program, including homeschool, but parents are not required to submit a record of vaccination
Kansas Yes required for all students before entry to any school program, including  homeschooled children
Kentucky Yes required for all students before entry to any school program, including homeschool which operate as private schools
Louisiana Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children under the state’s homeschool statute 
Maine Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children under the state’s homeschool statute. Parents are not required to keep a record of immunization
Maryland No homeschooled children under the homeschool statute are not required to be vaccinated
Yes, for homeschooled children under the church school or private school system
Massachusetts No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Michigan Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children
Minnesota Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children. Records of immunization must also be submitted to official channels
Mississippi No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
**Do not allow religious or philosophical exemptions to vaccinations
Missouri No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in public, private, parochial, and parish schools
Montana Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children
Nebraska Yes, for children homeschooled under Rule 12 or non-religious private schools
No  for children homeschooled under Rule 13 or religious private schools
Nevada No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
New Hampshire No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
New Jersey No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
New Mexico Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children, and parents must maintain a record of vaccinations
New York No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
North Carolina Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children
North Dakota Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children
Ohio No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Oklahoma No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Oregon No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Pennsylvania Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children
Rhode Island No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
South Carolina No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school and homeschool is classified as home-based instruction
South Dakota No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Tennessee Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children. Students homeschooled under the church school system must submit the record of vaccination to the church and school.
Texas Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children
Utah No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Vermont No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Virginia Yes, immunization is required for school attendance, including homeschooled children, and keep a record of the vaccinations
Washington No for homeschooled kids; only required for students enrolled in school
Records of immunization may be required for students’ education at home in distance learning or extension programs. 
West Virginia No for homeschooled kids, only required for students enrolled in school. 
Wisconsin No for homeschooled kids, only required for students enrolled in school. 
Wyoming Yes, homeschool is considered part of the home-based educational programs under the umbrella of private schools.