How to Start Homeschooling in New Mexico

Yes. Homeschooling in New Mexico is completely legal. The state defines a home school in NMSA 22-1-2 as "the operation by the parent of a school-age person of a home study program of instruction that provides a basic academic educational program, including reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science." NMSA 22-1-2.1 sets out the requirements.

Under NMSA 22-12A-4, a school-age person attends public school, private school, home school, or a state institution. A home school is one of the recognized options.

Your notification is a notice, not an application. NMPED does not approve curriculum. NMPED does enforce the home school requirements and, if a home school is not in compliance with law, may order a student to attend a public or private school (NMSA 22-2-2(H)).

A school-age person in New Mexico is at least 5 years old before 12:01 a.m. on September 1 of the school year. That means kindergarten-age children are covered. If your child has reached that age, they must attend public school, private school, or home school that year.

Under NMSA 22-12A-4, attendance continues until at least age 18, unless your child has graduated from high school, received a high school equivalency credential, or withdrawn on a hardship waiver.

There is nothing in statute to prevent you from teaching before your child is 5.

Here is how to start homeschooling in New Mexico, step by step.

Step 1: Register with NMPED. Use NMPED's online Home School System at homeschool.ped.state.nm.us. Create an account, add each child, and click "Notify" next to each child's name. If you cannot register online, NMPED has a paper Notification of a Home School form you can mail to NMPED in Santa Fe.

Step 2: File within 30 days. Notify NMPED within 30 days of establishing your home school (NMSA 22-1-2.1(A)). This works the same whether you start in September or March.

Step 3: Save your proof of notification. The online system lets you print a Home School Parent Notification Report with a registration number for each child. If you mail the paper form, NMPED recommends certified return receipt or another delivery verification.

Step 4: If your child is enrolled in school, let the school know. New Mexico law does not require a withdrawal letter. Your notification to NMPED is the legal step. Request your child's educational records from the school.

Step 5: Keep immunization records. Keep a record of each student's immunizations or an approved waiver (NMSA 22-1-2.1(B)).

Step 6: Pick your curriculum and start teaching. Cover reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. No curriculum approval needed.

Step 7: Renew by August 1 each year. Notify NMPED again on or before August 1 of each later year. Set a calendar reminder.

Your one filing is the notification to NMPED, made through its online registry or its registration form (NMSA 22-1-2.1(A)). A self-written letter is not the method the statute describes.

The form asks for:

• The school district where your children reside
• Legal names of all parents or guardians
• Your physical home address
• Each child's name, date of birth, gender, grade, and ethnicity
• Your signed affirmation that the person providing instruction has at least a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Your email address and phone

File within 30 days of establishing your home school, then by August 1 of each later year.

A New Mexico home study program provides a basic academic educational program "including reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science" (NMSA 22-1-2):

1. Reading
2. Language Arts
3. Mathematics
4. Social Studies
5. Science

You can teach anything else on top of these, such as art, music, foreign languages, or physical education.

NMPED does not approve curriculum. You decide the materials, the pace, and the approach. NMPED notes that the New Mexico Adopted Content Standards may help as you decide what content to teach.

NMPED's home school guidance lists 1,140 instructional hours per year, or 550 hours for half-day kindergarten, citing NMSA 22-2-8.1. State law does not set a number of days or a minimum number of hours per day.

How you spread the hours across the year is up to you. A simple calendar or log is an easy way to keep track, and NMPED encourages thorough records in case your child transfers to a traditional school later.

New Mexico law recognizes two options outside the public school system.

Pathway 1: Home School (NMSA 22-1-2.1). Notify NMPED within 30 days and by August 1 each later year. Teach the five subjects. Keep immunization records. The person teaching needs at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Pathway 2: Private School (NMSA 22-1-2). New Mexico defines a private school as a school, other than a home school, that offers on-site programs of instruction. If your child attends one, your duty under state law is your child's attendance (NMSA 22-12A-4). You do not file the home school notice, and the home school rules on subjects, instructor diploma and records do not apply to you. The private school keeps its own attendance policy (NMSA 22-12A-4(E)).

The instructor needs a high school diploma or equivalent. Under NMSA 22-1-2.1(C), instruction must be provided by a person with at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. No teaching certificate or college degree is needed. A parent or guardian operates the home school, but may employ someone else to teach a particular subject, as long as that person meets the same diploma requirement.

Your child can play school sports and join activities. According to NMPED, the local public school district is required to allow home school students to participate in sports and extracurricular activities if they meet certain requirements. Contact the New Mexico Activities Association for details.

Part-time public school classes depend on your district. NMPED says part-time enrollment in courses at the local school is at the district's discretion. If your district allows it, your child enrolls using their STARS ID, which you can access through the online registry.

College admissions. According to NMPED, state post-secondary institutions may not require a home school student who has qualifying test scores to obtain a high school equivalency credential, and must treat home school applicants fairly. A parent-created transcript helps colleges understand your child's coursework.

IEP services end when you withdraw. If your child has an IEP, those services stop when you leave public school. Your district must still evaluate your child under Child Find if you request it. Ask your district what services are available.

Keep immunization records. You must maintain each student's immunization record or an approved waiver (NMSA 22-1-2.1(B)). It is the one record state law requires.

Connect with other homeschool families. The Christian Association of Parent Educators of New Mexico (CAPE-NM) at cape-nm.org is a statewide organization that supports homeschooling families.