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
File your Letter of Intent & instructional plan
Submit to Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) on behalf of BESE. Deadline: Within 15 days of beginning home study or withdrawing child from school.
Deadline: Within 15 days of beginning home study or withdrawing child from school
More details
Include: parent/guardian name, child's name, child's date of birth. Attach: birth certificate
Send a withdrawal letter
If your child is currently enrolled in school, send a withdrawal letter to child's current school.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
Ongoing
Required subjects
English Language Arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar), mathematics, science, social studies (U.S. history, Louisiana history, civics, geography)
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 180 days/year. You must track and document hours.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records, grades or evaluations.
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.
Good news
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Education savings programs available
LA GATOR Scholarships (Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise): ~$5,100/general student (above 250% FPL), $7,626/income ≤250% FPL, up to $15,253/student with qualifying disability (2025-2026, based on MFP percentages; amounts may be adjusted annually) — 2025-2026: Louisiana residents age 5-21 by September 30, must be entering kindergarten, prior public school enrollee, prior LSP participant, or family income ≤250% FPL. Future years expand eligibility. Students enrolled in an Approved Home Study Program or nonpublic school (not seeking state approval) are NOT eligible while in those programs — must exit home study to participate.. Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP): null — Family income at or below 250% of federal poverty level; student entering kindergarten or previously attended a C/D/F-rated public school; Louisiana resident. Being replaced by LA GATOR program starting 2025-2026.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- detailed plan
- Send to
- Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) on behalf of BESE
- Deadline
- Within 15 days of beginning home study or withdrawing child from school
- How often
- annual
- Official form
- Download / access form
Your notice must include:
- •parent/guardian name
- •child's name
- •child's date of birth
Required attachments:
- •birth certificate
La. R.S. 17:236 (home study application to BESE within 15 days); La. R.S. 17:236.1 (home study program provisions)
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓English Language Arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar)
- ✓mathematics
- ✓science
- ✓social studies (U.S. history, Louisiana history, civics, geography)
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program Approved by BESE: "general_list"; Registered Nonpublic School (Non-State-Approved): "none"; State-Approved Nonpublic School: "general_list"
La. R.S. 17:236.1 (sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to public schools in required subjects)
Instructional time
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program Approved by BESE: true; Registered Nonpublic School (Non-State-Approved): false; State-Approved Nonpublic School: true
- Days per year:
- 180
La. R.S. 17:236 (180-day school year requirement)
Testing and assessment
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program Approved by BESE: null; Registered Nonpublic School (Non-State-Approved): null; State-Approved Nonpublic School: "BESE/LDOE"
- Accepted types
See our full assessment guide for Louisiana for details.
Recordkeeping
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program Approved by BESE: false; Registered Nonpublic School (Non-State-Approved): true; State-Approved Nonpublic School: true
- ✓Attendance records
- ✓Grades or evaluations
La. R.S. 17:236.1 (home study program must maintain records of sustained instruction)
Reporting
Varies by pathway. Home Study Program Approved by BESE: ["portfolio","progress_report","test_results"]; 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 (annual renewal of home study application to BESE)
What you don't need to worry about
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Education savings programs available
LA GATOR Scholarships (Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise): ~$5,100/general student (above 250% FPL), $7,626/income ≤250% FPL, up to $15,253/student with qualifying disability (2025-2026, based on MFP percentages; amounts may be adjusted annually) — 2025-2026: Louisiana residents age 5-21 by September 30, must be entering kindergarten, prior public school enrollee, prior LSP participant, or family income ≤250% FPL. Future years expand eligibility. Students enrolled in an Approved Home Study Program or nonpublic school (not seeking state approval) are NOT eligible while in those programs — must exit home study to participate.. Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP): null — Family income at or below 250% of federal poverty level; student entering kindergarten or previously attended a C/D/F-rated public school; Louisiana resident. Being replaced by LA GATOR program starting 2025-2026.
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 submit a home study application to the Louisiana Department of Education within 15 days of starting, describing your proposed program and certifying that instruction will cover required subjects. No standardized testing is required, but you must teach 180 days and renew your application annually. This is the most common homeschool pathway in Louisiana.
- •Registered Nonpublic School (Non-State-Approved) : You register as or enroll in a nonpublic school that is registered with BESE but not state-approved. This pathway has fewer curriculum mandates and no standardized testing requirement, but the school must maintain enrollment, attendance, and academic records per BESE Bulletin 741. Best for families who prefer operating under a school structure rather than the home study application process.
- •State-Approved Nonpublic School : You enroll in a nonpublic school that is both registered with and approved by BESE, which means higher accountability standards including standardized testing, annual progress reports to the state, and subjects comparable to public schools. This pathway offers a state-recognized school credential but involves the most oversight of the three options.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Louisiana
Education savings available
Louisiana offers 2 education savings programs. 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. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026