Homeschooling in New Mexico? Here’s your plan.

Homeschooling in New Mexico is governed by NMSA 22-1-2 and 22-1-2.1. You notify NMPED within 30 days of establishing your home school, then by August 1 of each later year, using NMPED's home school registration form or its online registry at homeschool.ped.state.nm.us. The form asks for your school district, the legal names of all parents or guardians, your physical home address, each child's name, date of birth, gender, grade, and ethnicity, your email and phone, and your signed affirmation that the instructor has at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.

A home study program provides instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science (NMSA 22-1-2). NMPED's home school guidance lists 1,140 instructional hours per year, or 550 for half-day kindergarten (NMSA 22-2-8.1). The only record state law requires a home school to keep is each student's immunization record or a waiver (NMSA 22-1-2.1(B)).

NMPED does not approve curriculum, and home school students are not required to participate in annual standardized testing. State law sets no routine review of home school records. NMPED enforces the home school requirements and, if a home school is not in compliance, may order a student to attend a public or private school (NMSA 22-2-2(H)). State law sets the time as annual hours, with no required number of days or hours per day.

Most New Mexico families homeschool under NMSA 22-1-2.1, which is written for home-based education. New Mexico law also recognizes private schools, defined as schools other than home schools that offer on-site programs of instruction. If your child attends a private school, your duty under state law is your child's attendance there (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, not the family, must have an attendance policy that follows public school attendance law as closely as practicable (NMSA 22-12A-4(E)).

Kindergarten age. 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. If your child has reached that age and you plan to homeschool, file your notification for that year.

Keep your proof of notification. The online registry 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.

Get a STARS ID. The online registry gives you access to your child's STARS ID, which your child needs to enroll part-time at a public school.

Sports and extracurriculars. 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 classes. NMPED says part-time enrollment in public school courses is at the district's discretion. Ask your district about its policy.

IEP considerations. IEP services end when you withdraw. Your district must still find and evaluate children with disabilities under Child Find. Ask your district what services are available.

Renew annually. Notify NMPED by August 1 each year you continue homeschooling.