Starting a Private School in Texas
Regulations, Resources, & Support
Texas State Regulations
General Regulations
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There are no registration, licensing, or approval requirements, and accreditation is optional.
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The Texas Education Agency has assembled a page of resources for private schools.
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The US Office of Innovation & Improvement has assembled a summary of regulations for private schools operating in Texas.
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Texas has no laws or regulations related to homeschooling. The state of Texas does not regulate, monitor, approve, register, or accredit programs available to parents who choose to homeschool their children.
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The Texas Education Agency has no published requirements for school insurance -- consult a professional for guidance in this area.
- For a list of existing private schools in Texas, see the private school directory page.
State Funding Sources & Support
Texas does not provide funding for private education.
Curriculum Requirements
The only requirement is that schools teach students good citizenship.
Teacher Certification & Hiring
Teacher certification is not required for private schools.
Food Services / Lunch
In Texas, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Department of Agriculture.
Length of School Year
Accredited private schools must meet or exceed the minimum seat time required of public schools.
Recordkeeping & Reports
Schools must keep transcripts and provide them to the student's new school should they choose to transfer.
Healthy & Safety Requirements
Students must provide proof of immunization or of a medical or religious exemption.
Transportation
Transportation is not provided by the state or district, but city buses and trains are required to offer students discount fares.
Testing
Private schools can choose to optionally offer state standardized testing to students but must pay for the cost of the test.
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Texas State Resources
State & Regional Associations
Government Websites
Helping Educators Do the Work That Matters
Quick Guide Nav
We gathered so much information that we had to break it down into 10 chapters. This free information is well-researched- we even hunted down the rules and regulations for each state! If you're thinking about starting a private school, you will find this guide very handy!
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