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Alabama Homeschool Deadlines & Calendar

Key homeschool deadlines for Alabama, based on Ala. Code 16-28-1; Ala. Code 16-28-7.

These are general deadlines for Church School / Cover School / Umbrella School, the most common of Alabama's 3 pathways. Our free wizard calculates exact dates for your family and sends email reminders.

Key deadlines at a glance

Alabama's deadlines are relative to when you start homeschooling (e.g., “within 30 days”) rather than fixed calendar dates. See the sections below for details, or use the wizard to calculate your exact dates.

Other ways to homeschool in Alabama

These deadlines are for Church School / Cover School / Umbrella School. Alabama offers 3 pathways, and each may have different deadlines:

  • •
    Church School / Cover School / Umbrella School(this page): You enroll your child in a church school (often called a cover school or umbrella school). Under Ala. Code 16-28-1, a church school offers instruction in grades K-12, including through home programs, and is operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, or association of churches that receives no state or federal funding. You file your child's enrollment and attendance with the local public school superintendent on the superintendent's form, countersigned by the church school administrator (Ala. Code 16-28-7). Alabama law sets no state rule on subjects, hours, or testing for church school students. Your church school may set its own policies.
  • •
    Private Tutor: Your child is taught by a private tutor who holds a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education. The tutor teaches the branches of study required in the public schools, in English, for at least 3 hours a day for 140 days each calendar year, between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Before instruction begins, the tutor files a statement with the county or city superintendent showing the children to be taught, the subjects, and the period of instruction (Ala. Code 16-28-5).
  • •
    Private School: Your child attends a private school, defined in Ala. Code 16-28-1 as a school established, conducted, and supported by a nongovernmental entity offering instruction in grades K-12, including through home programs. The school's principal teacher reports enrolled children to the county or city superintendent at the end of the fifth day after public schools open, then reports unexcused absences at least weekly (Ala. Code 16-28-7).

Our wizard calculates the right deadlines for your pathway. Compare all pathways for Alabama

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Deadlines sourced from Ala. Code 16-28-1; Ala. Code 16-28-7. Last reviewed October 2026