Idaho Homeschooling Laws
The law in Idaho does not require parents to have any specific qualifications to start a homeschool, not even an approval from the school district or a requirement to have the child take a test. The law allows the parent or any other adult delegated by the parent to teach the child. In the event the public school in your district requires information regarding your homeschool program, a parent is not obligated to provide the information. Generally, the steps to homeschool in Idaho are as follows:
Select an instructor. It can be yourself, another family member or relative. An unrelated person may also be able to teach your children.
Teach the required subjects. Instructions must cover the subjects normally taught in public school such as math, ELA, science, social studies/history in grades 1st to 10th.
This page contains information on:
· Homeschool laws in Idaho
· Notice of intent to homeschool
· Recordkeeping for homeschoolers in Idaho
· Requirements to graduate in Idaho
· Switching from homeschool to public school
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Idaho
The only requirement to homeschool in Idaho is having the child take instruction on the specified subjects taught in public schools. The subjects include: math, social studies and language arts from grade 1 to grade 10. Grades 11 -12 should have additional flexibility. Parents are not obligated to keep records of the child’s attendance nor notify a school of the intention to start a homeschool unless the child was previously enrolled in a particular school. In this case, the parent shall officially withdraw the child by writing to the school or going to the school to inform the school that the child will switch to a homeschool program.
The law in Idaho provides that children between the ages of 7-16 must receive formal education in a school or have an equivalent instruction given at home. The children in Idaho must first attain 16 years to graduate.
Transferring from Public School to Homeschool in Idaho
Notice of Intent
A notice of intent is not required of parents who choose to homeschool unless the child was previously enrolled in a public school. For these students, some schools may require the parent to fill a withdrawal form or write a letter or go in person to officially withdraw the child from the public school.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Idaho
In as much as it is not a requirement by law to maintain records, it is beneficial when creating homeschool transcripts, returning to public or private school after homeschooling, applying to colleges, universities, and workplaces, as well as the military. Some of the things parents should include in the homeschool portfolio are:
· The extracurricular activities the child participated in
· A detailedhomeschool transcript for students in high school
· The detailed list of instructional materials used, including documentaries and textbooks
· Samples of written work
· A record of the tests and quizzes taken and the results thereof
Requirements for Graduation in Idaho
Parents in Idaho homeschooling their children are responsible for the curriculum and issuing high school transcripts as well as the diploma. Parents are advised to consult with colleges or universities the child is interested in prior to making the curriculum to have the coursework provided align with the requirements for admission to those colleges.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Idaho.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Idaho |
· 3 years of science · Take the SAT or ACT by 11th grade · 3 years of math having the last year of high school as a must · Complete a senior project. |
Homeschool parents in Idaho are free to set the graduation requirements for their student. Parents also determine if and when their student will graduate and are also able to award a high school diploma under their own terms. |
| Testing requirements in Idaho | Have the child take the SAT or ACT by 11th grade. |
There is no law in Idaho that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
|
Idaho high school transcripts |
Parents should consult with the school district on the procedure to get transcripts. The transcripts include the name of the student, the standardized test scores, a credit history of courses with course titles, the totals of the credits, the grade per semester and the average grade for each semester. |
Parents in Idaho can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
|
High school course credits in Idaho |
• 6 credits in math including geometry and algebra 1 |
Some parents assign credits to individual courses. Parents decide when it is time for their student to graduate and proceed to create transcripts. |
|
Eligibility for GED in Idaho |
· One must be 18 years and above · One must not be enrolled in a high school or be a graduate · To those in adult education class, the GED test is not mandatory · You must not be a resident of Idaho to qualify for the GED |
Homeschoolers in Idaho are eligible if the meet the same criteria as public school students. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Download the transcript template
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Idaho
Idaho education law does not give a specific procedure on the placement of students; parents are however required to provide the student’s records and coursework for review by the school or district which shall then place the child in the appropriate grade.
Each school in Idaho applies different guidelines for grade placement and enrollment of students. You will find that some schools in Idaho let you register your child for the grade you wish him/her to attend while others require information on the student’s progress and the curriculum used during homeschooling. Other schools in Idaho will have your child take an assessment test to determine the appropriate grade level your child belongs in. Lernsys Homeschooling provides transcripts and curriculum records which include course average grade/final grade, quizzes/tests grades, lessons and topics covered, among other things.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Idaho
Have other questions about homeschooling in Idaho? You may find the following pages helpful.
