Register your desire to home-school with the local school district through a letter of notification, or letter of intent, if one is required by your state. Check with the Home School Legal Defense Association to determine your state's requirement. Each state has its own submission deadline, with allowances for mid-year submission. New York State for example, sets a deadline of July 1, or 14 days prior to the commencement of home-schooling if mid-year.
Submit a home instruction plan for those states that require one, in some states called Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). There is usually a deadline for submission; in New York state it is Aug. 15 or within four weeks of having received the IHIP form. Most states will require the following in the plan: child's name, age and grade; a list of materials, text and instructional plan; dates for submission of quarterly reports; names of people giving the instruction. If online courseware or an online course of instruction is used, indicate the degree-granting institution or name of courseware.
Gather a list of the curriculum materials needed and purchase them. Most can be purchased online. Some materials must be provided by the local school district, depending on what the state education law says. Check your state's educational laws with regard to home-schooling to determine any reimbursement for materials.
Maintain all records of attendance. Schools have required days of attendance, and home-schooled students are not exempt from this. Not all states require that they be submitted, however, keep them available should they be requested.
Keep records of hours of instruction, what was covered, materials used and state standards met should they be requested. This is also good information to look back on when planning for successive years.
Check your state's assessment requirements for home-schooled students. Some require they take the state tests with the public school students on the same day, and others require an achievement test be administered, with several choices as to which one. Be clear on this--should you fail to administer it, or your child not pass, you might lose your right to home-school your child.
Join one or two home-school organizations in your region. Conduct an Internet search to find one, using search terms such as "home school & New York State" or "home schooling my child & Washington State" for example. There are many home school support groups, blogs and even consortium of parents who pool resources to share in similar coursework, keeping the out-of-pocket expenses minimal and social contact alive.