Wyoming compulsory school attendance age
Children must attend school or comply with the homeschool laws from the age of 7 (if their seventh birthday falls on or before September 15 of the current academic year) until they either complete the 10th grade or reach age 16.
HSLDA believes that a parent-issued diploma and transcript should be sufficient to demonstrate that a child has completed a secondary education. However, even if your child is beyond compulsory school attendance age, there may be situations where you would want to continue to follow the requirements of a home education option recognized under Wyoming law until your child graduates from high school (filing a home education notice, keeping attendance and other records, etc.). These records may be requested in some situations, such as obtaining a driver’s license if your child is a minor, enlisting in the military, applying to colleges, or demonstrating eligibility for Social Security benefits. If you are a member of HSLDA and would like additional details, please contact us.
Withdrawing your child from his or her current school
If you want to start homeschooling during the school year and your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, HSLDA recommends that you formally withdraw your child from that school. If you are going to start homeschooling after the school year is over, and your child is considered enrolled for the following year, we recommend that you withdraw your child before the next school year begins, so that the school does not mark your child as absent or truant.
We invite you to become a member of HSLDA to receive specific advice about withdrawing your child from school and starting to homeschool. Local schools may have specific forms or withdrawal procedures. HSLDA members are eligible to receive individualized advice about whether complying with those procedures is advisable or required. HSLDA members can also use the sample letter of withdrawal for Wyoming available in Member Resources to correspond with school officials.
We generally recommend that any correspondence with authorities be sent by “Certified Mail—Return Receipt Requested.” Keep copies of the withdrawal letter and any other paperwork or correspondence, and any green postal receipts, for your personal records.
Note: If your child has never attended a public or private school, this section does not apply.
Complying with Wyoming’s homeschool law
In Wyoming, there are two options under which you may legally homeschool. You are free to choose the option that best meets your family’s needs.
Option 1: Homeschooling under Wyoming’s homeschool statute:
1. Submit your curriculum to the school district annually.
Every year, you must submit to your local public school district board of trustees a curriculum showing that your child is receiving “sequentially progressive” instruction in the required subjects listed below. HSLDA members may download our form for submitting curriculum here.
2. Teach the required subjects.
Wyoming law requires homeschooling parents to provide a sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, civics, history, literature, and science.
Option 2: Homeschooling as a parochial, church, or religious school:
You may enroll your child in a church school that allows you to teach your child at home. In order to qualify under this option, your homeschool must be under the auspices or control of a local church, denomination, or similar religious organization.
The importance of recordkeeping
You can find Wyoming’s specific recordkeeping requirements, if any, above. Regardless of what state you live in, HSLDA recommends that you keep detailed records of your homeschool program. These records may be helpful if you face an investigation regarding your homeschooling or your student needs to furnish proof of education.