Homeschool Hours—How Much Time a Day Should You Spend Teaching Your Children?

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Homeschool Hours—Will 24 Hours Be Enough?

It’s no secret that homeschooling requires time and energy, so you should make sure you have enough of both beforehand. Many parents new to homeschooling ask the same question “How many homeschool hours daily is enough?”

When you better grasp the time management related to homeschooling with this article, and get help with the essential paperwork involved, such as the letter of intent to homeschool.

How Many Hours a Day Do You Need To Homeschool?

There is no single rule when it comes to homeschooling hours. Many factors are involved, but the most important one is your location. Each state has specific rules and regulations related to homeschooling and the time parents must dedicate to teaching.

In certain states, it is mandatory to track your homeschool hours and submit the reports to the state at the end of the year. If this is the case, you can:

  1. Write down how much time you spent on each specific topic or subject during the day
  2. Use a homeschool hours tracker to measure the time spent teaching

Other states are more homeschooling-friendly and do not require parents to follow a strict schedule. You can still use a calendar or homeschool planner to organize your time.

The Average Number of Homeschool Hours per Day

Many would argue that one of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is the option of adjusting the working hours to your needs. If you are new to homeschooling, you’d probably still appreciate having a general idea of the amount of time you should spend teaching.

In March 2020, the Illinois State Board of Education released "remote learning recommendations" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous families were trying to adjust to a new normal, and as a form of guidance, a table of homeschool hours was created.

It depicts the approximate time students of different ages should spend learning at home:

Grade LevelMaximum Minutes per DayMinimum Minutes per DayRecommended Time of Sustained Attention
9–12
  • Class—45
  • Time in total—270
  • Class—20
  • Time in total—120
One class or subject area
6–8
  • Class—30
  • Time in total—180
  • Class—15
  • Time in total—90
One class or subject area
3–5120 min per day6010–15
1–290455–10
K90303–5
PreK60203–5

You don’t need to stick to this table religiously, but use it as a rough guide. How many hours a day you’ll spend teaching depends on the state rules, your child’s attention span, and your schedule.

Why Homeschooling Hours Differ From Regular School Hours?

There is a simple explanation why homeschooling hours take much less time than regular education in public schools. Two factors are crucial:

  • Class sizes—Teachers in public and private schools have to deal with ten times more students
  • Catering to your child’s personal learning needs—You can figure out what works best for teaching your child. Once you have the relevant info, they will adopt knowledge much faster

What About the Number of Days You Should Homeschool per Year?

The length of the school year is also determined by state laws. The common requirement is 180 days, and many parents believe this is optimal. You should check the rules and regulations in your school district and adjust your schedule accordingly.

The state usually needs to know that the child is transferring to homeschool. You will need to send a letter of intent to homeschool to the superintendent in your district to start teaching at home. DoNoPay is here to assist you with this task!

Use DoNotPay To Write a Letter of Intent To Homeschool

Homeschooling requires a lot of preparation and shouldn't be taken lightly. If you want to avoid dealing with unnecessary paperwork, turn to DoNotPay for help. We can draft the letter of intent to homeschool on your behalf. Our app will include all the necessary information and provide you with an airtight document.

You only need to follow these instructions:

  1. Find the Notice of Intent To Homeschool product
  2. Provide necessary information about your school district
  3. Give us some info about you and your child

After answering the questions, you can choose to get the letter notarized. We will also provide a PDF you can file yourself or send the letter in your stead.

DoNotPay is at your disposal for any other homeschooling-related questions:

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