Homeschooling in Indiana: what the state requires
Parents provide 180 days of instruction equivalent to public school and keep attendance records; no registration, curriculum or testing requirements.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Indiana sources. State page: Indiana Department of Education — Homeschool Information. Compulsory school age: 7 to 18 (IDOE: children must attend in the fall of the school year in which they turn seven).
Homeschool as a non-public, non-accredited school (IC 20-33-2-12, -20, -27, -28)
Parents provide 180 days of instruction equivalent to public school and keep attendance records; no registration, curriculum or testing requirements.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Not required. IDOE: 'Registration as a homeschool family is not required in the state of Indiana'; optional registration is one-time. Parents must tell the public school they are withdrawing; high school students need a signed 'Withdrawal to Non-Accredited Non-public School Located in Indiana' form or they are coded as dropouts. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | — IDOE: 'State law exempts home schools from the curriculum and program requirements which public schools must follow'; no state-approved curriculum. |
| Days | 180 days — IDOE: parents 'should provide 180 days of instruction in an academic year, which runs from July 1 through June 30'; parents choose which days. |
| Hours | IDOE: 'Instructional time requirements do not apply to homeschools'; parents decide how long to teach each day. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not required. IDOE: 'State law does not require state testing, or any other testing, for children in homeschools.' |
| Records | Required. Attendance records must be kept (no special form) and provided on request to the Secretary of Education or the local public school superintendent (also the State Attendance Officer). Retention period not stated. |
| Teacher | No parent qualification stated by IDOE. |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade.
High school and graduation
IDOE: parents issue a non-accredited diploma; homeschooled students do not receive a diploma from the local public school, IDOE, or one accredited by the State Board of Education.
Official sources:
- IDOE Indiana Homeschool Laws FAQ (updated Aug 2025)
- IDOE Homeschool Help Sheet
- IDOE Homeschool Information
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Indiana Code text (IC 20-33-2) could not be read on iga.in.gov (JavaScript-only site); facts rely on IDOE's summaries of those sections.
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 (the state counts semester credits; shown here as year-long credits).
| English Language arts 4 | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Science | 2.0 |
| Social Studies Personal Financial Responsibility 0.5; U.S. history 1; U.S. government 0.5 | 2.0 |
| Physical Education & Health Physical education 0.5; Health and wellness 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Technology Computer Science 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Career & Technical | 0.5 |
| Electives Science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 1; World perspectives 1; Personalized electives 6 | 8.0 |
| Total | 21.0 |
|---|
Indiana Diploma, 511 IAC 6-7.2-20, for students entering high school in 2025-26 or later (class of 2029), effective July 1, 2025. Credits are semester credits. Language arts includes 2 credits of English 9; math includes 2 credits of Algebra I; science includes 2 credits of Biology I. Students may also earn readiness seals.
Source: Indiana State Board of Education Final Rule LSA #24-220 (511 IAC 6-7.2-20)
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.
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.
Other states: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming