I Chose to Homeschool My Children…Now What?
What am I actually required to do each year?
I asked the same questions (and so many more) when we started. As a rule-follower, I was anxious I’d miss something and get in trouble. 😅
And if I’m being honest, standardized testing was the part that intimidated me the most. I remember test days in public school—how anxious I felt to perform well, how stressed the teachers were about scores… and I just didn’t want that for my kids.
So if you’re feeling that way—you’re not alone.
Let me simplify it for you.
The Actual Requirements in North Carolina (as of April 2026)
There are really only a few things you have to do:
1. Open Your Homeschool
You’ll officially register your homeschool with the state.
One important note:
You cannot change your school’s name later, so choose something you’re okay seeing on a future diploma.
(Ask me how long I overthought this 😅)
👉 You can find more information about naming your school here.
2. Keep Records (Attendance + Immunizations)
You’re required to keep:
Immunization records
The official wording says you must:
“Operate (conduct instruction in) the home school on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months of the year, excluding holidays and vacations.”
You can interpret that how it works best for your family.
3. Standardized Testing (Once Per Year)
Each student must take a nationally standardized test every year covering:
English grammar
Reading
Spelling
Math
You must:
Keep the results on file for at least one year
Provide them only if requested
👉 You don’t submit test scores to the state. You just need to keep records of your testing and be able to provide them if requested.
There is a spot in the portal to log your testing date—I usually log our testing date in the portal each year to keep everything organized but always check the DNPE site for current reporting guidance.
Always double check the state site to make sure nothing has changed since this was written.
A peek at what their test review actually looks like - simple and straightforward.
Now for the Practical Side (What We Actually Do)
Because knowing the rules is one thing… actually doing it is another.
Attendance (Our Simple System)
I printed one original attendance sheet and keep it in my teacher binder.
Each summer:
I make a copy for each child
Write their name at the top
I don’t use a fancy homeschool planner.
I use this planner and literally just write “school” on the days we do school. That’s it.
Every few weeks, I go back and transfer those days onto the attendance sheet.
At the end of the year:
I file it away
And don’t think about it again
I also mark:
“FT” for field trips (zoo days, museums, etc.)
They count. And they’re some of my favorite days!
How We Handle Standardized Testing
We usually test in April or May—whenever we’ve wrapped up our current math and language arts for the year.
We’ve always used the untimed CAT test.
Full transparency: I haven’t done a deep dive comparing all the options… we just found something that worked and stuck with it.
Here’s why we like it:
It’s inexpensive (around $25)
There’s an untimed option (huge for my kids)
You can buy a cheap practice test ($5), which helps me spot gaps
It’s online, so no proctor or scheduling required
What Test Week Looks Like for Us
We usually spread the test over about a week.
A typical day:
1 math section
1 language arts section
Some sections are much longer than others, so we adjust as needed.
I also try really hard to keep testing low-pressure in our house—it’s just another week, not something they need to stress over.
My biggest advice:
👉 Tailor it to your child
If one section a day works → do that
If they want to knock it out faster → let them
My Honest Opinion (The Good + The Annoying)
I actually like most of the test…
…but I strongly dislike the spelling section. 😅
They give a list of words:
Sometimes one is wrong
Sometimes they’re all correct
Then your child has to pick “none of these”
It just feels unnecessarily confusing.
Maybe it’s because I’m not a strong speller myself… but it’s my least favorite part.
The First Year vs Now
The first year we tested:
I sat right beside my 1st grader (remember, 7 is the first time you test in NC)
Helped them navigate the format
Helped with using the computer
(We don’t do a lot of online school, so it was new.)
I also have a very click-happy child 😂
So we worked on slowing down and being thorough.
Now:
I turn them loose
They ask for help if needed
A Little Reassurance (Because This Matters)
Your child can miss quite a few questions and still score well overall.
And just to ease your mind:
You do not submit scores
There is no passing requirement
This is about compliance—not perfection
Real life homeschool testing…relaxed, at home, and kind of uneventful.
Final Thought (Keeping It Real)
Testing week isn’t our favorite… but it’s also not nearly as big of a deal as I thought it would be when we started. We allow breaks, lots of snacks, and tons of encouragement! I print the test scores and file them away once we’re done. And then…we roll right in to the next grade.
If you want to know why we don’t take a summer break, I’ll tell you soon!
