Indiana Homeschool Laws and Requirements

homeschool laws by state Aug 14, 2026

Homeschooling is legal in Indiana, and no one approves it. A homeschool is treated as a non-accredited nonpublic school, and registering with the state is not required. What Indiana does ask is that you provide 180 days of instruction in the academic year and keep an accurate daily attendance record. There is no state-approved curriculum, no required testing, and no annual report to file.

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

Indiana Homeschool Requirements at a Glance

Topic	What applies in Indiana
Compulsory attendance ages	Children are enrolled and attending in the fall of the school year during which they turn seven, unless their parents choose to homeschool, and the obligation runs to age 18
Notification or registration	Not required. Reporting your homeschool's enrollment to the Department of Education is voluntary
Legal pathway or homeschool definition	A homeschool operates as a non-accredited nonpublic school, exempt from the curriculum and program requirements public schools must follow
Parent or instructor qualifications	None specified in the department's homeschool guidance
Required subjects	No state-approved curriculum at any grade level, and no state-approved or mandated textbooks
Instructional time	180 days of instruction in an academic year, which runs July 1 through June 30. You decide which days your school is in session and how long to teach each day
Testing or evaluation	State law does not require state testing, or any other testing, for children in homeschools
Required records	An accurate daily record of attendance. Nothing is submitted routinely, but copies may be requested
Responsible government agency	Your local public school superintendent and the State Attendance Officer may request attendance records. The Indiana Department of Education publishes the guidance and the voluntary reporting form

Voluntary Reporting Is Not a Requirement

This is the point families most often get wrong, so it is worth stating plainly. Parents who choose to home educate may report their homeschool's enrollment to the Indiana Department of Education, and the department says twice on its own page that reporting a homeschool, or registering it, is not required in Indiana.

Some families report anyway, and there is nothing wrong with that. Just do not treat the form as a permission slip. Your program is legal whether or not you file it, and no state office approves your curriculum, your schedule, or your qualifications.

How to Start Homeschooling in Indiana

Withdraw from public school, if your child is enrolled. For a high school student, the district uses a withdrawal form for a transfer to a non-accredited nonpublic school in Indiana, which keeps the student from being counted as a dropout. Ask the school for it.
Set your calendar to 180 days. The academic year runs July 1 through June 30, and the daily schedule is yours to set.
Choose your curriculum. Indiana approves none and mandates none, so the materials and approach are your family's decision.
Start the attendance record on day one. Keep it daily rather than reconstructing it later.
Decide about voluntary reporting. File the enrollment report if you want to, knowing it is optional.

Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping

Attendance is the one record Indiana expects you to keep. Maintain an accurate daily record showing your child's enrollment and attendance. Local public school superintendents and the State Attendance Officer may request copies to verify attendance, so keep it in a form you could hand over.

Testing is a different story. State law does not require state testing, or any other testing, for homeschooled children. Homeschool students generally do not take part in statewide testing unless they are enrolled in at least one public school class.

Nothing else is filed. Most families also keep a simple record of subjects covered, materials used, and work completed, which is a practical habit rather than a legal duty and helps if your child later enrolls in a school that sets its own placement and credit procedures.

Official Indiana Homeschool Resources

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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.