New Mexico Homeschool Documents & Templates

What to file

simple notice

Send to

New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED)

Deadline

Within 30 days of establishing the home school

How often

annual

Official form

Download / access form

Free-form letter accepted?

Yes. You can write your own letter instead of using an official form.

NMSA 22-1-2.1 (home school notification within 30 days; annual renewal)

First-time vs. renewal

Status

Not required, but recommended to prevent truancy concerns

Send to

current school (and file NMPED notification)

Statutory notification runs to NMPED (the department), not the local superintendent. Also notify the current school to prevent truancy referrals. Complete any district withdrawal forms. Request the child's educational records at time of withdrawal. District cannot refuse withdrawal. NMPED is mandated to enforce home school requirements and may order public school attendance if a home school is not in compliance.

NMSA 22-1-2.1 (notification to NMPED satisfies compulsory attendance under NMSA 22-12-2)

Deadline

By August 1 of each subsequent year of operation

Annual renewal by August 1 via the NMPED online system or paper form.

NMSA 22-1-2.1 (annual notification renewal)

• ✓Attendance records

Records may be reviewed by the district.

Attendance records documenting 180 instructional days should be maintained. Records of student disease immunization or a waiver must also be maintained per NMSA 22-1-2.1. Records may be requested by the Public Education Department. NMPED is mandated to enforce home school requirements.

NMSA 22-1-2.1 (attendance records); NMAC 6.10.3 (recordkeeping regulations)

This page covers Home School. New Mexico offers 2 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:

• •
  Home School(this page): You notify the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) within 30 days of starting, teach five core subjects for 180 instructional days, and maintain attendance and immunization records. The teaching parent must have a high school diploma or GED. No testing required, and no curriculum needs to be submitted for review. Annual renewal by August 1.
• •
  Private School: You register as a private school with the Public Education Department. Requirements differ from the home school pathway, and this option is less commonly used for individual home-based education. Most families choose the home school pathway for its clearer legal framework.

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