New Jersey Has the Fewest Homeschooling Regulations In The Country

New Jersey was recently ranked the state with the fewest rules and regulations for homeschooling across the country, giving homeschooling parents lots of flexibility and freedom.

Age of Learning’s recent analysis found that New Jersey’s laws and regulations are the most supportive of homeschooling, compared with other states. NJ parents have lots of room to choose how they wish to teach their homeschooled children. This flexibility means that homeschoolers in NJ have more options in terms of curriculum and materials, and homeschool educators don’t need to be certified to teach.

New Jersey ranked 13 overall in the nation for homeschooling in the same analysis, earning a score of 71 out of 100. Homeschooling in the state is also increasing in numbers. In recent years, largely due to the pandemic, homeschooling in NJ has grown. According to the state Department of Education, the percentage of NJ students being homeschooled quadrupled during the 2020-2021 school year.

But despite this recent increase and the support offered here, the Garden State has the 3rd fewest students enrolled in homeschool per capita. New Jersey is also home to the 3rd lowest number of homeschool-related groups per capita.

As far as public schools, New Jersey’s school districts consistently rank among the best in the nation. Just last month, WalletHub ranked NJ public schools No. 3 in the nation, behind Massachusetts and Connecticut. The state was also ranked as a state with “high spending and strong school system.” In other words, New Jersey spends more per student than most states while also having one of the country’s best public school systems.

There are also many top private school options in the state for families looking for an alternative to public school or homeschooling. And, financial aid and scholarships can help with the cost.

So why are more parents choosing to homeschool across the country? According to Age of Learning, New Jerseyans’ interest in homeschooling has increased by 60 percent since 2019, compared to 48 percent across the country. As states like New York and Pennsylvania put in place restrictions and regulations for homeschooling, New Jersey remains “homeschool friendly,” providing one more option for Garden State students.