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Colorado Homeschool Requirements Moderate regulation
What Colorado requires from homeschool families — notification, subjects, hours, testing, and portfolio rules — with links to the current law. This is the same state data FolioKid uses to build your portfolio template.
- Governing law: C.R.S. 22-33-104.5
- Required subjects: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics, History, Civics, Literature, Science, United States Constitution (elementary grades; some states vary by grade)
- Instructional days: 172 days per year (averaging 4 instructional contact hours per day)
- Testing: grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 — or an evaluation by a qualified person in place of the test
File a letter of intent with a Colorado school district 14 days before starting, annually. Testing required at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 — the composite score must be ABOVE the 13th percentile (a retest with an alternate version is permitted before district action); a qualified-evaluator review may be used instead of the test. 172 days averaging 4 contact hours per day. Keep permanent records of attendance, test/evaluation results, and immunizations.
Records you must keep in Colorado
Colorado requires permanent records and an assessment based on your child's work at specific grades. Keep all of the following:
- Permanent attendance records — 172 days averaging 4 instructional contact hours per day (required by statute)
- A portfolio of work samples across Colorado's nine required subjects (reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and the United States Constitution)
- Test or evaluation results at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 (a standardized test, or a qualified evaluator's review of your child's work)
- Immunization records (part of the permanent record)
- Retain all of the above as permanent records (C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(3)(g))
Your Colorado filing timeline
- 14 days before starting (each year)File your annual letter of intent with a Colorado school district.
- All year longKeep attendance and work samples current — 172 days averaging 4 contact hours per day.
- Grades 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11Give a standardized test or have a qualified evaluator review your child's work (composite score must be above the 13th percentile).
- Keep permanent recordsRetain attendance, test or evaluation results, and immunizations on file.
How FolioKid builds a Colorado-compliant portfolio
You teach; FolioKid assembles the permanent records Colorado asks for:
- Snap photos of work as it happens — FolioKid tags each entry by subject against Colorado's nine required subjects.
- Log instructional time toward Colorado's 172 days, averaging 4 contact hours per day.
- Record test scores at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 — or a qualified evaluator's review of your child's work — and keep immunization records on file.
- Export a Colorado-formatted portfolio PDF — or send your evaluator or district a read-only share link (no account needed, expires in 30 days).
Free: the Colorado Homeschool Records Checklist
A one-page printable PDF — exactly what to keep, your filing deadlines, and a blank attendance & hours log. We'll email it to you.
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Official Colorado sources
- 📜 C.R.S. § 22-33-104.5 — the statute itself
- 🏛️ Colorado Department of Education — Home School
- 🔎 HSLDA — Colorado homeschool law summary
Colorado homeschool FAQ
What law governs homeschooling in Colorado?
Homeschooling in Colorado is governed by C.R.S. 22-33-104.5. File a letter of intent with a Colorado school district 14 days before starting, annually. Testing required at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 — the composite score must be ABOVE the 13th percentile (a retest with an alternate version is permitted before district action); a qualified-evaluator review may be used instead of the test. 172 days averaging 4 contact hours per day. Keep permanent records of attendance, test/evaluation results, and immunizations. Always verify current requirements with your state department of education.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in Colorado?
Colorado requires: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics, History, Civics, Literature, Science, United States Constitution (elementary grades; some states vary by grade).
How many hours or days of instruction does Colorado require?
Colorado requires 172 days per year (averaging 4 instructional contact hours per day).
Does Colorado require testing or a portfolio evaluation?
Yes — Colorado requires standardized testing (grades 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 — or an evaluation by a qualified person in place of the test).
Keeping records for Colorado? Snap photos of your kids' work and FolioKid organizes them into a year-end portfolio PDF — formatted around Colorado's requirements.
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