A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

The Regulation of Private Schools In America: A State-by-State Analysis

Chart 2: State-Mandated Educational Requirements

STATE Length of School Year Teacher Certification Mandated Subjects
Alabama yes private schools, but not church schools yes
Alaska yes nonexempt private schools only yes
Arizona yes

Arkansas

yes
California

yes
Colorado yes
yes
Connecticut

yes
Delaware

yes
District of Columbia yes

Florida yes

Georgia yes
yes
Hawaii
all private schools
Idaho yes all private schools yes
Illinois yes
yes
Indiana yes
accredited schools only
Iowa yes yes accredited schools only
Kansas yes
yes
Kentucky yes
yes
Louisiana yes See below.1 yes
Maine yes approved private schools yes
Maryland yes
yes
Massachusetts may be regulated by the local school committee

Michigan no teacher's certificate or permit2 yes
Minnesota yes several options allowed besides licensing yes
Mississippi no required only for nonpublic schools that choose to be approved
Missouri

yes
Montana yes
yes
Nebraska yes teachers at accredited and approved schools must have certificates or permits yes
Nevada

yes
New Hampshire yes
yes
New Jersey yes
yes
New Mexico yes

New York yes mandatory only for teachers at approved private schools offering special education yes
North Carolina yes accredited schools only
North Dakota yes all parochial and private school teachers yes
Ohio yes nontax-supported and nonchartered schools have differing standards for certification chartered schools only
Oklahoma


Oregon yes one of several options to show qualifications yes
Pennsylvania yes private licensed academic schools yes
Puerto Rico yes required for accredited schools; licensed schools may utilize provisional certificate no
Rhode Island yes
yes
South Carolina


South Dakota yes
yes
Tennessee yes
yes
Texas

only one course3
Utah


Vermont recognized independent schools only
yes
Virginia yes

Virgin Islands yes yes
Washington yes with some exceptions yes
West Virginia yes
yes
Wisconsin yes no yes
Wyoming yes nonreligious schools must give public notice if teachers are not certified nonreligious schools only

1 Louisiana private schools accepting public aid must employ teachers that qualify under Board standards.

2 Michigan private school teachers must have a teachers's certificate or permit unless one has sincerely held religious belief objecting to the certification requirement.

3 Texas law requires private schools to provide a study of good citizenship.
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[Chart 1: State Oversight of Private Schools ] [Table of Contents] [Chart 3: Public Assistance to Private Schools and Private School Children]