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North Carolina Homeschool Documents & Templates

Every document you need to homeschool legally in North Carolina, based on N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565.

These are general templates for Home School (DNPE Filing), the most common of North Carolina's 2 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 Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) by At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting)

Notice of Intent

What to file
simple notice
Send to
Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)
Deadline
At least 5 days before opening the home school (DNPE requires written acknowledgment before starting)
How often
one time

Your notice must include:

  • address where instruction takes place
Practical tip: Schools may open July through April only. DNPE recommends filing at least 5 days before opening. No filings accepted May through June.

N.C.G.S. 115C-552; N.C.G.S. 115C-560 (via 115C-564)

If withdrawing from school

Status
Not required, but recommended to prevent truancy concerns
Send to
current public school

Recordkeeping requirements

Varies by pathway. Home School (DNPE Filing): "1 year (test results); attendance and immunization records maintained at home school"; Private Church School / School of Religious Charter: null

  • Attendance records

Records may be reviewed by the district.

N.C.G.S. 115C-548; N.C.G.S. 115C-556 (via 115C-564)

Other ways to homeschool in North Carolina

This page covers Home School (DNPE Filing). North Carolina offers 2 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:

  • Home School (DNPE Filing)(this page): You file a one-time notice with the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) online before you start, teach on a regular schedule for at least 9 calendar months, and administer a nationally standardized test each year. No mandated subjects. The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or GED. No minimum test score required — results are kept at home, not submitted.
  • Private Church School / School of Religious Charter: You enroll in a private church school or school of religious charter that files with DNPE on your behalf. No high school diploma requirement for the instructor and no required subject list from the state. Standardized testing is required at grades 3, 6, and 9 (not annually). Best for families affiliated with a church or who want reduced requirements compared to the direct home school pathway.

Our wizard helps you choose the right one and generates the correct documents. Compare all pathways for North Carolina

Education savings available

North Carolina offers Opportunity Scholarship (Homeschool Eligible). 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.

Get your North Carolina documents

Requirements sourced from N.C.G.S. 115C-547 through 115C-565. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026