Homeschooling in Hawaii: what the state requires
Parent gives a notice of intent to the local public school principal, keeps a curriculum record, and submits an annual progress report, with test scores in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Hawaii sources. State page: Hawaii State Department of Education — Homeschool. Compulsory school age: At least 5 on or before July 31 of the school year, until age 18 (HRS §302A-1132).
Home schooling (HRS §302A-1132; HAR Title 8, Chapter 12)
Parent gives a notice of intent to the local public school principal, keeps a curriculum record, and submits an annual progress report, with test scores in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. Before initiating home schooling — Notice of intent (DOE Form 4140 or a letter) to the principal of the public school the child would otherwise attend, with child's name, address, phone, birthdate, grade level and parent signature. Not renewed annually if annual progress reports are submitted, except when the child moves or changes school level. Parent must notify the principal when home schooling ends; child then enrolls in public or private school within five school days unless another alternative is presented. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | — HAR §8-12-15: curriculum 'may include' — elementary: language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, art, music, health and physical education; secondary: social studies, English, mathematics, science, health, physical education and guidance. |
| Days | No minimum days in HAR Chapter 8-12. |
| Hours | No minimum hours; parent records the number of hours per week of instruction. |
| Records | Required. Keep a curriculum record: beginning and ending dates, hours per week of instruction, subject areas, methods of determining mastery, and textbooks/materials with full citations. Retention period not stated. |
| Teacher | A parent teaching the parent's child at home is deemed a qualified instructor (HAR §8-12-19). |
| Other | HIDOE FAQ: no birth certificate, residency proof or health records required to submit notice. Home study programs run by private schools are not treated as private school attendance under these rules. |
By grade
Testing or evaluation in grade 3, grade 5, grade 8 and grade 10. Annual progress report to the principal, by: a nationally-normed standardized achievement test; a written evaluation by a Hawaii-certified teacher; or a parent's written evaluation with subject progress, work samples, and tests/assignments with grades. Test scores required in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 (Statewide Testing Program; HIDOE FAQ notes the high school grade is now 11), available free at the public school or privately at parent expense. Adequate test progress = scores/stanines in the upper two-thirds; enrollment or educational-neglect action only after inadequate progress for two consecutive semesters, and not before grade 3.
Subjects by grade: HAR §8-12-15: curriculum 'may include' — elementary: language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, art, music, health and physical education; secondary: social studies, English, mathematics, science, health, physical education and guidance.
High school and graduation
No state graduation requirements for home schooling. HIDOE: homeschooled students cannot receive a public high school diploma; community schools for adults award a High School Equivalency Credential on passing the GED/HiSET.
Official sources:
- HRS §302A-1132 Attendance compulsory; exceptions
- HAR Title 8 Chapter 12 Compulsory Attendance Exceptions (Board of Education)
- HIDOE Homeschooling FAQ (rev. 2/2026)
- HIDOE Instructions for Completing DOE Form 4140
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Exact due date of the annual progress report (rule says 'annual' only) not confirmed.
High school: the public-school diploma as a guide
Optional for homeschools in most states, but the credit plan most colleges and employers recognize, and a sound default for a homeschool transcript. Shown in the subject areas this site uses.
| English | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Science | 3.0 |
| Social Studies | 4.0 |
| Physical Education & Health Physical Education 1; Health 0.5 | 1.5 |
| Career & Technical Personal Transition Plan 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Electives World Language, Fine Arts, or Career and Technical Education 2; Electives 6 | 8.0 |
| Total | 24.0 |
|---|
Hawaii High School Diploma. English: ELA 1, ELA 2, Expository Writing 0.5, 1.5 electives; Social Studies: U.S. History and Government 1, World History and Culture 1, Modern History of Hawai'i 0.5, Participation in a Democracy 0.5, elective 1; Math: Algebra 1, Geometry, 1 elective; Science: Biology 1 plus 2 electives; WL/FA/CTE: 2 credits in one program area.
Source: HIDOE Graduation Requirements
After graduation: what to plan for
Suggestions from Homeschool Corral, not state rules. Most families keep the college path open through 10th grade, then narrow.
- 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II, pre-calculus if they can), 3–4 science with 2 labs, 3–4 social studies, 2–3 years of one foreign language, 1 fine arts
- A one-paragraph description for every high-school course; the parent signs the transcript and diploma
- PSAT in 10th and 11th; SAT or ACT by spring of 11th; dual credit, AP or CLEP where it fits
- A log of activities, service and work from 9th grade; two adults who can recommend them
- A Scholarship Finder profile by 11th grade; FAFSA when it opens in the fall of 12th
- A diploma and transcript with 4 English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies; applied math every year
- Dual-credit career and technical courses in 11th–12th; OSHA 10 and first aid/CPR; a driver’s license
- Real projects and a part-time job logged as credits, with references; visit the union hall about pre-apprenticeships in 11th
- A parent-issued diploma and full transcript, signed and dated; recruiters ask for both
- Strong reading and arithmetic for the entrance test; a practice ASVAB in 11th
- Physical fitness as a logged course; service and leadership; for an academy or ROTC, the college list plus the SAT/ACT early
- The diploma and transcript anyway; personal finance and business basics as credits
- Work experience logged with hours and a reference from 10th grade; typing, spreadsheets, a clear email
- Keep the college path open: a foreign language and Algebra II cost little now
My Homeschool turns these into a checklist for each child, with the credits recorded in Transcripts counted against the plan.
HAR Chapter 8-12 last amended 5/13/2000.
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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