Alabama Homeschool Laws and Requirements

Alabama has no law dedicated to homeschooling. State law instead recognizes three ways a child may be educated outside a public school: enrollment in a church school, enrollment in a private school, or instruction by a competent private tutor. The route you choose decides what gets filed, who qualifies to teach, and what records anyone keeps.

Last Reviewed: August 14, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 14, 2027.

Alabama Homeschool Requirements at a Glance

The Three Routes

Church school. Your child enrolls in a church school, and the school carries the compliance. A child attending a church school is exempt from the compulsory attendance requirements before turning 16, provided the child complies with the enrollment and reporting procedures in section 16-28-7. Because the state does not license or approve these schools, each one sets its own enrollment steps, expectations, and any subjects, schedule, or testing it wants. Confirm those details with the school you choose.

Private school. Enrollment in a private school is a separate route with its own obligations, which belong to the school rather than to your family.

Private tutor. This is the one route where the requirements sit squarely on the instructor. The tutor must hold a certificate issued by the State Superintendent, teach at least three hours a day for 140 days each calendar year between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., keep a register of work showing daily hours and each child's presence or absence, and report unexcused absences weekly.

How to Start Homeschooling in Alabama

1. Choose your route. Church school, private school, or private tutor. This decision drives everything else.
2. Enroll, then ask what the school requires. For a church or private school, complete its enrollment process and ask which forms it files with the local superintendent and what it expects from you.
3. Withdraw from public school, if applicable. Withdrawal becomes official when you notify the school that your child is leaving permanently.
4. Plan your year. Alabama sets no subject list or schedule for church school students, so your plan follows your school's expectations and your family's goals.
5. Keep your own copies. No state agency holds records for church or private school students.

Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping

Alabama sets no statewide testing or evaluation requirement for children educated through these routes, and no portfolio goes to the state.

Attendance is the exception, and it works differently by route. A private tutor keeps a daily register and reports weekly the names and addresses of children of mandatory attendance age who were absent without being excused. Church schools handle enrollment and reporting under section 16-28-7 as part of their own obligations.

Because the Department of Education does not maintain records for nonpublic, private, or church school students, the records your school or family create are the ones that travel with your student. A school may ask for more than the law requires, so treat its handbook as your working checklist.

Official Alabama Homeschool Resources

• Alabama State Department of Education, Homeschool options and code citations
• Alabama Attendance Manual, compulsory attendance, private tutor, and withdrawal rules
• U.S. Department of Education, Alabama State Regulations of Private and Home Schools

Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.