I know that a lot of you out there are already planning ahead for next year.
If you aren’t registered with an umbrella/independent school for homeschooling, you are required to submit a letter of intent to homeschool to your local school district if you plan to homeschool your children. As I’ve received several questions on this matter, I created a sample Notice of Intent to Homeschool form that you can download and use for your own family.
–> Download the Notice of Intent to Homeschool Form <–
(This form is in MS Word format and is editable so you can insert your family’s information)
What are the notification requirements?
Requirements will vary by state, however most states require that you submit a notice of intent to homeschool to any school district in your state. The notice must be sent for any student between the ages of 6 and 16, including children who will be 6 by August 1st.
There is typically not a deadline for the notice of intent to be sent in, however it is required that the letter be filed with your school district at least 14 days prior to the start of your homeschool year. This means you do not have to file before the start of the local public school year, but 14 days prior to the start of your own homeschool year.
A notice of intent is also typically required to be re-submitted annually for each year that you plan to homeschool.
What should be included in the notice?
- Child’s Name
- Child’s Age
- Child’s Residence
- Hours of Attendance (For most states this should be 4 hours per day & 172 days per year)
What are the testing requirements?
Testing requirements vary by state as well, but most states require that you test or evaluate your students’ academic progress at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Testing should be administered by a certified evaluator using a nationally standardized achievement test. Test scores are then sent to your local public school district OR to an independent school. You can visit my “Homeschool Testing” post for more details on how testing works. As always please refer to the testing requirements outlined by your specific state for complete information.
Where can I get more information?
- The internet! A simple Google search for “your state + homeschool law” will give you most of the answers you need for your state. If you have more questions, you can also call your local public school district offices.
- www.hslda.org (Home School Legal Defense Association) is a nonprofit agency established to help the constitutional rights of parents to direct the education of their children and protect family freedoms. They have a lot of information regarding homeschooling help.
As always, you will need to contact your state for current homeschool laws and requirements, but I hope this post helps you get started!
Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, nor is this post to be construed as legal advice. For homeschooling laws and requirements for your state, please contact your state’s department of education.
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We moved from MN to KY and my son is 16. Do I still need to send a letter of intent to the school district since he is over the compulsory age? Does anyone know if there would there be any ramifications for not doing so?
Several times in this post, she clearly states that requirements vary by state and even tell you where to get the legal advice, clearly stating that she is not an attorney, nor trying to give legal advice.
She simply was doing a nice thing by providing the form that is used and required in her state for those that have asked.
I am confused as to why others feel the need to attack her blogging or information…..IT IS CLEARLY STATED….
“Requirements will vary by state”
“Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, nor is this post to be construed as legal advice. For homeschooling laws and requirements for your state, please contact your state’s department of education.”
“◾The internet! A simple Google search for “your state + homeschool law” will give you most of the answers you need for your state. If you have more questions, you can also call your local public school district offices.
◾www.hslda.org (Home School Legal Defense Association) is a nonprofit agency established to help the constitutional rights of parents to direct the education of their children and protect family freedoms. They have a lot of information regarding homeschooling help.
As always, you will need to contact your state for current homeschool laws and requirements, but I hope this post helps you get started!”
I, for one, greatly appreciate Erica sharing all of her awesome information, ideas and personal life.
So, thank you so much Erica!!!!
Does anyone know the law in Arizona. I know my own daughter is not even three yet and I am starting the program early but I just want to burn up some of her energy in a productive way, So was wondering how education stands here, or more so home schooling?
http://www.hslda.org/ can help you find some info , I Am Looking into homeschooling in az too. My daughter will be five soon.
Compulsory Attendance Ages:
Required Days of Instruction: Required Subjects:
Home School Statute: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802.
1. The parent or guardian must file a notarized affidavit of intent to operate a homeschool program with the
county school superintendent within 30 days after homeschooling begins. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802(C).
2. An affidavit of intent is not required thereafter unless the homeschool is terminated and then resumed. The parent or guardian shall notify the county school superintendent within 30 days of the termination of homeschooling that the child is no longer being instructed at home. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802(C).
3. The affidavit of intent shall include the child’s name; the child’s date of birth; the current address of the school the child is attending; and the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the persons who currently have custody of the child. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802(B)(2).
4. The parent or person with custody must also provide the county school superintendent either a “certified copy of the child’s birth certificate” or “[o]ther reliable proof of the child’s identity and age . . . and an affidavit explaining the inability to provide a copy of the birth certificate.” Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-828(B).
5. A homeschool that operates under the home school statute is not a private school. A homeschool means a school “conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person who has custody of the child” or “instruction provided in the child’s home.” Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802(G).
Teacher Qualifications: None. The parent/teacher’s test requirement was repealed in 1991.
Standardized Tests: The standardized test and optional evaluation requirement was repealed in 1995 by
Arizona Senate Bill 1348.
Religious Freedom Act: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 41-1493 to 41-1493.03.
-Compulsory attendance ages: Between 6 and 16. Arizona Revised Statutes § 15-802(A). If a child who will attend homeschool has not reached eight years of age by September 1 of the school year, the person who has custody may exempt that child from the compulsory attendance law by filing an affidavit of intent to not begin homeschool instruction. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802(B)(3).
-Required days of instruction: Does not apply to homeschools. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802(B)(2).
-Required subjects: Reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802(A).
ARIZONA
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Saw no one speak for Texas. One of the most homeschool friendly states.
No notice required. No testing required. No oversight whatsoever. Texas treats homeschools as a private school, which is not regulated via the state.
Only requirements are that the homeschooling must be bona fide (how they prove this I have no idea since there’s no testing or oversight required), curriculum must be in visual form, and subjects must include reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship.
Great website here for any Texas homeschoolers: http://www.thsc.org/homeschooling-in-texas/state-requirements/
Hello,
We live in OR and have always homeschooled our two children. The law here requires that we sent a letter of intent to homeschool, which we had done for both of them. However, we only received a reply from the state for one child. I was told at the time (by another homeschooling mom in our neighborhood) that the state does not have to reply, so not to worry about it. (This was nearly six years ago).
My oldest child is taking his 10th grade test this year, my youngest his 8th grade test next year. However, I am worried now about not getting that reply, as that means I don’t have proof of sending in my letter of intent. Is it advisablet to follow up with an inquiry at this late date? I am concerned my letter of intent might not have reached them (Six years ago now, as we only have to send in once!) so not sure the best thing to do.
Hi Cynthia, I think I would probably verify that they have it on record just in case. Hopefully they just made a mistake in their responses. And you can use the first child’s notice as good faith proof that you sent both in at the time. Either way I’d want to make sure that it was on record.
Hey, I want to homeschool my high school son. Should I talk to the principal or who? Please respond asap. Thank you in advanced. P.S i live in Illinois.
Yes, I would just talk with your local school district and they can lead you through the process of withdrawing from his school and beginning homeschool. I also have a book on how to get started here: http://amzn.to/2jbSjWj as well as several links on my blog and YouTube under “Homeschooling 101”
home schooled 9-12 was registered with Penn foster then my mom just taught me my question is we never sent a letter on intent to homeschool will i be ok or will my completion have been for nothing currently in NC previously TN,TX,andVA moved a lot in 4 years of homeschool
HI Caleb,
You’ll need to contact your local school district to see what your state requires. They are all different. You can also contact http://www.hslda.org they have a lot of legal help on their site for each state.