The Colorado rules in plain English - notice, testing, records, and the dates families actually miss. Verified against the official sources below on 2026-10-18.
Before anything else: this is orientation, not legal advice. Requirements change and local offices have their own habits. The sources at the bottom are the authority - check them before you file.
Written notice of intent to any Colorado school district 14 days before starting, and re-submitted every year after. Name, age, residence, and attendance hours only.
Where it goes: Any school district office (annual notice)
At grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11: a nationally standardized achievement test or an evaluation by a qualified person, submitted to the district that got your notice (or to an independent/parochial school).
Subjects: Reading/writing/speaking, math, history, civics, literature, science, and US Constitution; 172 days averaging 4 contact hours
Records: Maintain permanent records (attendance, test/evaluation results, immunizations).
[Your name]
[Address]
[Date]
Dear your local school authority,
I am writing to notify you of my intent to home educate for my child, [student name], grade [X], for the [20XX-XX] school year.
Included: the required information.
Respectfully,
[Your name] · [phone] · [email]
Want this handled? The Records Office drafts your Colorado notice or filing every year, keeps the deadline calendar, and builds the transcript and course descriptions colleges expect. Founding families: $99/year.
VERIFIED 2026-10-18 AGAINST THE SOURCES ABOVE · HOMESCHOOL RECORDS OFFICE · YOU ARE THE SCHOOL OF RECORD · THIS GUIDE IS ORIENTATION, NOT LEGAL ADVICE