Start homeschooling · Alabama

How to start homeschooling in Alabama

Everything Alabama asks of a homeschool family, in order, from the state’s own sources, checked October 1, 2026. Each step links to a free tool that does it, and there’s a checklist to print at the end.

Legal options2
Required school ages6 to 17
CheckedOctober 1, 2026

Step 0: choose how you’ll homeschool

Alabama gives families 2 legal ways to homeschool. Each has its own steps below. Choose one to see its steps.

Church school: step by step

  1. Make sure this option fits your family

    Child is enrolled in a church school — a school operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination and/or association of churches that receives no state or federal funding — which since Act 2014-245 may include home programs. Church school students are exempt from compulsory attendance if they comply with the enrollment and reporting procedure in Ala. Code 16-28-7.

    Required school ages in Alabama: 6 to 17 (parent may notify the local board in writing that a 6-year-old will not be enrolled until age 7). Teacher qualification for this option: No state teacher qualification found; ALSDE states it is not authorized to license or regulate any nonpublic or church school (except child-protection laws).

  2. If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing

    Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Alabama also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.

    Write the withdrawal letter

  3. File your notice

    Required.

    What it includes: The parent or guardian files documentation of the child's enrollment and attendance in the church school with the local public school superintendent, on a form provided by the superintendent; the church school administrator countersigns the enrollment form. If the child leaves the church school, the church school notifies the superintendent (with the parent's prior consent). (Ala. Code 16-28-3, 16-28-7)

    Alabama names its own form, affidavit or filing for this. Use that where it’s required; our letter can go with it as a cover letter or a record.

    Write the notice of intent

  4. Plan your school year: days and hours

    Alabama doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.

    No state minimum found for church schools.

    Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.

    Check your days and hoursMake a school calendar

  5. Cover the required subjects

    Alabama doesn’t list required subjects for this option.

    No state-required subjects found for church schools.

    Find curriculum with lesson counts

  6. Testing or evaluation

    Not required under this option.

    No state testing requirement found.

  7. Keep the records the state asks for

    Required.

    Enrollment and attendance are reported to the local public school superintendent by the parent or guardian on the superintendent's form (16-28-7).

    Printable logsKeep them in My Homeschool

  8. Start teaching

    Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.

    Start a free plan in My HomeschoolAll free tools

  9. High school and graduation

    Set by the church school. For transcripts, ALSDE directs families to the church school itself.

    Keep a transcriptGPA calculatorSample transcript

Official sources for this option

Not confirmed on an official page: Ala. Code 16-28-1 and 16-28-7 could not be read on the official code site. The filing procedure comes from the U.S. Department of Education's state summary (a federal source, last updated 2013), which may predate Act 2014-245; ALSDE's attendance manuals only cross-reference 16-28-7. No filing deadline or attendance-reporting frequency was found in an official source. Church school definition wording seen only on FindLaw. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.

Private tutor certified by the State Superintendent: step by step

  1. Make sure this option fits your family

    Child is taught by a private tutor holding a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education, at least 3 hours a day for 140 days a year between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., in English, in the subjects required in public schools.

    Required school ages in Alabama: 6 to 17 (parent may notify the local board in writing that a 6-year-old will not be enrolled until age 7). Teacher qualification for this option: Must hold a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education.

  2. If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing

    Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Alabama also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.

    Write the withdrawal letter

  3. File your notice

    Required.

    When: Prior to beginning instruction.

    What it includes: Before instruction begins, the tutor files with the county or city superintendent of education a statement showing the children to be instructed, the subjects to be taught and the period of time instruction will be given.

    Write the notice of intent

  4. Plan your school year: days and hours

    Alabama sets a minimum.

    140 days each calendar year. At least three hours a day, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

    Check your days and hoursMake a school calendar

  5. Cover the required subjects

    The subjects required to be taught in the public schools.

    Instruction must be in English.

    Find curriculum with lesson counts

  6. Testing or evaluation

    Not required under this option.

  7. Keep the records the state asks for

    Required.

    Keep a register of work showing daily the hours used for instruction and the presence or absence of each child; report at least weekly the names and addresses of children absent without excuse.

    Printable logsKeep them in My Homeschool

  8. Start teaching

    Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.

    Start a free plan in My HomeschoolAll free tools

  9. High school and graduation

    No homeschool graduation requirements found.

    Keep a transcriptGPA calculatorSample transcript

Official sources for this option

Not confirmed on an official page: Statute text confirmed only through ALSDE's Attendance Manual, not the official code site. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.

Your Alabama checklist

Tick as you go, or print it. Nothing here is saved or sent anywhere.

Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Alabama · homeschoolcorral.com

  • Read Alabama’s rules for “Church school”
  • Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
  • File the notice
  • Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
  • Choose curriculum for each required subject
  • Start the required records from day one
  • Make a first-week plan and start
  • Read Alabama’s rules for “Private tutor certified by the State Superintendent”
  • Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
  • File the notice (Prior to beginning instruction)
  • Set the first and last day, school days and breaks (meeting the state minimum)
  • Choose curriculum for each required subject
  • Start the required records from day one
  • Make a first-week plan and start
Funding in Alabama: CHOOSE Act Education Savings Account can help homeschool families pay for approved education expenses. See the program’s page for who qualifies and its current dates.

Questions Alabama parents ask

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Alabama?

Church school: Yes. What to file: The parent or guardian files documentation of the child's enrollment and attendance in the church school with the local public school superintendent, on a form provided by the superintendent; the church school administrator countersigns the enrollment form. If the child leaves the church school, the church school notifies the superintendent (with the parent's prior consent). (Ala. Code 16-28-3, 16-28-7).

Private tutor certified by the State Superintendent: Yes. When: Prior to beginning instruction. What to file: Before instruction begins, the tutor files with the county or city superintendent of education a statement showing the children to be instructed, the subjects to be taught and the period of time instruction will be given.

How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Alabama?

Church school: No state minimum found for church schools.

Private tutor certified by the State Superintendent: 140 days each calendar year. At least three hours a day, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Alabama?

Church school: No state testing requirement found.

Private tutor certified by the State Superintendent: No testing is required.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Alabama?

Church school: No state teacher qualification found; ALSDE states it is not authorized to license or regulate any nonpublic or church school (except child-protection laws).

Private tutor certified by the State Superintendent: Must hold a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education.

What subjects are required in Alabama?

Church school: Alabama doesn’t list required subjects.

Private tutor certified by the State Superintendent: The subjects required to be taught in the public schools.

What records do I need to keep in Alabama?

Church school: Enrollment and attendance are reported to the local public school superintendent by the parent or guardian on the superintendent's form (16-28-7).

Private tutor certified by the State Superintendent: Keep a register of work showing daily the hours used for instruction and the presence or absence of each child; report at least weekly the names and addresses of children absent without excuse.

Keep going

Alabama homeschool rules in fullEvery option, by grade, with the state’s sources Moving to or from Alabama?See what changes, side by side Alabama scholarshipsFor homeschool students, with deadlines Plan your year, freeMy Homeschool, free while we’re in beta; an invite code is needed to create an account

This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.

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