Indiana Homeschool Requirements

Indiana Code §20-33-2-21 allows (but does not mandate) parents to report homeschool enrollment to the Indiana Department of Education. The IDOE's own website states: 'Reporting homeschool enrollment (registering a homeschool) is not required in Indiana.' When withdrawing from a public school, the parent must provide written notice to the principal. For high school students, the parent must sign a 'Withdrawal to Non-Accredited Non-public School Located in Indiana' form; failing to do so causes the student to be coded as a dropout and triggers BMV license revocation under IC §20-33-2-9 and IC §20-33-2-28.5.

IC §20-33-2-12 states that a school that is nonpublic, nonaccredited, and not otherwise approved by the state board 'is not bound by any requirements set forth in IC 20 or IC 21 with regard to curriculum or the content of educational programs.' The only substantive academic requirement is that instruction must be 'equivalent to that given in public schools' (IC §20-33-2-28(b)), but Indiana law does not define equivalency, leaving it broadly to the parent's discretion. The IDOE states there is no state-approved curriculum and no mandated textbooks.

The 180-day requirement derives from IC §20-33-2-28(b), which requires instruction 'equivalent to that given in public schools,' and public schools must operate for 180 days under IC §20-30-5-1. The IDOE Homeschool Help Sheet explicitly states: '180 days of instruction: You decide which days your school will be in session, and how long to teach each day.' There is no minimum daily-hours requirement. The IDOE also notes that 'in the case of mid-year transfers, days attended at the first school count toward the 180 day total at the homeschool.'

Under IC §20-33-2-12(c), a student in a nonaccredited nonpublic school 'may be offered the opportunity to participate in state standardized assessments, but such participation is not required.' The IDOE Homeschool Help Sheet confirms: 'State law does not require state testing, or any other testing, for children in homeschools.' Families who wish to have their child tested may arrange private standardized tests, or may access state testing if their child dual-enrolls in an accredited public or nonpublic school program.

The attendance recordkeeping requirement is implied by IC §20-33-2-28's equivalency standard and enforced through the attendance officer authority in IC §20-33-2-39. The IDOE Help Sheet states: 'There is no special form for these records, which are used to verify non-public non-accredited school attendance. The law allows local public school superintendents and the State Attendance Officer to request copies of your child's attendance records to verify attendance.' No specific format is required. Keeping course records and graded work is strongly recommended for college admissions and employment but not legally required.

IC §20-33-2-12 explicitly exempts nonpublic nonaccredited schools from all IC 20 and IC 21 requirements, which includes teacher licensure requirements that apply to public schools. The IDOE does not list any qualification requirements for homeschool parents. Indiana law gives 'home educators the flexibility to choose the curriculum and textbooks they feel will most benefit their children,' with the responsibility placed entirely on the parent or guardian to determine educational content and approach.

Indiana Code §20-34-4-2 requires students to provide proof of immunization upon enrollment in a school. The Indiana Department of Health publishes grade-level immunization schedules (most recently updated for 2025-26) that technically apply to nonpublic school students. Because homeschool registration is voluntary, families who do not register face little practical enforcement. Religious exemptions are available under IC §20-34-3-2. The IDOE Homeschool Help Sheet does not list immunization as a homeschool-specific legal requirement, and it is not discussed in the context of the nonaccredited school framework.

Under federal IDEA (20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(10)(A)), public school districts must provide parentally-placed private school children with disabilities equitable participation in special education services. However, the district is not required to provide FAPE or implement an IEP; instead, it develops a 'services plan' proportional to the federal funding. The Indiana DOE Help Sheet states: 'Under 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(10), children with disabilities enrolled in homeschools have the same genuine opportunities for participation in IDEA funded programs (through the public schools) as children with disabilities enrolled in an accredited, non-public school.' Families should contact their local school district's special education coordinator to request evaluation or services.

The withdrawal process is governed by IC §20-33-2-9 (Exit Interviews; Withdrawal Requirements) and IC §20-33-2-28.6 (Transfer to Nonaccredited Nonpublic School; Acknowledgment of Legal Requirements; Notification to Bureau of Motor Vehicles). The IDOE Help Sheet explains that written notice to the principal is required when withdrawing, and for high school students the signed withdrawal form is mandatory to avoid dropout coding and BMV action. When re-enrolling in public school, homeschooled students are treated as transfer students, and credit evaluation is at the discretion of the receiving district.

IC §20-33-2-6 sets the compulsory attendance window. A student is bound by attendance requirements from the earlier of (1) the date of official school enrollment or (2) the beginning of the fall term of the year the student turns 7, until the student graduates, turns 18, or (after an exit interview) withdraws at age 16-17. The IDOE Help Sheet confirms: 'Homeschooled children are to begin school no later than their seventh birthday' and 'While encouraged, kindergarten is not mandatory in Indiana.'

Indiana law does not establish state diploma requirements for nonaccredited nonpublic schools. The IDOE Help Sheet states: 'Homeschooled students will not receive a diploma from the local public school or from the Indiana Department of Education. It is strongly recommended that homeschool programs keep good records of the courses taught through high school so that they can be provided to colleges and prospective employers although those types of educational records are not required by state law.' Homeschool students age 16+ may take the HSE (formerly GED) through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Home-issued diplomas are recognized by Indiana colleges and employers.

Indiana law does not grant homeschooled students a right to participate in public school extracurricular activities. The IDOE Help Sheet states: 'Participation in public school extracurricular activities and sports is at the discretion of the public school and is a local decision.' The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) allows participation only if the local district approves and the student meets criteria including: three consecutive years of homeschooling, enrollment in at least one class per day at the participating school, passing grades in all courses, a passing physical, required practices, and completion of all state-wide exams authorized by the IDOE. Homeschooled students are not eligible for the 21st Century Scholars program.