Louisiana Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026Homeschooling is legal in Louisiana through two routes, and the one you pick shapes what follows. You may apply for a BESE-approved home study program, which the state approves each year, or educate your child through a nonpublic school not seeking state approval, which registers by submitting enrollment information annually. Neither route requires state testing, and in both, parents choose the curriculum. The routes differ most in approval and in how a diploma is treated.
Last Reviewed: August 14, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 14, 2027.
Louisiana Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | Set by Louisiana law. Confirm the current age range with the department or your school system before you rely on a specific age |
| Notification or registration | Home study: an application submitted online to the Department of Education for approval by BESE. Nonpublic school not seeking state approval: enrollment information submitted annually through the online attendance submission form |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | Two routes: a BESE-approved home study program, or a nonpublic school not seeking state approval |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | None identified in the department's home study guidance. The department does verify legal guardianship on an initial home study application |
| Required subjects | None prescribed. Parents have complete control in selecting the curriculum, and the department maintains no list of approved programs or curricula |
| Instructional time | A home study program maintains 180 instructional days |
| Testing or evaluation | Students in either route are not required to take state assessments. Testing is available on request, and for the nonpublic route that request runs through the local school system for the fourth and eighth grade LEAP |
| Required records | Home study: documents submitted with the annual renewal, which the department uses to verify student progression. Nonpublic route: the annual enrollment submission |
| Responsible government agency | The Louisiana Department of Education receives applications and enrollment submissions, and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves home study programs |
The Two Routes
BESE-approved home study program. A parent or legal guardian applies online to the Department of Education, and the program must be applied for and approved annually by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The application includes an assurance statement completed by the parent or legal guardian, and the department verifies legal guardianship on an initial application. Renewal is submitted by October 1 of the school year or within 12 months. The program maintains 180 instructional days, and the department verifies annual student progression through documents families submit. Parents issue the diploma, and the state's guidelines include a template.
Nonpublic school not seeking state approval. This route does not involve a state approval decision. The school submits enrollment information annually through the online attendance submission form, and whoever enters an email address on the form receives a confirmation letter immediately. State law gives a nonpublic school 10 days from a student's enrollment to notify the student's former public school. Students are not required to take state testing. A diploma from this route does not carry the same weight as a state issued diploma, though a student may receive a diploma under the school's own policies.
How to Start Homeschooling in Louisiana
- Choose your route first. Approval, renewal timing, and diploma treatment follow from this decision.
- For home study, apply online. Complete the application and the assurance statement, and have guardianship documentation ready for an initial application.
- For the nonpublic route, submit the enrollment information. Use the online attendance submission form and save the confirmation you receive.
- Notify the former school. If your child is leaving a public school, make sure the enrollment notification happens within the time the law allows.
- Calendar your renewal. Home study approval is annual, with renewal by October 1 or within 12 months. The nonpublic route submits enrollment annually as well.
Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping
Neither route requires a student to sit state assessments. Testing is available on request, and for a nonpublic school not seeking state approval that request goes through the local school system and covers the fourth and eighth grade LEAP.
Record keeping differs by route. A home study family submits documents at renewal, and the department uses them to verify that the student progressed during the year, so keep your materials organized as you go rather than assembling them in September. A family under the nonpublic route submits enrollment information annually and otherwise keeps its own records.
In both cases the curriculum is your choice. The department maintains no list of approved programs, curriculum, or strategies, so no one checks your materials against a state list.
Official Louisiana Homeschool Resources
- Louisiana Department of Education, BESE-Approved Home Study Program
- Louisiana Department of Education, Nonpublic Schools Not Seeking State Approval
- Louisiana Home Study Options, side by side comparison
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.