Louisiana Homeschool Requirements

Under LA R.S. 17:236.1(A), a parent or legal guardian shall apply to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) for approval of a home study program. The initial application must be filed within 15 days after commencement of the program. Renewal applications must be submitted by October 1 of the school year, or within 12 months of the initial approval, whichever is later. BESE must immediately notify the local city/parish school superintendent of the application and any subsequent actions. Applications can be submitted online at https://webapps.doe.louisiana.gov/publicapps/homestudy_app or by paper in hardship cases. Approvals are valid for one year. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, compulsory attendance applies to children age 5 through 18 per R.S. 17:221.

Under LA R.S. 17:236.1(B), the initial application is approved if the parent certifies that the home study program will offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level. For renewals under R.S. 17:236.1(C), parents must submit evidence that the program has in fact offered a sustained curriculum of that quality. Louisiana does not maintain an approved curriculum list; parents have complete control in selecting their curriculum. The program must operate for a minimum of 180 instructional days per R.S. 17:236.

R.S. 17:236 defines a school as an institution requiring a minimum session of not less than 180 days. For a BESE-Approved Home Study program, participants are considered in attendance at a day school and must comply with this 180-day minimum. There is no separate hourly requirement specified in statute for home study programs. The LDOE guidelines confirm that programs must maintain 180 instructional days.

Under R.S. 17:236.1(D), a renewal application may be approved if the parent submits: (1) verification that the child scored at or above passing level on the state competency-based education exam; (2) verification the child scored at or above grade level on the CAT or other BESE-approved standardized exam, or progressed at one grade level per year; or (3) a statement from a teacher certified at the child's grade level attesting that the program offers a curriculum of quality at least equal to public schools. Subsections (E) and (F) allow parents to request administration of the competency-based exam through the local school board or LDOE. No standardized testing is required for the initial application.

Under R.S. 17:236.1(C)(1), the renewal packet must include documents substantiating that the program offered a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to public schools. The LDOE verifies annual student progression through a variety of submitted documents. Parents are responsible for selecting curriculum and determining grade placement; retroactive grade-level changes are not allowed. The LDOE does not maintain an approved curriculum list, leaving documentation choices to parents.

Neither R.S. 17:236.1 nor the LDOE guidelines specify any degree, certification, or credential requirement for parents operating a home study program. The statute focuses on curriculum quality rather than parent qualifications. The only teacher-related requirement is optional: for the renewal pathway under R.S. 17:236.1(D)(3), a parent may optionally obtain a statement from a state-certified teacher evaluating the program, but this is an alternative evidence option, not a requirement that the parent be certified.

Under R.S. 17:170, all persons entering any Louisiana school for the first time or entering 6th grade must present satisfactory evidence of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases per the Office of Public Health schedule, or evidence of an immunization program in progress. The BESE-Approved Home Study Program application includes an immunization assurance section for students who are 11 years old or entering 6th grade, allowing three options: proof of immunization, a religious/personal exemption statement, or a physician statement of medical contraindication. No documentation needs to be provided to the LDOE, but records must be maintained.

The LDOE guidelines state explicitly that BESE-Approved Home Study Programs do not qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq., nor for modifications and/or accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Adopted by BESE November 15, 1984; Revised April 2002.) Parents with children who have exceptionalities should consult their local education agency for information about free and appropriate educational services available under IDEA before choosing home study.

Per LDOE guidance interpreting R.S. 17:236.1, there is no documentation a parent must provide to withdraw a child from public school. The parent may begin the home study program and then has 15 days to submit the initial BESE application. The LDOE is required to notify the local superintendent when a home study application is received and when any subsequent action is taken. If transferring back to public school, the parent contacts the local school system; the superintendent or designee determines placement and any credits awarded toward graduation.

Under R.S. 17:221(A)(1)(b), effective 2022-2023, the parent or legal guardian of a child who resides in Louisiana and who is age 5 by September 30 of the calendar year through age 18 must ensure the child attends a public or nonpublic school, or is enrolled in a BESE-Approved Home Study program. A child enrolled in an approved home study program under R.S. 17:236.1 is considered in compliance with school attendance provisions. A child who graduates from high school prior to age 18 is exempt.

Under R.S. 17:236.1(G), a high school diploma awarded by a BESE-approved home study program shall be deemed by all public postsecondary educational institutions and all state governmental entities to have the same rights and privileges as a diploma from a state-approved nonpublic school. Parents create and issue their own diplomas; use of state seals or wording implying BESE or LDOE issuance is unauthorized. Students are not required to take the HiSET. For TOPS scholarship eligibility, students must be enrolled in a BESE-approved home study program for both 11th and 12th grade and meet TOPS ACT requirements.

R.S. 17:236.3 provides that beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a BESE-approved home study student is eligible to participate in interscholastic athletic activities at LHSAA member high schools. The student must: be in full compliance with R.S. 17:236.1, meet the same academic standards as other students, and meet all other applicable requirements (tryouts, practice, codes of conduct, physical exams, proof of age, fees, etc.) excluding enrollment. A student who was determined ineligible for conduct/academic reasons at a prior school is ineligible for one calendar year. A student who transfers from public/nonpublic school to home study is ineligible for the remainder of that school year and the following year.