Homeschooling in Canada is more than a trend, it’s a growing education choice with over 54,000 students enrolled in 2022/2023. Parents choose to homeschool for flexibility, customized learning, and greater control over their child’s education. This guide explains how homeschooling works, what the legal requirements are in each province, and how to start homeschooling with confidence and clarity.
What Is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling, also referred to as home-based education, is an educational approach in which a child’s learning takes place primarily outside of traditional public or private school settings, typically within the home. Instruction is usually delivered by a parent, guardian, or hired tutor and may follow a structured curriculum, a customized learning plan, or a more informal, experiential approach.
Families choose homeschooling for various reasons, including accommodating individual learning styles, addressing special educational or developmental needs, dissatisfaction with local schools, or aligning education with personal, philosophical, or religious values.
Benefits of Homeschooling in Canada
There are numerous benefits to homeschooling that attract thousands of families every year:
- Customised Learning: Tailored to the child’s learning style and pace.
- Flexible Scheduling: An adaptable homeschool schedule allows for travel or in-depth study.
- Stronger Family Bonds: More time spent together on the homeschool journey.
- Higher Engagement: Direct involvement of homeschool parents often boosts performance.
- Safety and Comfort: Some parents choose to homeschool to avoid bullying or issues found in institutional schools.
Legal Framework: Homeschooling Laws in Canada
In Canada, education is a provincial responsibility, which means homeschooling laws and requirements differ by province and territory. However, all provinces permit homeschooling and have legal frameworks in place to support it.
Generally, homeschooling families must notify their provincial Ministry of Education or local school authority of their intent to homeschool, often through a formal notice of intent. The degree of oversight and documentation required varies by region.
For example:
- Ontario: Parents submit a letter of intent to their local public school board. Unless concerns are raised, the board does not require detailed curriculum information, making Ontario one of the least restrictive provinces for homeschoolers.
- British Columbia: Parents may register with a public or independent school for minimal oversight or enroll in a Distributed Learning (DL) program for more structured support.
- Alberta: Parents must submit a notification form and work with a supervising school authority. They can choose from different program types, including parent-directed, school authority-directed, or a blended model.
- Quebec: Parents must notify the Minister of Education and submit a learning project (a form of education plan) for approval. They are also required to submit annual progress reports and participate in an annual monitoring meeting with the Ministry or school board. Quebec has one of the more regulated homeschooling frameworks in Canada.
No matter the province, parents are responsible for ensuring that children receive a suitable education that aligns with compulsory school age requirements.
3-Step Guide to Starting Your Child’s Homeschooling Journey
Starting your child’s homeschooling journey can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. This simple 3-step guide will help you confidently transition from traditional schooling to home-based education, covering legal requirements, curriculum choices, and daily planning essentials—everything you need to begin your personalised, flexible, and successful homeschool experience.
1. Notifying Your School and Withdrawing Your Child
The first formal step in beginning your homeschooling journey is submitting a notice of intent or withdrawal to your child’s current school and school board. This letter officially communicates your decision to homeschool and ensures that your child is not marked as absent or truant in school attendance records.
Depending on your province, you may also need to provide additional documentation, such as a basic educational plan, a curriculum outline, or a description of how you plan to meet grade-level learning outcomes.
2. Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum
Selecting a suitable curriculum is a key part of successful homeschooling. Since Canada does not enforce a national curriculum for homeschoolers, families have the flexibility to choose or design programs that suit their child’s needs and educational goals. Common options include:
- Structured curriculum: Traditional resources like textbooks, workbooks, and teacher guides.
- Online programs: Accredited virtual schools that provide lessons, assignments, and assessments.
- Unschooling or natural learning: A child-led approach where learning is driven by curiosity and real-world experiences.
Many homeschooling families blend multiple methods depending on their child’s age, interests, and learning style. While you don’t need to have a teaching degree to homeschool in Canada, you are legally and ethically responsible for ensuring your child receives a well-rounded and appropriate education.
3. Teaching Methods and Educational Philosophies
Homeschooling offers the flexibility to tailor education to each child’s unique learning style, pace, and interests. Families often adopt one or more of the following popular educational philosophies:
- Charlotte Mason: This approach emphasizes rich literature, nature study, and the fine arts. It promotes short, focused lessons, student narration (retelling what was learned), and real-world experiences. The goal is to cultivate good habits, strong moral character, and a lifelong love of learning.
- Montessori: Based on the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, this method supports self-directed, hands-on learning in a thoughtfully prepared environment. It encourages independence, sensory exploration, and learning at the child’s own developmental pace, with a strong focus on real-life skills and intrinsic motivation.
- Classical Education: Rooted in ancient educational traditions, classical education follows the trivium: grammar (knowledge acquisition), logic (analytical thinking), and rhetoric (clear expression). It emphasizes mastery of language, classical literature, history, and critical thinking skills, preparing students for rigorous academic inquiry.
- Unschooling: This child-centered philosophy embraces informal, interest-led learning. Rather than following a set curriculum, children explore subjects organically through daily life, play, conversation, and personal projects. It prioritizes autonomy, curiosity, and intrinsic motivation over structured schedules or assessments.
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How Are Homeschool Students Evaluated?
Homeschool student evaluation in Canada depends on provincial regulations, as each province sets its own requirements. In provinces that require oversight, families may need to submit annual learning plans, progress reports, or portfolio reviews to demonstrate their child’s educational development.
Some provinces, like Quebec and Alberta, require regular assessments or evaluations by school boards or supervising authorities. In others, such as Ontario, formal assessments are not mandated unless there are concerns about the adequacy of instruction.
Many homeschooling families also choose to administer standardized tests or achievement tests (even when not required) to track academic progress and prepare for possible transitions into traditional schooling.
For older students,particularly in middle and high school, keeping detailed records of completed coursework, learning outcomes, and credits earned becomes essential, especially if the student plans to:
- Re-enter the public or private school system
- Apply to post-secondary institutions
- Pursue scholarships or specific academic programs
Documentation may include transcripts, course descriptions, reading lists, and portfolios of student work. Some homeschoolers opt to enroll in online high school programs to receive formal credits recognized by provincial ministries.
A Day in the Life of a Homeschooling Student
A typical homeschool day offers structure, flexibility, and personalisation based on a child’s learning style and interests. Unlike a traditional school setting, homeschooling allows students to progress at their own pace while enjoying a balanced routine that supports academic growth, creativity, physical activity, and real-life learning experiences at home.
- 8:00 AM – Morning Routine: The day begins with breakfast, personal hygiene, and light household chores. Many homeschooling families use this time to review the day’s homeschool schedule and set goals.
- 9:00 AM – Language Arts: Language lessons often include reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, and creative writing. Work is completed in a quiet space, such as the kitchen table or a home study area.
- 10:00 AM – Mathematics: Math instruction may follow a structured curriculum, combining textbook exercises with hands-on activities or interactive digital tools. The homeschooling parent provides one-on-one support as needed.
- 11:00 AM – Science: Science lessons explore subjects like biology, earth science, or physics through a mix of reading, experiments, and observation. Students are encouraged to ask questions and track educational progress.
- 12:00 PM – Lunch and Break Time: Lunch is followed by free time to play, read, or engage in hobbies. Many homeschool families use this period for outdoor activity or unstructured relaxation.
- 1:00 PM – Social Studies: This period covers history, geography, or civics. Learning includes reading, discussion, timelines, and projects that align with the student’s grade level and interests.
- 2:00 PM – Arts and Enrichment: Afternoons include visual art, music, or life skills. Students explore creative expression and fine motor skills while developing appreciation for culture and the arts.
- 3:00 PM – Physical Activity: Time is set aside for exercise, whether through organised sports, nature walks, or physical education routines designed at home. Homeschooled students often join local sports teams or co-ops.
- 4:00 PM – Independent Study or Special Projects: Students work independently on topics of interest or complete assigned research, reinforcing autonomous learning and developing responsibility for their own education.
Do Parents Have to Teach Homeschooled Children?
Parents are not required to teach all subjects themselves when homeschooling. While many choose to be the primary instructor, qualified tutors can also support learning in a home environment. Tutors may assist with specific subjects, provide specialised instruction, or help structure the day, making home-based education more flexible and accessible for different family needs and education levels.
What are the Benefits of Tutor-Led Homeschooling?
- Expert Instruction in Complex Subjects: Tutors provide specialized knowledge in subjects such as high school mathematics, sciences, or foreign languages—areas where parents may feel less confident. This ensures students receive high-quality instruction aligned with academic standards.
- Personalized Academic Support: Tutors can tailor lessons to a child’s specific learning style, strengths, and challenges. This one-on-one approach allows for targeted support, greater engagement, and deeper understanding of the material.
- Reduced Burden on Parents: Working with a tutor helps share the educational workload, reducing stress and time pressure on parents. This can make the homeschooling experience more sustainable and balanced for the entire family.
How much do tutors charge? Average rates and cost factors
Hire a Tutor with Tutorax
At Tutorax, we provide personalised tutoring services tailored to meet each student’s unique needs. Our team of qualified tutors offers flexible, one-on-one support across a wide range of subjects and grade levels.
Whether your goal is to boost confidence, strengthen academic skills, or reinforce classroom learning, we provide tailored guidance and continuous encouragement to help each student reach their full potential.