Rhode Island Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Rhode Island, based on R.I.G.L. Section 16-19-2. Rhode Island is classified as High regulation.
This is the general checklist for School Committee Approval. 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 local school committee or superintendent of the town where the child resides and wait for approval before beginning instruction. Deadline: varies by municipality; some require submission before start of school year.
Deadline: varies by municipality; some require submission before start of school year
More details
Rhode Island requires school committee approval -- not just notification. Procedures, forms, and timelines vary by municipality. Families must contact their local school committee or superintendent's office to determine the specific process. Unlike notification-only states, families generally cannot begin homeschooling without school committee approval.
Send a withdrawal letter
If your child is currently enrolled in school, send a withdrawal letter to local school committee or superintendent.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
Withdrawal is typically handled as part of the school committee approval process under Section 16-19-2. Families submit a written request. The committee may require a meeting, documentation of the proposed educational program, or other materials before granting approval. Until approval is granted, the child is technically still subject to compulsory attendance requirements..
Ongoing
Required subjects
reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, United States and Rhode Island history, principles of American government, English
More details
R.I.G.L. Section 16-19-2 requires instruction 'substantially equal' to that of the public schools in the town. The specific subjects may be further defined by each local school committee. The 'substantially equal' standard provides flexibility in curriculum, methods, and materials -- identical instruction is not required..
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 180 days/year.
More details
Instruction must be for a period 'substantially equal' to public schools per R.I.G.L. 16-19-2. Rhode Island public schools are required to provide a minimum of 1,080 school hours per year (equivalent to a 5.5-hour day for 180 days). School committees may require documentation of instructional days or hours. The 'substantially equal' standard provides flexibility — exact replication is not required.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records. Records may be reviewed by the district.
More details
R.I.G.L. 16-19-2 requires that 'registers are kept and returned to the school committee, the superintendent of schools, truant officers, and the department of elementary and secondary education' — the same attendance registers required of public schools. Many school committees also require curriculum documentation and work samples. Requirements are communicated as part of the approval process.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year.
More details
Reporting requirements are established locally as a condition of school committee approval. Some committees require annual reporting (year-end summary, test scores, portfolio review, or progress narrative). Some require mid-year and end-of-year check-ins. Some require only initial approval and a brief annual renewal. Most school committees require annual renewal of homeschool approval.
Good news
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- approval required
- Send to
- local school committee or superintendent of the town where the child resides
- Deadline
- varies by municipality; some require submission before start of school year
- How often
- annual
Rhode Island requires school committee approval -- not just notification. Procedures, forms, and timelines vary by municipality. Families must contact their local school committee or superintendent's office to determine the specific process. Unlike notification-only states, families generally cannot begin homeschooling without school committee approval.
R.I.G.L. 16-19-2 (school committee approval of equivalent instruction)
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓reading
- ✓writing
- ✓arithmetic
- ✓geography
- ✓United States and Rhode Island history
- ✓principles of American government
- ✓English
R.I.G.L. Section 16-19-2 requires instruction 'substantially equal' to that of the public schools in the town. The specific subjects may be further defined by each local school committee. The 'substantially equal' standard provides flexibility in curriculum, methods, and materials -- identical instruction is not required..
R.I.G.L. 16-19-2 (subjects 'substantially equal' to public schools)
Instructional time
- Days per year:
- 180
Instruction must be for a period 'substantially equal' to public schools per R.I.G.L. 16-19-2. Rhode Island public schools are required to provide a minimum of 1,080 school hours per year (equivalent to a 5.5-hour day for 180 days). School committees may require documentation of instructional days or hours. The 'substantially equal' standard provides flexibility — exact replication is not required.
R.I.G.L. 16-19-2 (instruction for period 'substantially equal' to public schools); R.I.G.L. 16-19-1 (compulsory attendance)
Recordkeeping
- ✓Attendance records
Records may be reviewed by the district.
R.I.G.L. 16-19-2 requires that 'registers are kept and returned to the school committee, the superintendent of schools, truant officers, and the department of elementary and secondary education' — the same attendance registers required of public schools. Many school committees also require curriculum documentation and work samples. Requirements are communicated as part of the approval process.
R.I.G.L. 16-19-2(2)
Reporting
- Annual renewal
- Required
Reporting requirements are established locally as a condition of school committee approval. Some committees require annual reporting (year-end summary, test scores, portfolio review, or progress narrative). Some require mid-year and end-of-year check-ins. Some require only initial approval and a brief annual renewal. Most school committees require annual renewal of homeschool approval.
R.I.G.L. 16-19-2 (school committee sets reporting conditions as part of approval)
What you don't need to worry about
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Related guides
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 Rhode Island checklistRequirements sourced from R.I.G.L. Section 16-19-2. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026