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Alabama Homeschool Requirements Checklist

Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Alabama, based on Ala. Code 16-28-1; Ala. Code 16-28-7. Alabama is classified as Low regulation.

This is the general checklist for Church School / Cover School / Umbrella School, the most common of Alabama's 3 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.

Your compliance checklist

Do first

File your Notice of Intent

Submit to local public school superintendent (filed by the parent on the superintendent's form, countersigned by the church school administrator). Conditions: Ala. Code 16-28-7 sets no filing deadline or due date; the form is provided by the local superintendent. Ala. Code 16-28-7 requires the form when your child enrolls in the church school, and the church school tells the superintendent if your child stops attending. Alabama law does not require you to file the form again each year.

Deadline: Before you start

More details

Conditions: Ala. Code 16-28-7 sets no filing deadline or due date; the form is provided by the local superintendent..

Ongoing

Review curriculum requirements

Check the cited source for curriculum requirements that may be described without a subject-by-subject list. Conditions: Alabama law sets no state rule on this for church-school students (Ala. Code 16-28-1, -3, -5, -7 and -12 reviewed 2026-10-30), and 16-28-7 does not authorize state education agencies to regulate church schools. Your church school may set its own policy.

Review instructional-time requirements

Check the cited source for the school-term or instructional-time rule that applies to your pathway. Conditions: Alabama law sets no state rule on this for church-school students (Ala. Code 16-28-1, -3, -5, -7 and -12 reviewed 2026-10-30), and 16-28-7 does not authorize state education agencies to regulate church schools. Your church school may set its own policy.

Testing: what applies to you

Alabama law sets no state rule on this for church-school students (Ala. Code 16-28-1, -3, -5, -7 and -12 reviewed 2026-10-30), and 16-28-7 does not authorize state education agencies to regulate church schools. Your church school may set its own policy.

Keep basic records

You must maintain: attendance records. Conditions: Alabama law sets no state rule on this for church-school students (Ala. Code 16-28-1, -3, -5, -7 and -12 reviewed 2026-10-30), and 16-28-7 does not authorize state education agencies to regulate church schools. Your church school may set its own policy.

Filing requirements

What to file
simple notice
Send to
local public school superintendent (filed by the parent on the superintendent's form, countersigned by the church school administrator)
How often
one time
Practical tip: File the enrollment form provided by the superintendent, signed by you and countersigned by the church school administrator, then return it to the superintendent. You file it when your child enrolls in the church school; Alabama law sets no due date and does not require filing it again each year. If your child later stops attending the church school, the church school notifies the superintendent, based on consent you give when you enroll.

Ala. Code 16-28-7 (parent files church school enrollment and attendance with local superintendent)

Ongoing requirements

Recordkeeping

  • ✓Attendance records
Practical tip: Ala. Code 16-28-7 requires your child's enrollment and attendance to be filed with the local superintendent on the superintendent's form. Ask your church school what records it keeps and what it expects from you.

Ala. Code 16-28-7 (enrollment and attendance of a church school student filed with local superintendent)

Other ways to homeschool in Alabama

This checklist covers Church School / Cover School / Umbrella School, the most common pathway. Alabama offers 3 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:

  • •
    Church School / Cover School / Umbrella School(this checklist) : You enroll your child in a church school (often called a cover school or umbrella school). Under Ala. Code 16-28-1, a church school offers instruction in grades K-12, including through home programs, and is operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, or association of churches that receives no state or federal funding. You file your child's enrollment and attendance with the local public school superintendent on the superintendent's form, countersigned by the church school administrator (Ala. Code 16-28-7). Alabama law sets no state rule on subjects, hours, or testing for church school students. Your church school may set its own policies.
  • •
    Private Tutor : Your child is taught by a private tutor who holds a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education. The tutor teaches the branches of study required in the public schools, in English, for at least 3 hours a day for 140 days each calendar year, between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Before instruction begins, the tutor files a statement with the county or city superintendent showing the children to be taught, the subjects, and the period of instruction (Ala. Code 16-28-5).
  • •
    Private School : Your child attends a private school, defined in Ala. Code 16-28-1 as a school established, conducted, and supported by a nongovernmental entity offering instruction in grades K-12, including through home programs. The school's principal teacher reports enrolled children to the county or city superintendent at the end of the fifth day after public schools open, then reports unexcused absences at least weekly (Ala. Code 16-28-7).

Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Alabama

Education savings available

Alabama offers CHOOSE Act Education Savings Account. Learn about ESA programs

Get your personalized checklist

This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.

Get your Alabama checklist

Requirements sourced from Ala. Code 16-28-1; Ala. Code 16-28-7. Last reviewed October 2026