State laws vary, and some have stricter standards than others. Even in states with relaxed standards, we recommend being mindful of the expectations. After second grade, it’s hard for students to make up lost ground. Homeschoolers can take a more relaxed approach, but parents still need to be on the lookout for potential developmental delays and learning challenges, since there’s no classroom teacher to spot them. Another reason for rigor: if homeschooling doesn’t end up working out for your family, or if a situation requires a child to eventually return to school, the student won’t be behind if you’ve done your due diligence.;;