Getting Started

You’re already more ready than you think.

If you're here, you're probably swimming in questions. Can I really do this? What about socialization? Will my kid fall behind? Do I need to become a teacher now?

Here's what I wish someone had told me when I started: You don't have to have it all figured out before you begin. You don't need a teaching degree. You don't need a thousand-dollar curriculum. You don't need to know which "philosophy" or “group” you belong to.

What you need is curiosity about your child and willingness to experiment.

I was the parent who said "I would never homeschool" and meant it. Now I can't imagine any other way. The shift wasn't about becoming a teacher. It was about becoming a designer of my child’s learning. That's work you're already more equipped for than you realize.

North Carolina makes the legal part simple. Your local community makes the journey more fulfilling. The rest? You'll figure it out as you go, one experiment at a time.

The Legal Stuff

(It’s easier than you think!)

North Carolina is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country. No approval process. No curriculum submission. No teaching credentials required.

Here's what you actually need to do:

File a Notice of Intent Submit to the NC Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) within 30 days of starting. It takes about 10 minutes online. → File here: ncadmin.nc.gov/citizens/home-school

Keep Attendance Records Track the days you homeschool. That's it. No specific format required.

Annual Assessment Choose one: administer a nationally standardized test OR have your child evaluated by someone with a college degree. Keep records on file, but you don't submit them anywhere.

Immunization Records Maintain on file at home.

That's the whole list. You're not asking permission. You're notifying the state that you're taking responsibility for your child's education. And you are fully capable of doing exactly that.

Your Statewide Safety Net

Take advantage of what our state has to offer. North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE) is the go-to resource for homeschoolers in this state. They protect homeschool rights, provide resources and encouragement, and connect families with local support.

North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE)

Website: nche.com

Moore County is in Region 6 Regional Liaison: Kim Boysworth: region6@nche.com

What NCHE offers:

  • Legal information and advocacy for homeschool families

  • Annual Thrive! conference

  • Regional liaisons who help you find local groups and answer questions

  • Online mentoring for new homeschoolers

  • GREENHOUSE magazine

  • Statewide field trips and sports programs

  • Graduation ceremony for homeschool seniors

Not sure where to start? Email your regional liaison. That's literally what they're there for.

Before You Buy Stuff

Finding Your Fit

The homeschool market is a $6 billion industry flooded with curriculum and “easy buttons” and starved for strategy. Everyone wants to sell you the answer. But the best homeschool strategy isn't a product you purchase. It's clarity about your child and your family.

You don't need to pick a philosophy on day one. You don't need to commit to a boxed curriculum before you've even started. And you definitely don't need to recreate school at your kitchen table.

Here's what actually helps:

Start by watching. What lights your child up? What questions do they ask when no one's assigning them? How do they naturally figure things out - by building, by talking, by reading, by moving?

Give yourself permission to experiment. The first thing you try might not work. (And sometimes, the 10th thing you try might not work.) Finding what doesn’t work isn’t failure. It’s data. Take notes on what kinds of activities your child gravitates to and use them as inspiration for learning approaches. Adjust and try again. 

Resist the urge to buy your way to confidence. Curriculum can be a tool, but it's not the strategy. You (with your child) hold the strategy. Your attention to your child, your willingness to iterate, your commitment to designing learning that actually fits… that's where the magic happens.

Your First Steps

Step 1: Breathe. You have time. NC doesn't require you to start on any particular date. This isn't a race.

Step 2: File your Notice of Intent. Submit online to DNPE. It takes about 10 minutes. → ncadmin.nc.gov/citizens/home-school

Step 3: Connect. Reach out to NCHE's Region 6 liaison (Kim Boysworth at region6@nche.com) or explore local groups on our Community page. You'll feel less alone immediately.

Step 4: Watch your child. Before you plan anything, just observe. What do they gravitate toward? What questions do they ask? What makes them come alive? This is your starting point. Looking for more help? Check out Roamschool for workshops and products to help you create clarity in your child’s learning profile and align and design learning strategies to fit. 

Step 5: Explore local opportunities. Check out our Classes & Programs page to see what's available in Moore County. You don't have to provide everything yourself.

Ongoing:

Experiment and learn with your child!

The Ongoing Work:

Experiment, Adjust, Connect

Here's the truth no one tells you: there is no "done." The best homeschool families aren't following a perfect plan. They're constantly experimenting, adjusting, and connecting.

Keep experimenting. What worked last month might not work next month. Your child is growing and changing. Your approach should too. Try new things. Drop what isn't working. Stay curious.

Keep adjusting. Pay attention to the evidence, not the expectations. Is your child engaged? Are they growing? Are they asking questions? That matters more than checking boxes on someone else's scope and sequence.

Keep connecting. This work is too important to do in isolation. Stay plugged into your local community. Share what's working. Ask for help when you're stuck. Learn from other families who are figuring it out alongside you.

The goal isn't to get it right. The goal is to keep designing, keep iterating, and keep growing, together with your child.

Still Have Question?

Lot’s of questions? Yep, that’s normal.

Here are some ways to keep going:

Explore the rest of this site. Our Community page connects you with local groups. Our Classes & Programs page and Local Learning Adventures page collect options and inspiration. Our Resources page goes deeper on books, tools, and ideas for you.

Reach out directly. Have a question this page didn't answer? Contact us. We're happy to help point you in the right direction.