Alabama Laws and Requirements for Homeschool
In Alabama, nonpublic schools are not regulated by the State Department of Education.
Alabama Homeschooling Options
Parents in Alabama have three main options for legally homeschooling their children:
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Church School Enrollment
- Most homeschool families in Alabama choose this option.
- Parents must enroll their child in a church school and file a Church School Enrollment Form with the local school superintendent.
- The church school is responsible for the record-keeping and curriculum, but parents teach at home.
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Private School (Home Program)
- Parents can establish a private school within their home.
- Must file a statement with the local superintendent containing the name of the school and the enrolled students.
- Attendance records and compliance with any reporting requirements fall on the parents.
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Private Tutor
- Requires a certified Alabama teacher to tutor the child for at least three hours per day for 140 days per year.
- This method is less commonly used because of the certification and time requirements.
Requirements
- Age: Children between 6 and 17 are subject to Alabama's compulsory attendance law.
- Curriculum: Alabama does not mandate specific curriculum requirements for homeschoolers, allowing flexibility.
- Records: Record-keeping varies depending on the homeschool option selected (church schools often assist with this).
Transferring to Public School
- Homeschoolers returning to public schools will typically need to have their educational progress assessed to determine grade placement. Schools may require portfolios, transcripts, or tests for credit or placement.
Graduation and Diploma
- Alabama does not issue state diplomas to homeschool students.
- Parents may issue their own diploma, or students can pursue equivalency exams (e.g., the GED).
Additional Resources
For guidance and support, parents can contact organizations, such as Homeschool Alabama, Classical Conversations-Alabama, and Time4Learning, to name a few.
Alabama’s homeschool laws are relatively flexible, allowing families to design educational experiences tailored to their child’s needs while complying with state requirements.