Frequently Asked Questions

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Taking the leap into homeschooling can feel overwhelming at first, but you are not alone. Whether you are curious about Texas laws, wondering about socialization, or looking for a supportive community in the Coastal Bend, we have the practical answers you need to get started.

If you can't find the answer to your question here, please do not hestitate to Contact Us.

Getting Started with Homeschooling

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How do I legally start homeschooling in Texas?

Texas is a very homeschool-friendly state. If your child has never attended public school, you do not need to register, apply, or fill out any forms—you can simply begin.

If your child is currently enrolled in a Texas public school, you must officially withdraw them to prevent truancy issues. This is done by sending a formal withdrawal letter to the school stating your intent to homeschool.

What subjects am I required to teach?

Texas law requires homeschoolers to use a visual curriculum (books, workbooks, videos, or online programs) and provide bona fide (genuine, good faith) instruction in five subjects:

Reading
Spelling
Grammar
Mathematics
Good Citizenship (such as civics or history)

You have the complete freedom to choose the curriculum that best fits your student’s learning style for these subjects.

Do I have to report our grades or test scores to the state?

No. Homeschoolers in Texas are legally classified as unaccredited private schools. There are no state reporting requirements, no mandatory STAAR testing, and no required days or hours of instruction. While the state does not require it, we highly recommend keeping your own records (attendance, reading lists, work samples, and grades) for future high school transcripts or college applications.

How do homeschoolers handle socialization?

This is the most common question we hear! Real socialization happens in real life—interacting with people of all ages in the community. At HOST, we provide consistent opportunities for your students to build meaningful friendships. Between our park days, teen hangouts, prom, spelling bees, and community service projects, you will likely find that protecting your time for bookwork is harder than finding social activities.

Can my child still go to college if they are homeschooled?

Absolutely. Colleges and universities across the nation actively recruit homeschoolers and are legally required to accept a parent-issued homeschool transcript with the same merit as a traditional private school transcript.

What are the graduation requirements for homeschoolers, and how do I make a transcript?

Because your homeschool operates as a private school, you get to set your student's graduation requirements. There are no state-mandated credit requirements or exit exams for Texas homeschoolers. When your student completes the coursework you have assigned, you are the one who issues their diploma and final transcript. If you are not sure where to start with record-keeping, we highly recommend utilizing the free homeschool transcript template provided by the Texas Home School Coalition to help you build a professional record.

Are homeschoolers eligible for Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)?

Yes. The TEFA program provides eligible Texas homeschool families with up to $2,000 per child annually to help cover educational costs. These state-managed funds can be used for approved expenses like curriculum, instructional materials, tutoring, educational therapies, and online courses. For more information visit https://educationfreedom.texas.gov/

Does participating in TEFA change my homeschool's legal status?

No. Accepting TEFA funds does not change your legal standing—your homeschool remains an unaccredited private school, and you are not required to register with your local school district. To participate, you must apply through the official state portal (educationfreedom.texas.gov). Please note that funds must be spent through the approved TEFA marketplace and cannot be used to pay a parent for teaching their own child.

Where can I learn more about homeschooling requirements in Texas?

If you want to dig deeper into state laws or parent rights, we highly recommend visiting the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) website. They are a reliable, practical resource for navigating the legal side of your home education journey.

Where can I learn more about homeschooling requirements in Texas?

HOST Program Information & Benefits

What is HOST and how does it benefit our family?

The Homeschool Organization of South Texas (HOST) is a Christian, volunteer-led support organization serving the Coastal Bend. We provide the structure and community for your family to thrive. Instead of serving as a traditional school, we supplement your home education by organizing field trips, academic fairs, dances, park days, and parent support events.

What co-ops and programs does HOST offer?

As a volunteer-led organization, our specific activities vary based on parent leadership each year, but we consistently aim to offer a wide variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities. Some of our primary programs include:

GAP (God Answers Prayers) Co-Op: A Wednesday enrichment co-op providing classes like art, science, STEM, and life skills for nursery through high school.
COAST Speech & Debate: A competitive program for students to build critical thinking and public speaking skills.
WINGS Athletics: Our comprehensive sports program for elementary through high school athletes.
Academic Fairs & Socials: Throughout the year, we host events like spelling bees, science fairs, geography fairs, park days, teen hangouts, formal dances (Prom/Homecoming), and an end-of-year graduation ceremony.

Do you have a sports program?

Yes. WINGS Athletics provides competitive, Christ-centered sports programs. We offer sports like Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, Track, Cheer, and Tennis for 6th–12th graders. We also have a "Little WINGS" program for our elementary-aged athletes.

Do we have to be a Christian join?

No. While HOST is a Christian organization and we conduct all of our activities in a Christ-centered manner, we accept and respect members of all faiths. We welcome any homeschooling family in the Coastal Bend who is comfortable with our values, agrees to our code of conduct, and wants to participate in our community.

How much does a HOST membership cost?

A HOST Family Membership is $50 for the year (or $25 for the spring semester only). Because HOST is completely volunteer-run, these funds are never used for staffing. Instead, your membership fee goes directly toward covering our essential operational costs, such as administrative fees, website maintenance, and necessary organizational insurance.

Why does HOST charge fees for certain activities?

While your membership covers our basic operating costs, specific events, field trips, or programs (like GAP or WINGS) may have their own separate fees. We work hard to keep these costs practical, and we only charge what is necessary to cover the actual expenses of putting on that specific event or program.

How do we join?

If you are ready to jump in, joining is simple! Just click the "Join" link on our website to fill out your membership application and access our private member dashboard. Because our community relies on parents serving together, we ask all families to volunteer their time in some capacity to help our activities run smoothly.

Do you provide the curriculum?

No. We do not provide curriculum. If you are not sure where to start, there are hundreds of choices available ranging from free online resources to comprehensive boxed sets. A few popular options families often reference include:

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool (Free, complete online curriculum)
Khan Academy (Free supplemental courses, especially for upper-level math/science)
The Good and the Beautiful (Open-and-go, literature-based curriculum)

We also recommend checking out Cathy Duffy Reviews for excellent, independent reviews of almost every curriculum on the market.