Louisiana Homeschool Documents & Templates

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

Application must include parent/guardian name, address, contact info; child's name, date of birth, grade level; description of proposed program of study; certification that instruction will cover required subjects and provide sustained, quality education.

La. R.S. 17:236 (home study application to BESE within 15 days); La. R.S. 17:236.1 (home study program provisions)

First-time vs. renewal

Status

Required if your child is currently enrolled in school

Send to

child's current school

Submit home study application to BESE/LDOE and provide written notice of withdrawal to the current school. Application should be filed within 15 days of withdrawal.

La. R.S. 17:236 (compulsory attendance; home study as alternative)

Deadline

October 1 of the school year, or within 12 months of initial approval, whichever is later

Annual renewal application due by October 1 of each school year (or within 12 months of initial approval, whichever is later). Renewal requires documentation of prior year's program quality — either (1) a report card and/or copies of standardized tests, or (2) a statement from a third party observing the student's progress or copies of student work. Parent certifies continued quality of instruction in required subjects.

La. R.S. 17:236.1 (annual renewal of home study application to BESE)

• ✓Attendance records
• ✓Grades or evaluations

Parents should maintain: approved home study application, curriculum descriptions, attendance records (180 days), samples of student work, grades and academic progress, and any voluntary test results. Records are not routinely collected by BESE/LDOE but should be available if requested.

La. R.S. 17:236.1 (home study program must maintain records of sustained instruction)

This page covers Home Study Program Approved by BESE. Louisiana offers 3 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:

• •
  Home Study Program Approved by BESE(this page): 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 and generates the correct documents. Compare all pathways for Louisiana