Attendance

The 180-day requirement refers to state laws mandating that homeschool students receive instruction for at least 180 days per school year, mirroring the typical public school calendar.

Attendance exemption is the legal mechanism allowing homeschooled children to fulfill compulsory education requirements without attending public or private school, granted when families meet their state's specific homeschooling regulations.

An attendance log is a record documenting the days and hours a student engages in homeschool instruction, serving as proof of compliance with state requirements and providing educational documentation for transcripts and school transitions.

Compulsory attendance age is the legally mandated age range during which children must receive formal education—typically starting between ages 5-8 and ending between 16-18, depending on your state.

Compulsory education laws require children to receive education during specified ages (typically 5-7 through 16-18), which can be satisfied through public school, private school, or legal homeschooling.

Educational neglect is the legal failure of a parent to provide for a child's basic educational needs, including not enrolling a school-age child in school or homeschool, permitting chronic truancy, or failing to address diagnosed learning needs.

In homeschooling, excused absences function differently than in traditional schools since parents direct education and set schedules—but families still need to meet state-mandated instruction time requirements where applicable.

Instructional days refer to the number of school days a student receives academic instruction per year—a compliance requirement that varies by state, typically ranging from 172 to 180 days annually.

Instructional hours are the total time spent on educational activities during homeschooling. Most states require between 600-1,000 hours annually, though homeschoolers typically need only 2-4 hours daily due to the efficiency of one-on-one instruction.

An instructional time log is a record of hours or days spent on homeschool instruction. Required in some states for compliance, it typically includes dates, subjects covered, and time spent on each activity.

School days requirements specify the minimum number of instructional days or hours homeschoolers must provide annually. Requirements vary significantly by state, ranging from no mandate to 180 days or 900+ hours.

Truancy is the intentional, unauthorized absence from compulsory education. Homeschoolers who comply with their state's legal requirements are not truant, but improper documentation or failure to file required paperwork can trigger truancy allegations.