New to Homeschooling

What is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling (or home schooling or home educating) is where the parents choose to educate their children at home. With homeschooling, the teaching is typically done by the parents, though it can include situations where a grandparent or tutor does the teaching.

What is Legally Allowed and Required?

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, though each state dictates the requirements within that state. In Louisiana, there are two ways to file with the state to homeschool legally. One legal option is to register as a private school, also called “non-public school not seeking state approval.” For this option, the family needs to use the Dept of Education online Nonpublic Schools form or submit a written letter within 30 days of beginning classes to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) reporting how many students are in your school, the name of your school, and your name.

The other option is called to register as home study, or “registered non-public school.” For this option, you will need to fill out an application and include copies of birth certificates, optional immunization record for students aged 11, and the names and ages of the students. This application can be mailed in or filled out electronically on the website, and will need to be filed within 15 days of beginning the school year.

 Each year, parents must renew their filing with the state. The home study option renewal requires one of the following: standardized test scores, portfolio, or a letter from a Certified Teacher of your child's grade, though you will not have to resend birth certificates. Renewing with the private school option requires just another updated letter.

 It should be noted that you are not required to report a child for the first time until they are 7 years of age. If you have a child registered in public school before age 7 and you remove them, you will be required to report that you removed the child and that he will now be a student in your private school or that they will be a home study student. 

Read Homeschooling FAQs.