FAQs

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First of all, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states.  Texas is very fortunate in that homeschools are considered private schools, and thus have no governmental oversight.

If you have a child in public school and wish to withdraw your child from public school, you must either go withdraw your child in person or send a letter of withdrawal by certified mail to the principal of the school. Your child will be considered truant until officially withdrawn from the school system!

Texas Homeschool Coalition has a section entitled “Homeschool in Texas”  that may answer many questions you might have. Texas Home School Coalition has a sample letter of withdrawal on its website.

Whether you mail a letter or withdraw in person, you DO NOT have to bring samples of your curriculum for the school to examine or approve.  Any such request is not legal. If you find you are being harassed by mail or telephone by public school officials, you should send in a letter of assurance, and any further harassment is not legal.

This is the official Supreme Court of TX ruling on homeschooling:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS NO. D-2022 TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY ET AL., PETITIONERS
V. GARY W. LEEPER ET UX. ET AL., RESPONDENTS
ON APPLICATIONS FOR WRIT OF ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS JUSTICE HECHT DELIVERED THE OPINION OF THE COURT, IN WHICH CHIEF JUSTICE PHILLIPS, JUSTICE HIGHTOWER, JUSTICE DOGGET, JUSTICE CORNYN, JUSTICE GAMMAGE, JUSTICE ENOCH, AND JUSTICE SPECTOR JOIN, AND IN PARTS I, II AND III OF WHICH JUSTICE GONZALEZ JOINS,

All school-age children in Texas are required to attend public schools a minimum number of days each year unless exempted by law.

TEX. EDUC. Code § 21.032. Among those exempt from this requirement is “any child in attendance upon a private or parochial school which shall include in its course a study of good citizenship”. Id. § 21.033(a)(l).

The dispute in this class action centers on whether the private school exemption includes children who are taught at home, in a bona fide manner, a curriculum designed to meet certain basic education goals, including a study of good citizenship.

The district court construed the exemption to include such children and permanently enjoined all school districts and their attendance officers from enforcing the compulsory attendance law based upon any other reading of § 21.033(a)(l).

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The Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) website has extensive information regarding requirements for home education. 

In short, the requirements for homeschooling in Texas are:

• The instruction must be bona fide (i.e., not a sham).
• The curriculum must be in visual form (e.g., books, workbooks, video monitor).
• The curriculum must include the five basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.

Becoming a member of THSC is not a requirement to homeschool, although there are many benefits to joining THSC.

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In Texas, homeschooling students are not subject to specific state-mandated graduation requirements like those in public schools. However, the TEA recommends a 22-credit plan, including 4 credits of English, 3 of science and social studies, 4 of math, 2 of foreign language, 1 of physical education, 1 of fine arts, and 5 of electives. Note that the TEA recommended program is only a guide. As a home educator, you are free to customize your student’s high school plan.

Parents, as the homeschool administrators, determine when their child is ready to graduate and can create their own transcripts.  Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) offers a guide with more detailed information.

Cypress Homeschool Association does host a graduation ceremony in May of every year.

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Under Section 51.9241 (2) of the Texas Education Code (TEC), homeschool graduates are to be treated by colleges in the same manner and placed under the same criteria as public school graduates.

That being said, there are many avenues to choose from. Some families choose to enroll their high school aged children in local "al la carte" classes for certain subjects while others choose dual enrollment through HCC or LSC -- some even choose to do all the educating themselves.  The choice is yours.

Most universities will have admission requirements on their website. It is best to look at the website for any colleges your child is interested in to ensure their requirements are met.

THSC has a great guide to homeschooling high school aged children.

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Click here to fill out the membership application or click on JOIN at the top of the website.  Our membership team will review your application and be in touch within a few days.

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Cypress Homeschool Association is a diverse community made up of families from a variety of faiths, affiliations, philosophies, and educational approaches. We respect each family's unique choices and values. In keeping with this inclusive spirit, we do not require a statement of faith for membership.

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• Eligibility:
  Families must have at least one K–12 child between the ages of 5 and 18. We are not a preschool group.

• Grade Level Registration:
  When registering, please enter the grade level your child would be in if enrolled in public school, not the academic level they are currently studying. If a different grade level is entered, it will be adjusted during the registration process.

• Membership Year and Fee:
  CHA’s membership year runs from July 1 to June 30.
  Membership is $30 per family, per school year, regardless of when you join.
  This fee is due at the time of application; applications without payment will not be approved.
  Membership fees are non-refundable.

• Event Location:
  Most CHA events take place in the Cypress area, with occasional exceptions for field trips. While we welcome homeschool families from across the Houston area, please consider whether this location works for your family before applying.

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There are many benefits to joining Cypress Homeschool Association. You'll gain the support and camaraderie of fellow homeschoolers—people you can connect with, learn from, and share the journey with. Your children will have plenty of opportunities to socialize, make friends, and participate in fun and educational field trips. We also host several themed parties throughout the year, as well as festivals where your children can proudly showcase their work. Check out the activities and events page for more detailed information.

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Once you become a member, you are free to participate in as many—or as few—activities as you’d like. Many families tell us there's so much going on that it’s nearly impossible to attend everything!

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Cypress Homeschool Association is entirely volunteer-run, and we rely on the talents, time, and energy of our families to keep our group vibrant and thriving. While we do not require families to volunteer, we strongly encourage it—because many hands truly do make light work.

Volunteering offers more than just practical help. It’s a chance to:

• Build lasting friendships – When you step in to help, you naturally form connections with other parents who share your values and goals. These relationships often extend beyond the organization into lifelong friendships for both parents and children.

• Model active citizenship for our children – When our kids see us stepping up, they learn the importance of community involvement, responsibility, and service. It’s one of the most meaningful lessons we can teach through example.

• Shape the kind of community you want to be part of – Volunteers have a voice and influence in shaping activities, events, and the direction of our group. Your ideas and contributions can help create a more inclusive, enriching, and fun experience for everyone.

• Grow personally and professionally – Whether it’s organizing an event, managing communications, or teaching a class, volunteering can strengthen your leadership, planning, and interpersonal skills in a supportive environment.

Whether you can give a little or a lot, every bit of help counts. From helping set up for events, assisting with field trips, serving on planning teams, or just bringing snacks—there’s a place for everyone to pitch in and be part of something meaningful.

Let’s continue building a strong, welcoming community—together.

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Your membership with Cypress Homeschool Association is valid for one academic year, typically from June through May.

You'll need to renew your membership annually to continue participating in events, co-op classes, and other group activities.

We’ll send out reminders when it’s time to renew—so you won’t miss a thing!

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Once your membership is approved, your membership cards will be available in your account. You can easily print them at home for your convenience.  These cards may be used at stores that offer educator or student discounts.

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Cypress Homeschool Association strives to keep our annual dues affordable for all families. Currently, the annual membership fee is $30. Some events or activities may have additional fees, which will be clearly noted at the time of registration.

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Once you pay your annual dues, you become a CHA member and gain access to all the benefits of membership. Some field trips and activities may require additional fees or deposits to attend; however, most of our paid field trips are offered at significantly discounted rates.

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Cypress Homeschool Association is a community of individual families, each dedicated to homeschooling their own children. While we are not a school and cannot homeschool on behalf of others—or recommend someone who will—we are here to support you on your homeschooling journey.

We offer a variety of resources designed to enrich your experience, including:

• Monthly field trips that provide educational and social opportunities for both parents and children.

• Co-op classes where families come together to share knowledge, explore new topics, and build meaningful connections.

Whether you’re new to homeschooling or looking to deepen your engagement, we invite you to take full advantage of the support and community Cypress Homeschool Association has to offer. Together, we can help each other grow and thrive.

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Cypress Homeschool Association is specifically focused on serving families with school-aged children in grades K–12. While we understand that many families also have younger siblings at home, our events and activities are designed with K–12 students in mind.

In some cases, younger siblings may be welcome to attend certain events, but please note that CHA is not a preschool group, and our programming does not cater to early childhood education.

To ensure a cohesive and age-appropriate experience for all members, we ask that families have at least one K–12 student.

Thank you for understanding and helping us maintain a supportive and focused environment for our homeschooling community.

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Cypress Homeschool Association is a community created specifically for families who are actively homeschooling or planning to homeschool in the upcoming school year.

Our membership is limited to current or soon-to-be homeschooling families, as our programs, events, and resources are designed to support those actively engaged in home education.

While we appreciate the interest and support from veteran homeschoolers, non-homeschooling families, and businesses, CHA membership is not open to the general public or to those not currently homeschooling.

Thank you for understanding and supporting our mission to build a strong, focused community for homeschooling families.

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Yes! We welcome prospective members to attend a park day or informational meeting to get a feel for our community before joining.

For the safety and privacy of our families, we do not publicly post event dates or locations. If you’re interested in visiting an event, please email our president for more information and to receive an invitation.

We’d love to meet you and answer any questions you may have!

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If you have an opportunity—such as a class, event, or field trip—that may be of interest to homeschooling families, please email our president for approval.

If the information aligns with our group’s values and interests, and is deemed appropriate, we’ll be happy to pass it along to our members on your behalf.

Thank you for respecting our process and helping us maintain a focused and supportive community.

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We offer a variety of regular activities to keep families connected and engaged throughout the year. These include:

• Weekly park days for casual socializing and play

• Monthly field trips for the whole group, as well as age-specific outings for preschoolers, elementary students, tweens, and teens

• Special events such as seasonal celebrations, service projects, and educational classes

• Monthly tween and teen events focused on fun and peer connection

For a full list of previous events and opportunities, please visit our activities page.

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Our field trip coordinators work hard to plan fun, educational, and family-friendly outings throughout the year. We offer at least one group field trip per month, along with age-specific field trips coordinated for preschoolers, elementary students, tweens, and teens.

We strive to offer a variety of free or low-cost trips to make participation accessible for all families. Our goal is to strike a balance between discovering new adventures and returning to beloved favorites.

Past field trips have included:

• Museums and science centers

• Performing arts events

• Nature hikes and outdoor explorations

• Factory tours

• Government buildings and historic sites

We’re always open to new ideas—member suggestions are encouraged and appreciated as we build a well-rounded calendar of experiences for our children.