How to Start Homeschooling in Idaho

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Idaho.

Idaho does not have a separate homeschool statute. Instead, Idaho Code 33-202, the compulsory attendance law, lists private instruction "by, or at the direction of," a parent or guardian as one of the ways a parent meets the attendance requirement, alongside public, charter, private, and parochial schools.

Day to day, that means no state agency reviews your curriculum or your child's progress. The Department of Education's homeschool FAQ says there is no list, no monitoring, and no check-ins from the state level, and that the Department does not maintain records for homeschooling families. Parents homeschooling their children are not required to hold teaching licenses.

Idaho's compulsory attendance ages are 7 through 16, under Idaho Code 33-202. The requirement applies to a child who has turned 7 by the start of school in your district, and it ends at 16.

Kindergarten is not compulsory in Idaho. Under Idaho Code 33-201, a child who turns 5 by September 1 may attend public kindergarten, but a 5- or 6-year-old is below the compulsory age.

Here is how to start homeschooling in Idaho:

Step 1: Decide to homeschool. There is no registration or sign-up procedure, so there is no application or approval to wait for.

Step 2: Unenroll from public school (if currently enrolled). The Idaho Department of Education's FAQ says the first step is to ensure your child is officially unenrolled from any public school. Contact the school your child attends and ask what it needs to complete the unenrollment. Keep a copy of anything you send or receive.

If your child has never been enrolled in a public school, there is nothing to unenroll from.

Step 3: Choose your approach. Idaho Code 33-202 says instruction covers "subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools of the state of Idaho." The statute does not list specific subjects, and the state does not have a set curriculum for homeschool education. The Department suggests the Idaho Content Standards as a reference, and you decide which standards to teach.

Step 4: Start teaching. No forms to file. No office to contact.

Keep records from day one. Idaho does not require recordkeeping, but the Department of Education recommends that homeschooling families keep their own records of attendance, work completion, and similar items. A transcript, course descriptions, work samples, and any test scores will help if your child applies to college or returns to public school.

Your child can take public school classes. Idaho Code 33-203 lets homeschooled students dually enroll in courses and programs at their local public school. Dually enrolled students follow the same rules and standards as full-time students, and full-time students get priority when classes are full. Contact your school or district about enrollment and policies.

Extracurricular activities. The Department of Education's FAQ says homeschooled children can take part in public school extracurricular activities through dual enrollment under Idaho Code 33-203. Your school or district can explain eligibility and sign-up.

Diplomas and college. The Department's FAQ notes that homeschooled children do not graduate with an official diploma from an accredited high school, which may affect entry into some occupations, and that colleges and universities may have additional entry requirements for homeschoolers. Start building a transcript early in high school.

Returning to public school. If your child re-enrolls, the receiving school decides grade placement. Districts may use testing, a review of homeschool coursework or records, or provisional placement in an age-level grade.

Virtual charter schools are not homeschooling. Idaho Code 33-202 lists online and virtual charter schools as public schools. Students enrolled in them are public school students, not homeschoolers.

Special education services. If your child has special needs, ask your local district about services available through dual enrollment under Idaho Code 33-203, and request a Child Find evaluation if you suspect a disability.

Connect with other Idaho homeschoolers. Christian Homeschoolers of Idaho State (CHOIS) at chois.org is one statewide homeschool organization, and local co-ops and support groups can help you find community.