HOMESCHOOLING IN LOUISIANA & HOMESCHOOL LAWS
You may be considering homeschooling in Louisiana, but don’t know where to start regarding state regulations and requirements. This guide will walk you through what you need to know to successfully set up your own homeschool program legally in Louisiana. We’ll cover the history of homeschooling in Louisiana, current laws and regulations, required notifications and filings, curriculum and testing choices, high school transcripts, extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and special education services.
History of Homeschooling in Louisiana
Homeschooling in Louisiana has a long and evolving history. Even before any specific laws addressed home education, some Louisiana families in the state chose to teach their children at home. In 1980, the state legislature passed Act 828, the first law explicitly permitting and regulating a home study program. Under this law, parents were required to apply for approval from the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to operate a home study program as a nonpublic school.
The law was amended in 1984 by Act 448, which removed the requirement for BESE approval and instead placed home programs under the authority of the state’s Compulsory School Attendance Law. Parents were still required to submit an annual application to BESE, providing assurances that their program would offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that of public schools.
Over the following decades, lawmakers introduced various bills to modify Louisiana homeschool laws, with mixed success. Act 99 of 1988 removed the requirement for parents to submit an annual application. In 2010, Act 677 clarified that graduates of a state-approved homeschool in Louisiana are eligible for TOPS scholarships for college, aligning their eligibility with that of public school and private school graduates.
Today, Louisiana homeschool laws are considered moderately demanding compared to other states. Parents must follow notification and subject requirements for a nonpublic school option but have flexibility in their choice of homeschool curriculum and are not required to have teaching credentials. Thorough research shows that accredited homeschool programs in Louisiana can provide a student with a quality education tailored to the individual needs of a child. When a family decides to start homeschooling in Louisiana to teach their children, they recognize the importance of guiding each child personally. If you want to homeschool, Louisiana is considered a supportive state.
Current Louisiana Homeschool Laws and Regulations
In Louisiana, parents homeschooling their children as a nonpublic school must begin by seeking state approval through the local school board to start homeschooling.
Louisiana’s laws regarding homeschooling are primarily covered in R.S. 17:236 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. This statute mandates compulsory school attendance for children between the ages of 7 and 18, requiring them to attend a public or private day school or participate in an approved home study program. A child is eligible to enter kindergarten if the child’s birth certificate shows that they will turn 5 years old on or before September 30th of the calendar year.
To provide homeschooling in Louisiana, parents must obtain initial approval from BESE by submitting an application within 15 days of beginning their program. The application must include assurances that the program will offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that of public schools at the same grade level. Renewal applications affirming that the program continues to meet requirements are due annually by October 1st.
Homeschooling in Louisiana must include, at minimum, the subjects of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. For students in ninth through twelfth grade, additional required subjects are Health, Physical Education, Fine Arts Survey and Foreign Language. At least 180 days of instruction must be provided each year, with a minimum of 900 instructional hours for grades 1-8 and 990 hours for grades 9-12.
Failure to comply with the compulsory attendance law may result in a student having truancy issues. The parent may be referred to a Family in Need of Services program or to the district attorney’s office.
How to Set Up a Homeschool In Louisiana
When considering how to homeschool in Louisiana, a family has two methods to teach their child: they can either follow the state’s home study option or use a registered nonpublic school to provide the required child’s education.
Setting up an approved home study program in Louisiana involves several key steps:
Submit an initial application seeking state approval to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education within 15 days of beginning instruction for your child. The application form can be completed on the Department of Education website.
Develop a homeschool curriculum that includes the required subjects and offers quality comparable to public schools according to the Louisiana Department of Education. Many parents choose to purchase commercial curricula or use resources from homeschool organizations to teach their child.
If your child previously attended a public or private school, request their records, including transcripts, report cards, and immunization records.
Create a schedule and lesson plans that align with the required instructional days/hours for your child’s grade level. Maintain attendance records to document compliance.
By October 1st of each school year, submit a renewal application to BESE confirming your program’s continued adherence to all requirements.
Louisiana does not require teaching credentials for homeschool instructors. If withdrawing a child from public school to begin homeschooling, notifying the school principal of your intent is a courtesy but not mandated by law. The initial home study application serves as official notice.
Families moving to Louisiana who wish to continue homeschooling their child must submit an initial application to BESE within 15 days of establishing residency and beginning their program.
Maintaining Your Louisiana Homeschool
To start homeschooling in Louisiana, a parent can choose the nonpublic school option under the state’s Louisiana homeschooling guidelines. To maintain a legally compliant home study program in Louisiana, the following standards must be met:
Instruction is provided for a minimum of 180 days per school year.
The homeschool program curriculum meets the annual instructional hours requirement: 900 hours for grades 1-8; 990 hours for grades 9-12.
The best homeschool curriculum includes English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science in all grade levels.
For grades 9-12, Health, Physical Education, Fine Arts Survey and Foreign Language are also taught.
Attendance records are maintained to verify instructional time.
A renewal application is submitted to BESE by October 1st each year.
Beyond these legal requirements, BESE does not mandate any specific form of recordkeeping or assessment for homeschoolers. However, keeping organized records of completed coursework, grades, and instructional hours is strongly advised, particularly for high school students who may need transcripts for college admissions or TOPS scholarship eligibility.
Louisiana Homeschool Reporting Requirements
In Louisiana, homeschool families are not required to submit periodic reports on their student’s academic progress. The annual application serves as the official reporting mechanism, affirming to BESE that the home study program continues to meet all state standards.
While formal reporting is minimal, maintaining thorough educational records is in a family’s best interest, especially if the student plans to transition back to traditional schooling or pursue college admission. Useful records to keep include:
Attendance logs with instructional days and hours
List of subjects and courses completed each year
Samples of student work, tests, and grades
High school transcript with credits earned (for TOPS scholarship program eligibility)
Detailed documentation can help demonstrate a student’s satisfactory completion of grade-level requirements and preparation for post-secondary goals. The Louisiana Department of Education provides guidance on recordkeeping and high school transcripts in their Home Study Guidelines.
Homeschool Testing In Louisiana
The state does not require homeschool students to participate in standardized assessments. Public school students take the LEAP 2025 exams in grades 3-8 and high school, but these standardized tests are optional for homeschoolers. Some families choose to administer nationally-normed standardized testing like the California Achievement Test or Iowa Test of Basic Skills to track their student’s academic progress.
Funding Your Louisiana Homeschool
Louisiana does not provide state funding for homeschool-related expenses. Parents bear the full cost of curricular materials, supplies, technology, activities and all other resources. However, homeschool students may be eligible for some publicly-funded educational services:
Special Education: Homeschoolers with diagnosed disabilities may receive special education services from their local school district, as outlined in an individualized Services Plan.
TOPS Scholarships: Graduates of a state-approved homeschool in Louisiana qualify for TOPS college scholarships if they meet the same academic and enrollment criteria as public/private school graduates.
Part-Time Enrollment: Local school districts have the option to allow homeschoolers to participate in academic, extracurricular, or co-curricular activities. Families should contact their district to explore part-time enrollment policies.
According to State Board policy, local school systems must furnish textbooks to students enrolled in SBESE approved home study programs if surplus copies are on hand. Home study parents may be subject to a deposit fee per borrowed book, which is reimbursed upon return. This policy is outlined in Louisiana Revised Statutes Ann. §17:351.
Some private organizations offer financial aid opportunities for homeschool students.
Federal Tax Breaks
Homeschooling families may be eligible for certain federal tax benefits to help offset educational expenses. One option is a Coverdell Education Savings Account, which allows money to grow tax-free when used for qualified home education costs. Homeschool parents might also be able to deduct a portion of mortgage interest or rent if part of the homeschool in Louisiana is used regularly and exclusively for homeschooling. Finally, a tax deduction could be available for required books, supplies, equipment and curricula used for homeschool instruction. To learn more about these potential tax advantages, homeschooling families should review the information and resources provided by the IRS.
Louisiana Immunization Requirements
Louisiana requires all students enrolled in K-12 schools, including registered home study programs, to provide proof of up-to-date immunizations or a qualified exemption. Homeschool applicants must submit a copy of each student’s immunization record or an exemption statement from a physician citing medical reasons or from a parent due to religious objections.
The required immunizations vary by grade level and are listed on the Health Information Form provided by the Louisiana Department of Health. Parents should review their child’s immunization records with a physician to ensure compliance before submitting their initial or renewal home study application.
Louisiana State Graduation Requirements
The state of Louisiana does not award diplomas to graduates of home study programs. Parents determine when their student has fulfilled requirements for graduation. However, to be eligible for TOPS college scholarships, homeschool graduates must earn the same number of credits as their public/private school peers:
English – 4 units
Mathematics – 4 units
Science – 4 units
Social Studies – 4 units
Foreign Language – 2 units in the same language
Fine Arts – 1 unit
Each unit represents one full year of study in a subject, while a half unit reflects one semester.
Many homeschool families align their graduation requirements with the state’s public school expectations to prepare students for college admissions. However, since Louisiana does not mandate course approval or reporting for home study programs, the parent has final authority in determining their student’s path to graduation.
Louisiana Homeschool Charters
Louisiana does not operate any homeschool-specific charter schools. However, some statewide online charter schools, like Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy (K12) and University View Academy, offer homeschool, parent-led instruction with support from a certified teacher. Students in these schools are considered public school enrollees and must adhere to the same testing, attendance, and graduation requirements.
Local Louisiana Homeschooling Resources
While Louisiana does not directly fund homeschooling, several organizations, co ops and homeschool groups provide information, support, co ops, and field trips for home study families:
CHEF of Louisiana (Christian Home Educators Fellowship): Statewide network hosting an annual convention, graduation ceremony, field trips, and regional support group directory.
Louisiana Family Forum: Advocates for Louisiana homeschoolers’ rights and provides legislative updates but does not provide legal advice.
Louisiana Library Connection Databases: Free online access to quality education resources like World Book Online and Homework Louisiana with a State Library card.
Louisiana is home to many educational spots, and the following are just a few examples of field trips in the Bayou state: Germantown Colony Museum in Minden, the Rural Life Museum and the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge.
Numerous local co-ops, enrichment programs, online curriculum, and homeschool groups across the state connect Louisiana homeschoolers for shared learning experiences. Parents can find active regional communities through online forums and social media networks.
