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Louisiana Homeschool Documents & Templates

Every document you need to homeschool legally in Louisiana, based on La. R.S. 17:236.

These are general templates for Home Study Program Approved by BESE, the most common of Louisiana's 3 pathways. Our free wizard generates personalized documents with your name, address, and district filled in.

What documents do you need?

Notice of Intent

Required. Send to Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) on behalf of BESE by Within 15 days of beginning home study or withdrawing child from school

Withdrawal Letter

Required. Send to child's current school

Annual Renewal

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

Notice of Intent

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

Your notice must include:

  • •parent/guardian name
  • •child's name
  • •child's date of birth

Required attachments:

  • •birth certificate
Practical tip: Application is submitted through the LDOE online Home Study Program portal. One submission satisfies notification requirements. Certification of quality means you affirm the program covers required subjects at a level comparable to public schools.

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

First-time filing

Deadline: Within 15 days of beginning home study or withdrawing child from school

Starting mid-year?

File home study application within 15 days of beginning home study or withdrawing child from school. Same process as initial filing.

Withdrawal Letter

Status
Required if your child is currently enrolled in school
Send to
child's current school
Practical tip: File the home study application with LDOE first, then notify the school of withdrawal. The 15-day filing window runs from the date you begin instruction or withdraw the child.

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

Annual Renewal

Deadline
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)

Recordkeeping requirements

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
Practical tip: Records are not routinely collected by BESE/LDOE but should be available if requested. Maintain documentation sufficient to support renewal application evidence requirements.

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

Other ways to homeschool in Louisiana

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

Education savings available

Louisiana offers 2 education savings programs. ESA programs may have additional documentation requirements. Learn about ESA programs

Get your personalized documents

These are general templates. The wizard generates documents with your name, address, and district already filled in, ready to download and send.

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Requirements sourced from La. R.S. 17:236. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026