How to start homeschooling in Alaska
Everything Alaska 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.
Step 0: choose how you’ll homeschool
Alaska gives families 3 legal ways to homeschool. Each has its own steps below. Choose one to see its steps.
Home education by a parent or legal guardian: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
A child being educated in the child's home by a parent or legal guardian is exempt from compulsory public school attendance. There are no state requirements to notify, seek approval, test, file forms, or hold teacher qualifications.
Teacher qualification for this option: No teacher qualification required.
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. Alaska doesn’t require a separate notice under this option, so the letter is the school’s record that your child has left.
No notice to file
Alaska doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
Parents are not required to register with the state or their local school district.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Alaska doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.
Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.
Cover the required subjects
Alaska doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
Keep records anyway
Alaska doesn’t require records under this option.
No forms or reports are filed; no record-keeping requirement stated.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
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.
High school and graduation
No state homeschool graduation requirements stated.
Official sources for this option
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Non-Public Education — State Regulation of Private and Home Schools: Alaska (last modified Aug. 12, 2019)
- Alaska State Library — Homeschooling (lists four options, including correspondence programs)
- DEED — Alternative Schooling Options ('Homeschooling refers to schooling without district affiliation')
Not confirmed on an official page: Statute text (AS 14.30.010(b)(12)) could not be read on akleg.gov. Facts come from the U.S. Department of Education's state-law summary (a federal, not state, source; last modified 2019), which quotes the statute. No state (DEED) page states these rules. 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.
Religious or other private school operating under AS 14.45.100–14.45.130: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
Child attends a religious or other private school that complies with AS 14.45.100–14.45.130 (an 'exempt' school). Parents file an annual enrollment notice with the local public school superintendent; the school itself has calendar, testing and reporting duties.
Teacher qualification for this option: Teacher certification is not required for exempt private schools.
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. Alaska also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
When: Annual.
What it includes: Enrollment Reporting Form (AS 14.45.110) filed with the local public school superintendent (not with DEED), signed by the parent/guardian and the school's administrative officer; one form per child, giving legal name, address, date of birth, grade, and school. The school must notify the superintendent within a reasonable time if the child is no longer enrolled.
Alaska 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.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Alaska sets a minimum.
Exempt schools operate on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least 180 days of the year.
Cover the required subjects
Alaska doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
Testing or evaluation
Required in grades 4, 6 and 8.
The school gives a nationally standardized test, selected by its chief administrative officer, to all students in grades 4, 6 and 8 at least once each school year (testing covers English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics); composite school results are made available annually to the Department of Education.
Keep the records the state asks for
Required.
The school keeps monthly attendance records for each student and permanent student records of immunizations, physical examinations, academic achievement and courses taken; the chief administrative officer certifies the records are maintained. By October 15 each year the school reports to the Commissioner of Education the number of students in each grade and the school calendar.
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.
High school and graduation
The state sets no graduation requirements for homeschools under this option; you set them as the school’s administrator and issue the diploma.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: AS 14.45.100–14.45.130 could not be read on akleg.gov; school duties come from the U.S. Department of Education's summary (federal source, 2019). The DEED enrollment form gives no due date. 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.
Tutoring by personnel certificated under AS 14.20.020: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
Child is tutored by a teacher certificated under AS 14.20.020 (AS 14.30.010(b)(1)(B)).
Teacher qualification for this option: Tutor must hold an Alaska teacher certificate.
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. Alaska doesn’t require a separate notice under this option, so the letter is the school’s record that your child has left.
No notice to file
Alaska doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Alaska doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.
Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.
Cover the required subjects
Alaska doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
Keep records anyway
Alaska doesn’t require records under this option.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
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.
High school and graduation
The state sets no graduation requirements for homeschools under this option; you set them as the school’s administrator and issue the diploma.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: Statute text not readable on akleg.gov; citation and certification requirement from the U.S. Department of Education summary (federal source, 2019). Notice, days, subjects and testing for this option not confirmed. 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 Alaska checklist
Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Alaska · homeschoolcorral.com
- Read Alaska’s rules for “Home education by a parent or legal guardian”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
- Read Alaska’s rules for “Religious or other private school operating under AS 14.45.100–14.45.130”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice (Annual)
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks (meeting the state minimum)
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Note the testing or evaluation years and deadlines (grades 4, 6 and 8)
- Start the required records from day one
- Make a first-week plan and start
- Read Alaska’s rules for “Tutoring by personnel certificated under AS 14.20.020”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
Questions Alaska parents ask
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Alaska?
Home education by a parent or legal guardian: No. Alaska doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
Religious or other private school operating under AS 14.45.100–14.45.130: Yes. When: Annual. What to file: Enrollment Reporting Form (AS 14.45.110) filed with the local public school superintendent (not with DEED), signed by the parent/guardian and the school's administrative officer; one form per child, giving legal name, address, date of birth, grade, and school. The school must notify the superintendent within a reasonable time if the child is no longer enrolled.
Tutoring by personnel certificated under AS 14.20.020: No. Alaska doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Alaska?
Home education by a parent or legal guardian: Alaska doesn’t set a number of days or hours.
Religious or other private school operating under AS 14.45.100–14.45.130: Exempt schools operate on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least 180 days of the year.
Tutoring by personnel certificated under AS 14.20.020: Alaska doesn’t set a number of days or hours.
Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Alaska?
Home education by a parent or legal guardian: No testing requirement.
Religious or other private school operating under AS 14.45.100–14.45.130: Yes, in grades 4, 6 and 8. The school gives a nationally standardized test, selected by its chief administrative officer, to all students in grades 4, 6 and 8 at least once each school year (testing covers English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics); composite school results are made available annually to the Department of Education.
Tutoring by personnel certificated under AS 14.20.020: No testing is required.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Alaska?
Home education by a parent or legal guardian: No teacher qualification required.
Religious or other private school operating under AS 14.45.100–14.45.130: Teacher certification is not required for exempt private schools.
Tutoring by personnel certificated under AS 14.20.020: Tutor must hold an Alaska teacher certificate.
What subjects are required in Alaska?
Home education by a parent or legal guardian: Alaska doesn’t list required subjects.
Religious or other private school operating under AS 14.45.100–14.45.130: Alaska doesn’t list required subjects.
Tutoring by personnel certificated under AS 14.20.020: Alaska doesn’t list required subjects.
What records do I need to keep in Alaska?
Home education by a parent or legal guardian: Alaska doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Religious or other private school operating under AS 14.45.100–14.45.130: The school keeps monthly attendance records for each student and permanent student records of immunizations, physical examinations, academic achievement and courses taken; the chief administrative officer certifies the records are maintained. By October 15 each year the school reports to the Commissioner of Education the number of students in each grade and the school calendar.
Tutoring by personnel certificated under AS 14.20.020: Alaska doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Keep going
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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