Vermont Homeschool Planning: Creating Your First Year Timeline

Starting homeschool doesn’t have to be chaotic. This month-by-month timeline guides you from initial decision through successful year-end completion. Follow this and you’ll hit your 175 days, complete your assessment, and finish strong.

Key Takeaways

• Begin planning 4–6 months before your intended start date
• Different timelines depending on whether you start mid-year or September
• Each month has specific action items; don’t skip ahead
• By June, you’ll have 175+ days tracked and EOYA completed
• Planning reduces stress and increases success

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Timeline Option A: September Start (Plan from April)

Most families choose September. This timeline begins in April for a September start.

April (6 Months Before)

Decisions:
– [ ] Commit to homeschooling (family conversation, buy-in)
– [ ] Research Vermont law (read statute, understand 175 days)
– [ ] Identify your local Secretary of Education
– [ ] Join online Vermont homeschool groups (Facebook, VHEN)

Actions:
– [ ] Read Education.vermont.gov home study page
– [ ] Order or borrow homeschool planning books (optional but helpful)
– [ ] Visit 2–3 homeschool meetups or co-ops
– [ ] Talk to 3–5 homeschooling families about their experiences

By end of April: You understand law and have community connection.

May (5 Months Before)

Decisions:
– [ ] Choose educational approach (classical, eclectic, online, etc.)
– [ ] Decide on working parent model (if applicable)
– [ ] Determine primary curriculum philosophy

Actions:
– [ ] Attend homeschool conference (optional; helpful for research)
– [ ] Preview 5–10 curriculum options (request catalogs, watch videos)
– [ ] Connect with VHEN; ask questions
– [ ] Visit local co-ops; understand options and costs
– [ ] Attend a homeschool park day or co-op class

By end of May: You have a sense of your educational direction.

June (4 Months Before)

Decisions:
– [ ] Choose specific curriculum for each subject (or outline eclectic approach)
– [ ] Decide on EOYA method (test, portfolio, teacher assessment, etc.)
– [ ] Budget for year (curriculum, co-ops, supplies, field trips)

Actions:
– [ ] Order curriculum (don’t wait; shipping takes time)
– [ ] Register for co-ops (if joining)
– [ ] Book tutors (if needed; some book early)
– [ ] Research field trips and enrichment options
– [ ] Create rough annual calendar (holidays, breaks, field trips)
– [ ] Join VHEN (community + advocacy support)

By end of June: Curriculum on order; co-ops registered; plans solidifying.

July (3 Months Before)

Decisions:
– [ ] Finalize daily/weekly schedule (structure)
– [ ] Plan your school space setup
– [ ] Confirm all curriculum orders are in transit

Actions:
– [ ] Receive curriculum; organize it
– [ ] Create attendance calendar (print/purchase planner)
– [ ] Set up school space (desk, shelves, supplies)
– [ ] Gather basic supplies (pencils, paper, notebooks, folders)
– [ ] Review curriculum (especially teaching manuals, if any)
– [ ] Create simple attendance log/template
– [ ] Finalize annual calendar

By end of July: Space is ready; curriculum is organized; you feel prepared.

August (2 Months Before)

Decisions:
– [ ] Confirm first day of school
– [ ] Finalize enrollment notice details

Actions:
– [ ] Write draft enrollment notice (student name, start date, curriculum description)
– [ ] Contact Secretary of Education; confirm filing procedure
– [ ] Plan first week’s lessons (don’t overplan; keep it light)
– [ ] Buy any last-minute supplies
– [ ] Review attendance tracking system (make sure it works for you)
– [ ] Have pre-start conversation with your child (excitement-building)
– [ ] Check co-op start dates and confirm attendance

By end of August: You’re ready to file enrollment notice (first week of September).

September: File & Start

10 days before school start date (e.g., by Aug 26 if starting Sept 5):
– [ ] File enrollment notice with Secretary of Education
– [ ] Confirm receipt
– [ ] Keep confirmation documentation

First week of September:
– [ ] Begin instruction on planned start date
– [ ] Mark first school day on attendance calendar
– [ ] Keep first week light (establish rhythm, not content mastery)
– [ ] Attend local homeschool park day or group meeting

By end of September: You’ve started and tracked 15–20 school days.

October–May: In-Year Execution

Each month:
– [ ] Track attendance (mark calendar as you go)
– [ ] Monitor subject progress (adjust if needed)
– [ ] Attend co-op or enrichment (if registered)
– [ ] Monthly check-in: “Are we on pace?” (should be ~48 days by Oct, ~96 by Dec, ~145 by April)

Monthly adjustments:
– Early October: Confirm schedule is working; adjust pace if needed
– November: Prepare for winter transition; plan lighter load Dec–Feb if needed
– January: Reset; confirm pacing for spring
– March: Plan spring acceleration and field trips
– April: Finalize EOYA method; start collecting/organizing

By April: EOYA Preparation

April activities:
– [ ] Finalize EOYA method (if not already chosen)
– [ ] If portfolio: begin collecting work samples
– [ ] If test: register for standardized test (if May/June testing)
– [ ] If teacher assessment: contact teacher; schedule evaluation
– [ ] If online school: grades accumulating naturally

By end of April: EOYA plan is locked in.

May: EOYA Completion & Wrap-Up

May activities:
– [ ] Complete attendance count (confirm 175+ days)
– [ ] Complete or finalize EOYA
– [ ] Gather work samples (if portfolio)
– [ ] Organize year-end records (attendance, assessment, work samples)
– [ ] Reflect: What worked? What to change next year?

By June: Year is complete; records filed at home.

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Timeline Option B: Mid-Year Start (January)

Some families start mid-year. This requires faster planning.

November (10 Weeks Before)

Decisions:
– [ ] Commit to January start
– [ ] Research Vermont law
– [ ] Identify Secretary of Education

Actions:
– [ ] Join online homeschool groups
– [ ] Meet local homeschoolers (quickly)

December (6 Weeks Before)

Decisions:
– [ ] Choose curriculum
– [ ] Decide on EOYA method
– [ ] Plan first semester structure (Jan–June = 175 days)

Actions:
– [ ] Order curriculum (express shipping if needed)
– [ ] Register for co-ops (if starting Jan)
– [ ] Withdraw from current school (formal letter)
– [ ] Request educational records
– [ ] Set up school space during holiday break

January (2 Weeks Before)

Actions:
– [ ] Curriculum arrives; organize
– [ ] Write and file enrollment notice (10 days before start)
– [ ] Begin instruction on planned date
– [ ] Start attendance tracking

Challenge: Mid-year start compresses everything. Plan ahead.

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Timeline Option C: Flexible/Year-Round Start

Some families start differently.

Key principle: File enrollment notice 10 days before your start date, whenever that is.

• March start: File enrollment notice by Feb 20
• June start: File enrollment notice by May 22
• July start: File enrollment notice by June 22

Everything else (curriculum, planning, community connection) happens in the 4–6 weeks before enrollment filing.

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Key Milestone Dates (September Start)

Date	Milestone
April	Begin research, community connection
June	Curriculum ordered
July	Space set up; calendar created
August 26	File enrollment notice (10 days before 9/5 start)
September 5	Begin instruction
November	Winter adjustment
January 5	Resume after holidays
March	Spring planning
April	EOYA finalization
May	EOYA completion; year-end wrap-up
June	Records organized; year complete

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Common Timeline Mistakes to Avoid

1. Planning Too Late

Mistake: Deciding to homeschool in July for September start
Problem: No time for curriculum research, co-op registration, space setup
Solution: Begin in April if possible; August at latest

2. Skipping Community Connection

Mistake: Jumping straight to curriculum without meeting other families
Problem: Feeling isolated; making curriculum choices without input
Solution: Join VHEN and local groups in April

3. Over-Ordering Curriculum

Mistake: Buying everything that sounds good
Problem: Overwhelm, cost, unused materials
Solution: Choose 4–5 key resources; add later if needed

4. Not Tracking Attendance from Day 1

Mistake: Planning to track attendance “later”
Problem: Losing count; scrambling in May to prove 175 days
Solution: Mark calendar as you go

5. Deciding EOYA Method Too Late

Mistake: Reaching April and then deciding on EOYA
Problem: No time to prepare; portfolio work samples not collected
Solution: Decide by June before school year begins

6. Starting Without Testing Schedule

Mistake: Planning to do standardized test without registering
Problem: Test slots full; can’t test in your preferred month
Solution: Register by March if testing in May

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Pre-Launch Checklist (August)

By August, before filing enrollment notice, verify:

• [ ] Curriculum ordered and mostly arrived
• [ ] School space prepared
• [ ] Attendance calendar ready
• [ ] Schedule decided
• [ ] Co-ops registered (if applicable)
• [ ] Tutors contacted (if applicable)
• [ ] EOYA method chosen
• [ ] First week lessons outlined (loosely)
• [ ] Family conversation completed (everyone knows start date)
• [ ] Secretary of Education contact confirmed
• [ ] Enrollment notice draft ready to send

If all checked, you’re ready to file and start.

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Monthly Maintenance (Sept–June)

What to do monthly (30 minutes):

• Calendar: Mark school days as they happen
• Curriculum: Confirm child is progressing; adjust pace if needed
• Community: Attend co-op, park day, or group meeting
• Records: File away work (keep organized)
• Check-in: Is attendance on pace? (Should be ~48 days by Oct, ~96 by Dec, ~145 by April)

If off-pace:

• Too far ahead: Slow down; add enrichment/depth instead of new content
• Behind: Assess why (illness? schedule doesn’t work? curriculum too hard?); adjust one thing
• On track: Maintain current pace

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Year-End Closeout (June)

By June 1:
– [ ] Finalize attendance count (confirm 175+ days)
– [ ] Administer or receive EOYA

By June 15:
– [ ] Complete EOYA (if portfolio: write summary, collect 4 work samples)
– [ ] File EOYA at home (not with state)
– [ ] Organize year-end records

By June 30:
– [ ] Review year: What worked? What to change?
– [ ] Celebrate completion
– [ ] Begin planning for Year 2 (informal)

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Next Year: Streamlined Planning

Year 2 is easier:
– You know Vermont’s system
– You know your child’s pace and needs
– Curriculum selection is faster (you know what works)
– Enrollment notice is routine
– EOYA process is familiar

Most families plan Year 2 in June/July (4–6 weeks, not 6 months).

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The Bottom Line

A successful first year follows a timeline. Start planning 4–6 months before your start date. Hit key milestones each month. Track attendance from Day 1. Complete EOYA by June. By year-end, you’ll have done it once and be confident for Year 2.

This timeline isn’t rigid—adjust based on your situation. But having a roadmap prevents last-minute chaos and increases the likelihood of a successful, calm first year.

Use this timeline as your roadmap. Adjust months as needed for your start date. Start planning now. By June, you’ll be done with Year 1.