Pick your state below for a plain-English summary of the homeschool, church-school, and private-school laws that apply to your family. We'll keep adding states as our team completes research for each one.
This information is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
Alabama allows parents and guardians to educate their children at home through several legally recognized options.
Under Alabama law, a child may satisfy compulsory attendance requirements by attending:
Many Alabama homeschool families choose to enroll through a church school, sometimes referred to as a cover school or umbrella school.
For many Alabama families, enrolling with a church school is the simplest way to organize their homeschool legally and administratively.
Alabama law recognizes church schools as a lawful education option, and Alabama Church School provides families with the enrollment documentation, records, curriculum resources, attendance tools, transcripts, diplomas, and support needed to make the process easier to manage.
Families are not left trying to figure out every form and record on their own. Alabama Church School helps provide an organized framework while parents remain actively involved in their child's education.
In Alabama, children generally fall under compulsory attendance requirements between the ages of 6 and 17.
A parent or legal guardian of a 6-year-old child may choose to delay compulsory enrollment until age 7 by notifying the local school board in writing.
Alabama law recognizes church schools as one of the legal education options available to families.
When a child is enrolled in a church school, the parent or guardian is responsible for filing the child's church school enrollment information with the appropriate local public school superintendent.
The form is provided by the local superintendent or school district and is countersigned by the administrator of the church school.
The parent then returns the completed form to the local superintendent.
This is commonly referred to as the Church School Enrollment Form or CSEF.
Alabama law requires church schools to maintain an attendance register showing:
Families should maintain accurate attendance information and provide it to their church school as required by the school's policies.
Alabama does not require church schools to use a state-approved homeschool curriculum.
The State Department of Education does not prescribe the curriculum that a church school must use.
Families may use:
The church school may establish its own academic policies and graduation requirements.
Alabama law does not establish a specific list of state-mandated subjects that every church-school homeschool student must complete.
Church schools may establish their own educational requirements, course expectations, credit requirements, and graduation standards.
Parents should follow the academic requirements of the church school in which their child is enrolled.
Alabama law does not impose a specific statewide number of daily instructional hours or school days upon church schools in the same manner that it does for the private-tutor option.
Church schools may establish their own school calendar and attendance requirements.
Alabama does not require students enrolled in a church-school homeschool program to participate in annual state standardized testing simply because they are homeschooled.
A church school may choose to establish its own testing requirements.
Parents teaching their children at home through a church school are not required by Alabama law to hold a state teaching certificate.
This is different from Alabama's separate private-tutor option, which requires the tutor to hold a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education.
Alabama also allows children to be educated by a private tutor.
This option has significantly different requirements.
A private tutor must:
These private-tutor requirements do not apply to families homeschooling through a church school.
Alabama law also recognizes private schools as a legal education option.
Private schools have separate reporting requirements under Alabama law.
Families enrolled with a church school are governed by the provisions applicable to church schools rather than the reporting provisions applicable to private schools or certified private tutors.
Alabama Church School operates as a church school option for families who choose to homeschool under Alabama's church-school provisions.
Families enrolled with Alabama Church School may receive services including:
Parents remain responsible for educating their children, maintaining required records, and complying with applicable Alabama law and Alabama Church School policies.
Important Alabama homeschool statutes include:
Families should always review current Alabama law and their local school district's procedures when beginning homeschooling.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Alaska homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Arizona homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Arkansas homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to California homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Colorado homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Connecticut homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Delaware homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Florida homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Georgia homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Hawaii homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Idaho homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Illinois homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Indiana homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Iowa homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Kansas homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Kentucky allows parents and guardians to educate their children at home. Under Kentucky law, a homeschool is considered a nonpublic/private school. Families are not required to enroll with a homeschool cover school or umbrella school in order to legally homeschool.
Parents or guardians who homeschool in Kentucky are responsible for meeting the state's homeschool requirements.
Kentucky children between the ages of 6 and 18 are generally subject to compulsory school attendance requirements.
A parent or guardian operating a homeschool must notify the superintendent of the local public school district that the child is being educated through a homeschool.
Kentucky treats this as a notification rather than an application for permission to homeschool.
Families should contact their local school district regarding the required annual homeschool notification and retain a copy of the notice for their records.
Kentucky homeschools are expected to provide:
Kentucky law requires nonpublic schools, including homeschools, to provide instruction in subjects generally comparable to those taught in Kentucky public schools.
These include:
Instruction is generally required to be provided in English.
Parents may select the curriculum, textbooks, online programs, educational resources, and teaching methods they believe are appropriate for their child. Kentucky does not require homeschool families to use a state-approved curriculum.
Parents must maintain attendance records showing that the required school days and instructional hours have been completed.
These records are generally maintained by the homeschool family and are not routinely submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Kentucky homeschool families should also maintain records of the student's academic progress. These may include items such as:
Kentucky law requires nonpublic schools to maintain records of attendance and scholarship or academic progress.
Kentucky does not require homeschool students to participate in annual state standardized testing simply because they are homeschooled.
Parents are not required to hold a Kentucky teaching certificate in order to homeschool their own children.
Kentucky does not prescribe or approve a specific homeschool curriculum. Parents have the authority and responsibility to choose the educational materials and program used for their children.
Kentucky families may enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, educational resources, recordkeeping assistance, forms, transcripts, report cards, and other available services.
Enrollment with Alabama Church School does not replace the Kentucky parent's responsibility to comply with Kentucky homeschool law, including any required notification to the family's local Kentucky school district.
Kentucky does not require families to have a cover school. Families who choose to enroll with Alabama Church School may do so for the curriculum, documentation, organization, educational support, and other services we provide.
Parents remain responsible for ensuring that their homeschool complies with all requirements applicable in their state of residence.
The primary Kentucky laws affecting homeschool families include:
For the most current requirements, families should also review information published by the Kentucky Department of Education.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Louisiana homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Maine homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Maryland homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Massachusetts homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Michigan homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Minnesota homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Mississippi homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Missouri homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Montana homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Nebraska homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Nevada homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to New Hampshire homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to New Jersey homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to New Mexico homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to New York homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to North Carolina homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to North Dakota homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Ohio homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Oklahoma homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Oregon homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Pennsylvania homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Rhode Island homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to South Carolina homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to South Dakota homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Tennessee homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Texas homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Utah homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Vermont homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Virginia homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Washington homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to West Virginia homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Wisconsin homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Coming Soon
We're writing a plain-English guide to Wyoming homeschool and private-school law. In the meantime, families nationwide can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, records, transcripts, and support. Enrollment does not replace your state's own homeschool notification requirements — contact your local school district for your state's current rules.
Don't see your state yet?
We're actively adding new states. In the meantime, families in all 50 states can enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, academic records, transcripts, diplomas, and support services. Each family remains responsible for complying with the homeschool laws of their state of residence.