New Mexico Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in New Mexico, based on NMSA 22-1-2.1. New Mexico is classified as Moderate regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home School, the most common of New Mexico's 2 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 New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED). Deadline: Within 30 days of establishing the home school.
Deadline: Within 30 days of establishing the home school
More details
Include: Name(s) of the child(ren), Address of the home school, Grade level(s) of the child(ren), Name of the parent providing instruction, Parent's qualifications (high school diploma or equivalent)
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to current school (and file NMPED notification).
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
Confirm your qualification
This pathway requires a high school diploma or GED. Alternatives: GED.
Deadline: Before you start
Ongoing
Required subjects
reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 180 days/year. You must track and document hours.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records. Records may be reviewed by the district.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by By August 1 of each subsequent year of operation.
Good news
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED)
- Deadline
- Within 30 days of establishing the home school
- How often
- annual
- Official form
- Download / access form
Your notice must include:
- •Name(s) of the child(ren)
- •Address of the home school
- •Grade level(s) of the child(ren)
- •Name of the parent providing instruction
- •Parent's qualifications (high school diploma or equivalent)
NMSA 22-1-2.1 (home school notification within 30 days; annual renewal)
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓reading
- ✓language arts
- ✓mathematics
- ✓social studies
- ✓science
Varies by pathway. Home School: "general_list"; Private School: "none"
NMSA 22-1-2.1 (basic academic program including reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science)
Instructional time
Varies by pathway. Home School: true; Private School: false
- Days per year:
- 180
NMSA 22-1-2.1; NMSA 22-2-8.1 (180 instructional days per school year)
Recordkeeping
Varies by pathway. Home School: true; Private School: false
- ✓Attendance records
Records may be reviewed by the district.
NMSA 22-1-2.1 (attendance records); NMAC 6.10.3 (recordkeeping regulations)
Reporting
Varies by pathway. Home School: "By August 1 of each subsequent year of operation"; Private School: null
- Annual renewal
- Required by By August 1 of each subsequent year of operation
NMSA 22-1-2.1 (annual notification renewal)
Instructor qualifications
Varies by pathway. Home School: ["GED"]; Private School: []
The instructor must have a high school diploma or GED.
Alternatives: GED
NMSA 22-1-2.1 (instructor must possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent)
What you don't need to worry about
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Other ways to homeschool in New Mexico
This checklist covers Home School, the most common pathway. New Mexico offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home School(this checklist) : You notify the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) within 30 days of starting, teach five core subjects for 180 instructional days, and maintain attendance and immunization records. The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or GED. No testing required, and no curriculum needs to be submitted for review. Annual renewal by August 1.
- •Private School : You register as a private school with the Public Education Department. Requirements differ from the home school pathway, and this option is less commonly used for individual home-based education. Most families choose the home school pathway for its clearer legal framework.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for New Mexico
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 New Mexico checklistRequirements sourced from NMSA 22-1-2.1. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026