Homeschool laws can change often so please check for updates at the Alabama State Department of Education website.
Starting to homeschool can be a very frightening thought. What do I need to do? What am I expected to keep track of? Where can I find the laws that I need to know to get started? Luckily, we have information to help you get on your way.
So how can you get started?
Alabama Education Law
First, you need to be aware of your state’s education law.
Alabama does not have a specific law regarding homeschooling so all information regarding homeschooling can be found in their Education Law. Here you will find all of the education laws on record for Alabama including school attendance, private tutoring, and church school.
According to the AL Code, to homeschool in Alabama families have three choices. AL Code § 16-28-3 (2018)
- Attend a church school.
- Attend a private school (this can be at home).
- Private tutor — must be state-certified. AL Code § 16-28-5 (2018)
There is also an Alabama compulsory school attendance age of 6-17. For homeschoolers, written notification to the local school board is required.
The homeschool law is not the only information you need, however Alabama, like many states, relies on the interpretation of the State Superintendent of Education. You can also find information on how the Alabama State Superintendent views these laws in the non-public schooling section on the Alabama State Department of Education FAQs section.
Alabama Homeschool Requirements
Alabama is a low-requirement homeschooling state. Homeschoolers that are homeschooling under the private school option are only required to keep track of attendance, provide immunization records, and agree to teach some sort of physical education. (These requirements are dependent on Superintendent interpretation and may change more frequently than the actual homeschool law codes.)
Even though the state does not make you keep further records we recommend you do some personal recordkeeping to provide verification of education in event that you would need to show some form of education proof to the state or other legal entities. This includes:
- Attendance, which is required by the state
- Lists of text and workbooks used
- Student schoolwork samples
- Correspondence with school officials
- Portfolios and test results
After all the laws and interpretations, you may still be confused and unsure. Don’t worry! We have all been there and you have great resources just a few clicks away: current homeschoolers in your state.
To better understand the homeschooling requirements in Alabama, I highly recommend reaching out to local homeschoolers. These homeschoolers comply with the requirements personally and can help you understand exactly what you need to get started.
Current homeschoolers can help you learn about the different ways to homeschool in Alabama, the different methods that work for their families and that might help yours, how to notify and withdraw your child from the public school system, and the different types of curriculum they use that might work for your homeschoolers too.
Current homeschoolers are great to help understand the law and homeschooling methods but also can help you find local resources, field trips, meet-ups and more that you might not otherwise think about.
For more Alabama homeschool information check out our additional information below.
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