As a result of COVID-19, homeschooling is on the rise. For some, this is a short-term arrangement, and others have discovered that homeschooling is perfect for their family. In case you don’t know, homeschooling is simply the practice of educating your kids from home. Some families choose to collaborate through homeschooling cooperatives and extracurricular leagues to enrich the home school experience.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia. When exploring the homeschooling route, please be aware that the laws and policies that govern homeschooling differ by state. If you wonder if homeschooling is a good fit for your family, you probably have questions about how to begin the process and what resources are available. Because of this, we created a series entitled, How to Start Homeschooling. In each installment, we will discuss homeschooling rules and resources for each state. In today’s installment, we will discuss homeschooling in Louisiana.

What you need to know:

• Louisiana Homeschool Law states that you must submit a Homeschool Application to the LADOE within 15 days of starting to homeschool. Each year, you must re-apply before October 1st or within 12 months of your first application.
• If you need to remove your kid, do so before starting homeschooling by filling out and submitting a school withdrawal.
• There are no particular requirements for homeschool teachers.
• Homeschool learners must receive a minimum of 180 days of instruction each school year.
• You must teach your homeschool kid a curriculum that is comparable to area public schools.
• There are no required records to be maintained for each homeschooled kid; however, you have to submit a portfolio for each homeschooled kid with your re-application each year to show achievement.
• Louisiana requires each homeschooled kid to participate in annual testing, such as a competency exam, a standardized test, or a certified teacher’s statement.
• If you re-enroll your kid in a public school, check with your school to see their protocols. Each school has unique guidelines for placement.

Resources

Louisiana offers funding assistance for homeschools such as the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Kids (TOPS) and the Louisiana homeschool tax deduction.

You can learn more at the Louisiana Department of Education, Home School Legal Defense Association – Louisiana, and Homeschool Louisiana.