Arizona Homeschooling Laws
Homeschooling laws in Arizona are precise and easy to understand. Families considering homeschooling their children may question the legality of homeschooling in Arizona, wondering what is required to homeschool in Arizona as well as the process of homeschooling. Arizona allows homeschooling which is not a complex process. To homeschool in Arizona, simply follow these 4 steps:
1. File an affidavit of intent (NOI).
2. Provide a copy of the student/child’s birth certificate.
3. Teach the required subjects.
4. File a letter of termination.
This page provides information on homeschooling which includes:
· Requirements to homeschool in Arizona
· Filing an Arizona affidavit intended to establish a homeschool
· Starting a homeschool in Arizona
· Recordkeeping for homeschoolers in Arizona
· Requirements to graduate in Arizona
· Switching from homeschool to a 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 Arizona
The law in Arizona provides the following regarding homeschooling:
· Parents should have an Arizona homeschool affidavit filed.
· Every child in Arizona between 6 -16 years shall attend compulsory school, whether public/private school or a homeschool.
· The curriculum used in homeschooling must have the following subjects: mathematics, science, social studies, grammar and reading.
Transferring from Public School to Homeschool in Arizona
Notice of Intent
Parents are required to file a notarized affidavit with the school superintendent as the first step before establishing a homeschool. The affidavit should be submitted within 30 days of homeschooling which serves as a notice of intention to homeschool. The law in Arizona provides that a child who is 6 years and above may begin school, although a delay of up to 8 years is allowed. For children who begin school before 6 years, the affidavit shall be submitted 30 days prior to the 6th birthday of the child. The affidavit shall include information on the delay as well as the following:
· The identification of the child including the child’s age, name and the address
· The birth certificate of the child
· The particulars of the parent or the guardian including the name, address and telephone number
Filing the affidavit is done only at the beginning of homeschool unless the family moves from one county to another that they will have to file another one at the new county.
Starting a homeschool in Arizona
Parents whose children are enrolled in public school and would like to switch to a homeschool program are advised to formally withdraw from the school to avoid truancy complications. It is a not a legal requirement but a recommended procedure. The withdrawal may be a letter or an official email to the attendance clerk, the school counselor or the principal to serve as a notification of the intention to withdraw the child. It shall include when the homeschool program is intended to begin or the date it began. Homeschoolers will still be allowed to take part in school-based interscholastic activities if they wish.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Arizona
There is no law in Arizona that requires parents to keep or submit records of the child’s progress, experience or details of the instruction given during in the homeschool program. It is however a good idea to keep the records preferably in a homeschool portfolio which has proven to be helpful in:
· Creating high school transcripts
· Showing proof of the work covered during homeschooling in case the student wants to switch to public school or private school
· Showing the moments spent together taking the instruction
Recordkeeping may be simply writing down the activities carried out by the student once in a while taking into account the progress realized during the homeschool program. The parent may also choose to keep a detailed record of the subjects, materials used, the plan used and the books used to give instruction. In making the portfolio one should consider the information they deem important and that which may come in handy in the future.
Requirements for Graduation in Arizona
There are no laws or regulations on graduation for homeschoolers in Arizona. The parents decide when and whether the student is ready to graduate, make the transcripts and proceed to give their own homemade diploma. Transcripts should be well detailed for they are often required when joining colleges. Most colleges will accept diplomas from a homeschool program provided the transcript submitted is detailed.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Arizona.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Arizona |
To receive a diploma in Arizona, 22 completed credits are required. Districts and charter schools may, at their discretion, establish graduation credit requirements for their students in addition to the statewide requirements |
Parents in Arizona have the liberty to determine if and when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. Institutions also give diplomas to students in private/online schools. |
| Testing requirements in Arizona | N/A |
There is no law in Arizona that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
|
Arizona high school 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 Arizona 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 Arizona |
Each student must attain:
|
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 Arizona |
To apply for the GED test one has to be 18 years or older and one who has not received a high school diploma from either a private or a public high school. |
Homeschoolers in Arizona 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 Arizona
Parents in Arizona who wish to return to public school must submit to the district superintendent a letter of termination. For better determination of which grade the child is working at, parents are advised to submit records of the student but the decision lies with the school principal. The eligibility of the assessments and standardized tests the child took is determined by individual schools. Upon registration, the child may be required to take additional placement tests.
Each school in Arizona applies different guidelines for grade placement and enrollment of students. You will find that some schools in Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona
Have other questions about homeschooling in Arizona? You may find the following pages helpful.
