Arizona Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026Homeschooling is legal in Arizona, and the paperwork is light. Two items start your program, both due within 30 days of the day your child begins homeschooling: an affidavit of intent, and a document establishing the child's identity and age. Both go to your county school superintendent. After that, Arizona asks for instruction in five named subjects and nothing else on a recurring basis. There is no testing requirement, no teacher qualification, no minimum number of days or hours, and no annual report.
Last Reviewed: August 14, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 14, 2027.
Arizona Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in Arizona |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | Every child between the ages of six and sixteen years |
| Notification or registration | An affidavit of intent filed with the county school superintendent within 30 days from the time the child begins to attend a homeschool |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | A homeschool is a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian, or other person who has custody of the child, or nonpublic instruction provided in the child's home |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | None identified in section 15-802 |
| Required subjects | Reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science |
| Instructional time | No requirement for instructional days or hours appears in section 15-802 |
| Testing or evaluation | None. Section 15-802 sets no testing or evaluation requirement for homeschooled children |
| Required records | At the start, the affidavit of intent and an identity and age document required by section 15-828(B). Nothing further is submitted on a recurring basis, and the notice ending a homeschool is the only other filing |
| Responsible government agency | Your county school superintendent, who receives the affidavit and the notice of termination. Arizona has no statewide homeschool registration |
How to Start Homeschooling in Arizona
- File the affidavit of intent within 30 days. Send it to the county school superintendent for the county where you live, counting 30 days from when your child begins homeschooling.
- Include what the statute lists. The affidavit states the child's name, the child's date of birth, the current address of the school the child is attending, and the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the people who currently have custody of the child.
- Provide the identity and age document. This is a statewide requirement, not a local one. Within 30 days after home instruction begins, the person who has custody of the child must give the county school superintendent one of the documents permitted by section 15-828(B), which include a certified copy of the child's birth certificate and qualifying alternative documentation when a birth certificate is not available. Your county office can tell you which alternatives it accepts and whether it also asks for the affidavit to be notarized.
- Choose your curriculum. Cover reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science. Arizona does not prescribe materials, a schedule, or a method.
- Begin instruction. No approval is needed, and nothing further is filed while you homeschool.
Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping
Arizona places no testing, evaluation, attendance, or reporting requirement on a homeschool. There is no portfolio to assemble, no attendance register to file, no progress report to submit, and no results to send to anyone.
That freedom comes with a practical responsibility, because no agency keeps these records for you. Most families keep a simple record of the subjects covered, the materials used, and the work completed each year, along with a copy of the filed affidavit. This is a recommendation rather than a state requirement, and it is the documentation that proves useful if your child later enrolls in a public, charter, or private school, since receiving schools set their own placement and credit procedures.
One filing does end the program. When your child stops being homeschooled, notify the county school superintendent within 30 days that the child is no longer being instructed at a homeschool. County offices generally handle this with a short discontinuation form.
Official Arizona Homeschool Resources
- Arizona Revised Statutes section 15-802, school instruction and exceptions
- Arizona Revised Statutes section 15-828, admission and identity documentation requirements
- Pima County School Superintendent, Homeschool Information, an example of county filing guidance
Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?
Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.
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.