Homeschooling in Alaska? Start with the requirements below.
no requirements- Alaska requires no notification at all!
- No standardized testing required
Alaska is one of the least regulated states for homeschooling. If you choose the independent home education pathway, there is no notification to file, no subject list, no testing, and no records the state requires you to keep. You simply begin teaching your child at home. Alaska's compulsory attendance law does not apply to a child who "is being educated in the child's home by a parent or legal guardian" (AS 14.30.010(b)(12)).
For families who want support, Alaska also has correspondence study programs run by school districts and approved by the state. Your child learns at home with an assigned certificated teacher, and a program may offer a fund account for instructional expenses.
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Alaska homeschool requirements include conditions and exceptions. Compare the pathways below and read the conditions alongside each supported requirement.
Source: AS 14.30.010(b)(12). Last reviewed October 2026. Current through the Alaska legislative session that ended May 20, 2026. State education department page checked for changes October 27, 2026.
- Regulation level
- None
- Compulsory ages
- 7–16
- Notification required
- No
- Assessment required
- No
- Required subjects
- None mandated
- Primary statute
- AS 14.30.010(b)(12)
Conditions and exceptions
Statewide Correspondence Study Program
- Enroll your child full time in a correspondence study program approved by the department (AS 14.30.010(b)(10)(B)). A district that offers a program must keep enrollment open for the entire school year (4 AAC 33.421(g)). State law requires no separate notice to the state or the district.
- No qualification is set for the parent. The district assigns a certificated teacher who approves the individual learning plan and monitors the student's work.
- These are the core course areas (4 AAC 33.426(d)). At least 50 percent of the coursework taken through the program must be core courses, and a student taking more than two correspondence classes must take core courses in at least two subject areas (4 AAC 33.426(a)). Not every area is required. A course required by the student's IEP also counts.
- The district may waive the rule for a senior who needs fewer core courses to graduate, and must waive it for a student who met standards in English language arts and mathematics the previous year (4 AAC 33.426(b)).
- Public-school term baseline: 180 days. Commissioner-approved teacher-training substitutions, emergency closures and an equivalent-hours alternative are allowed under AS 14.03.030. Follow the enrolled correspondence program’s approved calendar.
- Hour totals appear only in the public-school term rules (740 hours for K-3 and 900 hours for grades 4-12 under an approved alternative term). The enrolling program sets how they apply to a correspondence student.
- The public-school day in session is at least 4 hours for grades 1-3 and 5 hours for grades 4-12. The enrolling program sets how this applies to a correspondence student.
- Public correspondence program individual learning plans include ongoing assessment and statewide assessments required for public schools. Separate from direct-parent homeschool exemption.
- Correspondence students take the statewide assessments through the program (4 AAC 33.421(f)): English language arts and mathematics every year in grades 3 through 8 and in high school years set by the commissioner; science every year in grades 5, 8 and 10 (4 AAC 06.737).
- Grades follow the statewide assessment program in 4 AAC 06.710-06.790; the enrolling program schedules testing.
- The district program administers the statewide tests (4 AAC 33.421(f)) and the assigned certificated teacher monitors the student's work and progress (AS 14.03.300(a)(6)). State law gives the parent no duty to report test results.
- The district keeps a record of the required teacher contacts (4 AAC 33.421(a)(1)). State law requires no attendance record from the parent.
- Grades are determined and assigned by the certificated teacher responsible for the course (4 AAC 33.421(a)(2)). The parent is not required to keep a gradebook.
- The assigned certificated teacher reviews the student's work or progress at least quarterly; no parent-kept portfolio is required by regulation.
- Assigned certificated teacher monitors student work and progress under the individual learning plan. This does not establish unrestricted access to unrelated family records.
- Your program's assigned certificated teacher reviews your child's work or progress at least quarterly, with at least monthly contact if your child did not meet standards on the most recent statewide assessment (4 AAC 33.421(a)(1)). The district keeps the record.
Private School Exemption
- Applies only to exempt religious or other private schools operating under AS 14.45.100–130; not the separate direct-parent homeschool exemption.
- Use the department form signed by the parent or guardian and school chief administrator.
- Applies only to schools that comply with AS 14.45.100–14.45.130; not the separate direct-parent homeschool exemption.
- The notice is annual; the statute sets no filing date.
- The required filing is the annual notice of enrollment to the local superintendent; no separate withdrawal letter is set by statute.
- No subject list is set; the education must be comparable to that offered by the public schools in the area (AS 14.30.010(b)(1)).
- Regular schedule excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.
- At least 180 days on a regular schedule; no hour total is set.
- At least 180 days on a regular schedule; no daily hours are set.
- Nationally standardized test at least once each school year in grades four, six and eight.
- Applies to students in grades four, six and eight.
- A test must be given; no passing score is set.
- No individual test results are reported to the state. The school keeps each student's test records, makes them available to the parent, and makes its composite test results available each year to an authorized department representative (AS 14.45.120(c)).
- Maintain monthly attendance records for each student.
- Permanent records reflecting academic achievement and courses taken are required; the statute does not prescribe a grading format.
- Permanent student records are required (see recordkeeping); a portfolio is not.
- The chief administrative officer certifies to the department that the records are kept; the statute does not provide for the department to inspect them. Composite test results must be made available to the department (AS 14.45.120(c)).
Religious or Other Private School Enrollment
- If the school elects to comply with AS 14.45.100-14.45.130, the parent must file an annual notice of enrollment with the local public school superintendent on a department form signed by the parent and the school's chief administrative officer (AS 14.45.110(a)). See the Private School Exemption pathway.
- When the school's teachers are certificated or the child is tutored by certificated personnel (AS 14.30.010(b)(1)(A), (B)), state law requires no notice from the parent.
- Depends on the school: AS 14.30.010(b)(1) covers private schools with certificated teachers, tutoring by certificated personnel, and religious or other private schools that comply with AS 14.45.100–14.45.130. Ask the school which applies.
- For a school that complies with AS 14.45.100–14.45.130, the parent files an annual notice of enrollment with the local superintendent on a department form (AS 14.45.110(a)).
- Depends on the school: the school's teachers, or the child's tutor, must be certificated under AS 14.20.020, unless the school elects to comply with AS 14.45.100-14.45.130, which sets no teacher qualification (AS 14.30.010(b)(1)). No qualification applies to the parent.
- No subject list is set; the education must be comparable to that offered by the public schools in the area.
- A school that complies with AS 14.45.100–14.45.130 operates on a regular schedule for at least 180 days a year; no hours are set.
- Testing is the school's duty, not the parent's: a school electing AS 14.45.100-14.45.130 gives a nationally standardized test in grades 4, 6 and 8 and makes composite results available to the department (AS 14.45.120). A school that does not elect that option is not exempt from education laws and regulations (AS 14.45.030).
- A school that complies with AS 14.45.100–14.45.130 gives a nationally standardized test to students in grades 4, 6 and 8 once each school year; no passing score is set.
- Attendance records are the school's duty: a school electing AS 14.45.100-14.45.130 keeps monthly attendance records (AS 14.45.110(b)); a school that does not elect it makes monthly attendance reports to the commissioner (AS 14.45.030).
- Academic records are the school's duty: a school electing AS 14.45.100-14.45.130 keeps permanent student records of academic achievement and courses taken (AS 14.45.130(a)).
- Where the school complies with AS 14.45.100–14.45.130, the school keeps permanent student records; no parent portfolio is required.
- Where the school complies with AS 14.45.100–14.45.130, its chief administrative officer certifies to the department that records are kept; the statute does not provide for review of a family's records.
- If your school elects to follow AS 14.45.100-14.45.130, you file an annual notice of enrollment with the local superintendent on a department form (AS 14.45.110(a)). See the Private School Exemption pathway.
- If your school follows AS 14.45.100-14.45.130, the school gives a standardized test in grades 4, 6 and 8 and makes its schoolwide results available to the department each year (AS 14.45.120). You do not send reports yourself.
The essentials under the Independent Home Education
- 1Notification requirements vary by pathway
- 2Required subjects vary by pathway
- 3Assessment requirements vary by pathway
- 4Instructional time requirements vary by pathway
- 5Reporting requirements vary by pathway
Alaska offers 4 options. See all below.
What to know about homeschooling in Alaska
Independent homeschooling in Alaska comes with no state paperwork. Under AS 14.30.010(b)(12), there is no notice to file, no required subjects, no attendance tracking, no testing, and no reporting.
Correspondence study programs are a different option. They are public school programs, and full-time enrollment in a department-approved correspondence program is its own exemption from public school attendance (AS 14.30.010(b)(10)). Each student has an individual learning plan under AS 14.03.300, and an assigned certificated teacher reviews the student's work or progress at least quarterly (4 AAC 33.421). A program may give parents a fund account for instructional expenses that fit the learning plan, under written standards the district sets (4 AAC 33.422). Correspondence students take part in the statewide student assessment program (4 AAC 33.421(f)).
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development keeps a directory of correspondence schools on its website, so you can compare programs.
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Build My Plan →Claims and source coverage
Every fact checked against official state law
- Facts backed by official law
- 118 / 118
- Quoted word for word from the law
- 110
- Confirmed not required by law
- 8
Explore the individual claims and cited sources behind this state's requirements.
18
source records linked
Additional reference links: 3 sources including the state DOE and HSLDA.
Review status
Last reviewed October 2026. We check Alaska's official sources for changes twice a week.
Help us stay accurate
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How homeschooling works in Alaska
Alaska offers 4 options to homeschool. The most common is highlighted.
Alaska families can homeschool independently under AS 14.30.010(b)(12) with no state paperwork, or enroll in a correspondence study program and work with an assigned certificated teacher. A third option is a religious or other private school that elects to follow AS 14.45.100-14.45.130. That path carries real requirements: the parent files an annual notice of enrollment with the local superintendent on a department form, and the school keeps monthly attendance records, operates at least 180 days a year, keeps permanent student records, and gives a nationally standardized test to students in grades four, six, and eight.
| Independent Home EducationMost common | Statewide Correspondence | Private School Exemption | Religious or Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filing | None | None | Annual | None |
| Testing | None | Test, annually | Test, annually | None |
| Credential | None | None | None | See details |
| Subjects | None | 6 subjects | None | None |
| Hours/days | None | 180 days/yr | 180 days/yr | None |
| Records | None | None | Attendance, Grades | None |
| IEP services | Varies | Preserved | Varies | Varies |
Independent Home Education
Notification
Varies by pathway
Required subjects
Varies by pathway
Testing / assessment
Varies by pathway
Instructional time
Varies by pathway
Sourced from AS 14.30.010(b)(12). Last reviewed October 2026 · 26 individual claims tracked
Statewide Correspondence Study Program
AS 14.30.010(b)(10)(B); AS 14.03.300; 4 AAC 33.405-33.490
Required subjects
English, mathematics, social studies, science, technology, world languages
AS 14.03.300; 4 AAC 33.426 ·
Testing / assessment
Standardized test — annually
4 AAC 33.421(f) ·
Instructional time
180 days/year
AS 14.03.030 (school term of not less than 180 days in session) ·
Sourced from AS 14.30.010(b)(10)(B); AS 14.03.300; 4 AAC 33.405-33.490. Last reviewed October 2026 · 29 individual claims tracked
Private School Exemption
AS 14.45.100-14.45.130; AS 14.30.010(b)(1)(C)
Notification
simple notice to local public school superintendent for the area in which the child resides
AS 14.45.110(a) ·
Required subjects
See curriculum requirements in the cited source
AS 14.30.010(b)(1)(C); AS 14.45.120 ·
Testing / assessment
Standardized test — annually
AS 14.45.120 ·
Instructional time
180 days/year
AS 14.45.110(b) ·
Sourced from AS 14.45.100-14.45.130; AS 14.30.010(b)(1)(C). Last reviewed October 2026 · 31 individual claims tracked
Religious or Other Private School Enrollment
AS 14.30.010(b)(1)
Notification
None required
Required subjects
See curriculum requirements in the cited source
Testing / assessment
None required
Instructional time
See instructional-time requirements in the cited source
Sourced from AS 14.30.010(b)(1). Last reviewed October 2026 · 26 individual claims tracked
Alaska-specific tips
Practical guidanceNo paperwork needed to start. Under the independent pathway, you do not file anything with the state or your school district. Alaska law does not require a withdrawal letter for this pathway. If your child is enrolled in school, you can still let the school know in writing that your child is leaving.
Correspondence fund accounts. A correspondence program may provide a fund account for your child's instructional expenses. Each district sets written standards for what is allowed and approves the purchases (4 AAC 33.422). Fund accounts come only through a correspondence program. Independent homeschoolers do not receive one.
Keeping materials if you leave. A student who leaves a district correspondence program may keep textbooks, equipment, and other curriculum materials from the program, including items bought with an allotment, if they are the type a student may keep when leaving a physical school in the district (AS 14.03.300(c)).
IEP services and special needs. Correspondence students are enrolled in a public school district program. If your child has an IEP, ask the program how it provides special education services. Independent homeschoolers can still ask their district for an evaluation under federal Child Find rules (IDEA).
Starting at age six. If you enroll a six-year-old in first grade at a public school, the attendance law then applies. You may withdraw the child within 60 days of enrollment if first grade is not in their best interests, and the law then does not apply until age seven (AS 14.30.010(c)).
Explore Alaska homeschool guides
How to Start
Step-by-step guide to getting started in Alaska
Compliance Checklist
Every requirement in one checklist
Documents & Templates
Forms, letters, and what to file
Deadlines & Calendar
Filing dates and assessment deadlines
Assessment Requirements
Testing rules and what scores mean
High School
Transcripts, diplomas, and college prep
Special Needs
IEP services, therapy access, and rights
Compare with Another State
Side-by-side law comparison for relocating families
Your independent resources
Official sources and independent organizations are listed separately below. Check the source and effective date before relying on an unresolved requirement.
State Law
AS 14.30.010(b)(12)State DOE
Alaska Department of EducationLast reviewed October 2026 · How we verify