Homeschool Regulations in Arkansas

Home School Parent Education Requirements

Arkansas is a state that recognizes traditional homeschooling. Parents that instigate homeschooling are not required to have any special qualifications beyond a high school diploma.

Forms and Paperwork Required

Written notification of a child receiving homeschooling must be submitted to the local public school superintendent by August 15 for the fall semester, and December 15 for the spring semester. The letter of intent must then be refilled at the beginning of every school year from there on out. If the decision to home school takes place in the middle of a semester, then a written notice of intent must be submitted to the local school superintendent 14 days before ever withdrawing your student from the public school. It is possible that the local superintendent will waiver those 14 days.

For any family that moves into the school district that is interested in homeschooling, the local school superintendent must receive written notification within 30 days of establishing residency. All written notices of intent must include the name, birth date, and grade level of the child involved. The name of the last school attended, the location of the home school, the basic curriculum that will be taught, the tentative schedule of instruction, and the teacher/parent qualifications must also be noted for statistical purposes as well.

A waiver that acknowledges that the State of Arkansas is not liable for any homeschooling education must also be submitted. Any form of record-keeping throughout the schooling process is not required to be turned in.

Kindergarten Home School Requirements

The compulsory school age in Arkansas begins at age five, but a state-provided waiver can be signed that would allow your child to start school at age six, thus Kindergarten is not a required part of home school.

Arkansas Testing Requirements

All home school students must participate in the state-mandated norm-referenced testing in grades 3-9. These tests will be provided free of charge as long as alternate testing procedures are not necessary for the child. A minimum test score is not required, but failure to take the test could result in being prosecuted for truancy.

Other Useful Information

For those public school students who are waiting for disciplinary action to occur at a public school, homeschooling is not an option unless the superintendent or local school board gives special permission, the school semester ends or the disciplinary action has been completed, or expulsion from public school has occurred.

In Arkansas, a public school independent study program, an online school, or a virtual charter school are all not considered homeschooling. Students involved in such programs are subject to all state public school requirements. The Education Alliance may be a good resource for your home school. Be sure to check them, and visit the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) for more information.