Indiana Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Indiana, based on IC 20-33-2-4 (Compulsory Attendance); IC 20-33-2-6 (Equivalency Exemption). Indiana is classified as Low regulation.
This is the general checklist for Non-Accredited Non-Public School (Homeschool), the most common of Indiana's 2 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to the school the child is withdrawing from. Conditions: IDOE homeschool registration is optional. This does not remove withdrawal duties: high-school withdrawal uses the separate Withdrawal to Non-Accredited Non-public School Located in Indiana form. Accredited schools follow different rules. You must still tell the school you are withdrawing your child to homeschool. A phone call may be enough, but IDOE recommends doing it in writing. For a high school student, the school will ask you to sign the Withdrawal to Non-Accredited Non-public School Located in Indiana form (IC 20-33-2-28.6); if it is not signed, the student is treated as a high school dropout. There is no waiting period, but you must still tell the school you are withdrawing your child. IDOE says a phone call may suffice but recommends doing it in writing; a high school student also signs the Withdrawal to Non-Accredited Non-public School Located in Indiana form (IC 20-33-2-28.6). The IDOE homeschool registration form is optional; Indiana law does not require registration.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
Ongoing
Notice to start homeschooling: what applies to you
IDOE homeschool registration is optional. This does not remove withdrawal duties: high-school withdrawal uses the separate Withdrawal to Non-Accredited Non-public School Located in Indiana form. Accredited schools follow different rules. The IDOE homeschool registration form is optional; Indiana law does not require registration.
Review curriculum requirements
Check the cited source for curriculum requirements that may be described without a subject-by-subject list. Conditions: Instruction must be equivalent to that given in public schools. State law does not define equivalent instruction, and a homeschool is not bound by Indiana curriculum or content requirements.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 180 days/year.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records. Records may be reviewed by the district.
Good news
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Education savings: Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA)
Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA): Up to $20,000 a year for a student with a disability, and up to $8,000 a year for a sibling (Indiana Department of Education, 2026-27). — A student with legal settlement in Indiana who is at least 5 and under 22 on October 1 of the school year, whose household meets the Choice Scholarship income limit, and who either has a disability requiring special education with an IEP, a service plan or a choice special education plan, or is the sibling of a student who has an ESA account (IC 20-51.4-2-4). Homeschooled students can take part: the law's only enrollment limits are that the student may not attend a school that receives state tuition support or be counted in a school corporation's enrollment (IC 20-51.4-4-1(a)(5), (c)).
Ongoing requirements
Instructional time
Varies by pathway. Non-Accredited Non-Public School (Homeschool): false; Accredited Non-Public School: null
- Days per year:
- 180
IDOE homeschool FAQ (180 days); IC 20-30-2-3
Recordkeeping
- ✓Attendance records
Records may be reviewed by the district.
IC 20-33-2-20 (accurate daily attendance record)
What you don't need to worry about
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Education savings: Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA)
Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA): Up to $20,000 a year for a student with a disability, and up to $8,000 a year for a sibling (Indiana Department of Education, 2026-27). — A student with legal settlement in Indiana who is at least 5 and under 22 on October 1 of the school year, whose household meets the Choice Scholarship income limit, and who either has a disability requiring special education with an IEP, a service plan or a choice special education plan, or is the sibling of a student who has an ESA account (IC 20-51.4-2-4). Homeschooled students can take part: the law's only enrollment limits are that the student may not attend a school that receives state tuition support or be counted in a school corporation's enrollment (IC 20-51.4-4-1(a)(5), (c)).
Other ways to homeschool in Indiana
This checklist covers Non-Accredited Non-Public School (Homeschool), the most common pathway. Indiana offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Non-Accredited Non-Public School (Homeschool)(this checklist) : Homeschools are non-public, non-accredited schools (IC 20-33-2-12). Your core duties are to provide instruction equivalent to that given in public schools (IC 20-33-2-28), aim for 180 days of instruction each year, and keep an accurate daily attendance record (IC 20-33-2-20). The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) says registration is not required and there are no records to send to IDOE. You provide attendance records only if the Secretary of Education or your local public school superintendent asks for them.
- •Accredited Non-Public School : You enroll your child in an accredited non-public school. Accreditation is something the school seeks and keeps with the Indiana State Board of Education, and the school is responsible for meeting its legal standards. Your family's duty is to have your child attend the school (IC 20-33-2-4, IC 20-33-2-5). You file nothing with the state.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Indiana
Education savings available
Indiana offers Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA). 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 Indiana checklistRequirements sourced from IC 20-33-2-4 (Compulsory Attendance); IC 20-33-2-6 (Equivalency Exemption). Last reviewed October 2026