Louisiana Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Louisiana, based on La. R.S. 17:236. Louisiana is classified as Moderate regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home Study Program Approved by BESE, the most common of Louisiana's 3 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
Request approval
Submit your education plan to Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) on behalf of BESE and wait for approval before beginning instruction. Deadline: Within 15 days after the home study program begins (initial application). Conditions: Apply online through the LDOE home study application (paper application by mail in limited circumstances). BESE notifies the local superintendent of the application (R.S. 17:236.1(A)). Renewal applications are due by October 1 of the school year or within 12 months of the initial approval, whichever is later. Email is optional. Immunization statement applies at age 11 under the guidance; do not submit immunization documents to LDOE. Initial birth certificate and renewal evidence are separate attachments. Initial application only. Renewals instead include one of: a packet of materials, standardized test verification, or a certified teacher statement (R.S. 17:236.1(C)-(D)). The parent certifies the program on the application (online checkbox or signed paper form). No notarization is required. The 15-day clock is tied to beginning the home-study program. Continue satisfying compulsory-attendance requirements while arranging the transition.
Deadline: Within 15 days after the home study program begins (initial application)
More details
Include: child's name, child's grade level, child's date of birth, parent/guardian name, parent/guardian address, contact info, prior school information, immunization statement, assurance statement. Attach: birth certificate. Conditions: Renewal applications are due by October 1 of the school year or within 12 months of the initial approval, whichever is later..
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to child's prior school (copy of the home study approval letter). Conditions: Apply online through the LDOE home study application (paper application by mail in limited circumstances). BESE notifies the local superintendent of the application (R.S. 17:236.1(A)). Renewal applications are due by October 1 of the school year or within 12 months of the initial approval, whichever is later. LDOE suggests giving your prior school a copy of your home study approval letter. Districts also receive their home study approval letters from LDOE monthly. Email is optional. Immunization statement applies at age 11 under the guidance; do not submit immunization documents to LDOE. Initial birth certificate and renewal evidence are separate attachments. Initial application only. Renewals instead include one of: a packet of materials, standardized test verification, or a certified teacher statement (R.S. 17:236.1(C)-(D)). The parent certifies the program on the application (online checkbox or signed paper form). No notarization is required. The 15-day clock is tied to beginning the home-study program. Continue satisfying compulsory-attendance requirements while arranging the transition. LDOE suggests giving the prior school a copy of the home study approval letter once it arrives. No withdrawal document is required, and districts receive approval letters from LDOE monthly.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
Ongoing
Review curriculum requirements
Check the cited source for curriculum requirements that may be described without a subject-by-subject list. Conditions: Louisiana law lists no specific subjects. The curriculum must be of quality at least equal to public schools at the same grade level. LDOE renewal guidance asks for work samples per core subject taught (Math, English, Social Studies, Science). No subject list; the standard is a curriculum at least equal in quality to public schools at the same grade level.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 180 days/year. Conditions: Official R.S. 17:236(B) says the statutory 180-day minimum session has not applied since the 2005-2006 school year (BESE may set rules). LDOE guidance still describes 180 days, so planning at least 180 days follows the state agency's current guidance.
Testing: what applies to you
A test result is one of three ways to support a renewal application: a passing competency-based exam, or a CAT or other approved standardized test at or above grade level (R.S. 17:236.1(D)(1)-(2)). A packet of materials or a certified teacher's statement can be used instead. A standardized test at or above grade level is one optional way to support the annual renewal (R.S. 17:236.1(D)(2)). Only if you choose test scores for the renewal: at or above grade level, or progress of one grade level per year in home study. Each renewal must include one of: a packet of materials, standardized test verification, or a certified teacher statement (R.S. 17:236.1(C)-(D)). Test results are reported only if you choose that option.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by October 1 of the school year, or within 12 months of initial approval, whichever is later. Conditions: Apply online through the LDOE home study application (paper application by mail in limited circumstances). BESE notifies the local superintendent of the application (R.S. 17:236.1(A)). Renewal applications are due by October 1 of the school year or within 12 months of the initial approval, whichever is later. Email is optional. Immunization statement applies at age 11 under the guidance; do not submit immunization documents to LDOE. Initial birth certificate and renewal evidence are separate attachments. Initial application only. Renewals instead include one of: a packet of materials, standardized test verification, or a certified teacher statement (R.S. 17:236.1(C)-(D)). The parent certifies the program on the application (online checkbox or signed paper form). No notarization is required. The 15-day clock is tied to beginning the home-study program. Continue satisfying compulsory-attendance requirements while arranging the transition. Provide one of the three renewal documentation options. A curriculum packet is an alternative to standardized test scores or the qualified teacher statement; optional packet contents are not all universally mandatory.
Good news
Education savings: LA GATOR Scholarship Program
LA GATOR Scholarship Program: 2025-26 awards: up to $15,253 for a student with a disability (tiered by disability), $7,626 for a family at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, and $5,243 for other students. Amounts are a percentage of the prior year's average state and local per-pupil funding and depend on legislative funding. — A Louisiana resident at least 5 and not older than 21 by September 30, 2026 who was in LA GATOR in 2025-26, is entering kindergarten, was enrolled in a public school on both October 1 and February 1 of 2025-26, or has household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Not available to a child in a BESE-approved home study program or in a nonpublic school not seeking state approval (LDOE home study and nonpublic school guidelines).
Filing requirements
- What to file
- approval required
- Send to
- Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) on behalf of BESE
- Deadline
- Within 15 days after the home study program begins (initial application)
- Renewal applications are due by October 1 of the school year or within 12 months of the initial approval, whichever is later.
- How often
- annual
- Official form
- Download / access form
Your notice must include:
- •child's name
- •child's grade level
- •child's date of birth
- •parent/guardian name
- •parent/guardian address
- •contact info
- •prior school information
- •immunization statement
- •assurance statement
Required attachments:
- •birth certificate
La. R.S. 17:236.1(A)-(B) (application to BESE; initial application within 15 days after the program begins)
Ongoing requirements
Instructional time
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program Approved by BESE: null; Registered Nonpublic School (Non-State-Approved): false; State-Approved Nonpublic School: false
- Days per year:
- 180
La. R.S. 17:236(B) (statutory 180-day minimum not applicable since 2005-2006); LDOE BESE-Approved Home Study Program Guidelines
Reporting
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program Approved by BESE: ["curriculum_packet","test_results","teacher_statement"]; Registered Nonpublic School (Non-State-Approved): undefined; State-Approved Nonpublic School: undefined
- Annual renewal
- Required by October 1 of the school year, or within 12 months of initial approval, whichever is later
La. R.S. 17:236.1(A), (C)-(D) (annual renewal application and evidence)
What you don't need to worry about
Education savings: LA GATOR Scholarship Program
LA GATOR Scholarship Program: 2025-26 awards: up to $15,253 for a student with a disability (tiered by disability), $7,626 for a family at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, and $5,243 for other students. Amounts are a percentage of the prior year's average state and local per-pupil funding and depend on legislative funding. — A Louisiana resident at least 5 and not older than 21 by September 30, 2026 who was in LA GATOR in 2025-26, is entering kindergarten, was enrolled in a public school on both October 1 and February 1 of 2025-26, or has household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Not available to a child in a BESE-approved home study program or in a nonpublic school not seeking state approval (LDOE home study and nonpublic school guidelines).
Other ways to homeschool in Louisiana
This checklist covers Home Study Program Approved by BESE, the most common pathway. Louisiana offers 3 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home Study Program Approved by BESE(this checklist) : You apply to the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), on behalf of BESE, within 15 days after your home study program begins, with a certified copy of your child's birth certificate. You certify that the program will offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level. You renew every year by October 1, or within 12 months of your initial approval, whichever is later. Each renewal includes one of three things: a packet of materials showing the year's work, verification of a standardized test score, or a statement from a certified teacher.
- •Registered Nonpublic School (Non-State-Approved) : You operate or enroll your child in a nonpublic school that is not seeking state approval, which LDOE says may be called a registered nonpublic school. The school submits enrollment information to LDOE each year through the online attendance submission form. For a child coming from a public school, the nonpublic school sends that school a written notice of enrollment within 10 days. LDOE does not approve, oversee or keep student records for these schools, and state testing is not required. Students in these schools are not eligible for TOPS or LA GATOR.
- •State-Approved Nonpublic School : You enroll your child in a nonpublic school that BESE has approved under Bulletin 741 (Nonpublic). The school files an annual school report with LDOE by October 15, meets an annual instructional-time requirement of 57,750 minutes, and follows state rules for teacher qualifications, subjects and records. Those are the school's duties; your duty is to send your child to the school (La. R.S. 17:221). State assessment participation is the school's choice (Bulletin 741 §2111).
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Louisiana
Education savings available
Louisiana offers LA GATOR Scholarship Program. 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 Louisiana checklistRequirements sourced from La. R.S. 17:236. Last reviewed October 2026