Getting started homeschooling in Arkansas is pretty easy. My family is about to start our thirteenth year officially homeschooling in the sate of Arkansas. Here are the Legal Requirements and some Considerations to get your started.

How to Legally Homeschool in Arkansas

Arkansas law requires parents to provide written notification to the superintendent of their local school district that they intend to homeschool their children at the start of each year. All that is required is basic information. You don’t have to list your curriculum, hours, or days of instruction. Here is precisely what the law requires, copied directly from the code:

• The notice shall include:
  • (A) The name, sex, date of birth, grade level, and name and address of the school last attended, if any, of each student involved;
  • (B) The mailing address and telephone number of the home school;
  • (C) The name of the parent or legal guardian providing the home school;
  • (D)
    • (i) A statement of plans to participate during the school year in public school interscholastic activities under § 6-15-509.
    • (ii) A failure to provide the information under subdivision (a)(3)(D)(i) of this section does not preclude the student from participating in public school interscholastic activities under § 6-15-509;
  • (E) A statement of plans to seek a high school equivalency diploma during the current school year; and
  • (F) The signature of the parent or legal guardian.
•  A written notice under this subsection may be given:
  • (A) Electronically, including without limitation by email;
  • (B) By mail; or
  • (C) In person.

Once your Notice of Intent has been turned in with all legally required information, you have fulfilled the requirement of the law and may begin legally homeschooling. Make sure to keep a copy, whether paper or electronic, for your records.

If you submit your NOI online, you’ll receive a notification by email when it has been reviewed and you can then save and print a copy of the form for your records. If you do opt to take it in to your local school district’s office, ask them stamp your written Notice with the date received and then ask for a photocopy so that you can keep it for your records.

I have never mailed a paper form, but you can do that. The best way to get a stamped photocopy would be to ask for one in writing and include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your Notice of Intent.

Notice of Intent Form Options

The Arkansas Department of Education has two form options that you can use to send in your Notice of Intent, but you do not have to use them. This year, I filled out and turned in the NOI form available to members of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)–their form meets all legal requirements for the state of Arkansas. But for first-time homeschoolers, or if you are not yet a member of HSLDA, going with the ADE form will likely be the easiest course of action. Here are the links you’ll need:

ADE Notice of Intent webpage with explanations on the NOI form options they offer and some further information to help you file.

ADE Notice of Intent form (pdf), which you can print in order to mail, email, or take in to your local school district office.

ADE Online Notice of Intent (requires setting up login credentials), which is filed electronically.

When to Submit the Notice of Intent

If you know you will be homeschooling the next school year, you can submit the Notice of Intent for the coming school year between June 1 and August 15.

Here’s what the Arkansas Department of Education says about submitting the Notice of Intent after August 15: “NOI forms submitted after this date for a student currently enrolled in public school will be subject to a waiting period of 5 school days before releasing the student to be home-schooled. The superintendent or local school district board has the authority to waive this waiting period upon request.“

For more information on the Notice of Intent and to access a copy of the department’s form online, go to this page on the Arkansas Department of Education’s website.

For more information on homeschooling in Arkansas, including the Notice of Intent and practical guidance for getting started, I highly recommend you check out Arkansas Homeschool Network–they are a homeschooler’s best friend in the state of Arkansas!

That’s really it for the basic requirements! Fill out a form! Easy!

But there are a few more things that would be helpful to consider to make sure that the Notice of Intent is actually the right form for you:

Public School Online

If you are enrolled in Arkansas Virtual Academy (ARVA), or one of the other K-12 online public schools, you are NOT considered a homeschooler, and the state does not require you to fill out a Notice of Intent because you are technically still enrolled in public school.

UPDATED TO ADD: If you are leaving a local public school to enroll in a virtual K-12 program, you will have to submit an application to the virtual school and may also be required to give written notice to your child’s previous school. Check with your current school and the virtual school for requirements. 

If you wish to switch to homeschooling from online public school, you will need to submit a Notice of Intent.

Kindergarten Waiver

If your child is five years old on or before August 1, and you desire to keep them home for another year rather than send them to public school (or officially begin homeschooling), you may fill out a Kindergarten Waiver rather than a Notice of Intent.

Our family did this with one of our children because his birthday fell at the end of the summer, and if we were to put him in school, we would have wanted him to start as an older child rather than as the youngest in his class. This can be a way to take a deep breath and try out homeschooling without pressure if you are still on the fence about what to do with your rising kindergartener.

Things that are NOT Required in Arkansas

Some states require homeschoolers to give quarterly reports, take standardized tests, keep track of the days and hours of instruction, or present a portfolio of their child’s work at the end of the year. Arkansas requires NONE of these things for independent (non-government-funded) homeschoolers. And this makes homeschooling in Arkansas very easy from a legal standpoint.

However, many homeschool families find it helpful to review their own homeschools on a periodic basis in a way that suits their needs. They may elect to take standardized tests when appropriate and even administer them at home or with a local homeschool group. And many parents keep detailed or representative records of their children’s work and progress. The freedom afforded home educators in the state of Arkansas allows these practices to be tailored to the needs of the parent-teacher and their child.

Record Keeping

If you have concerns about what records to keep, know that unless you are building a child’s high school transcript, the most important thing to demonstrate with the work samples and records you keep is how the child is progressing. For a young child, this doesn’t need to include grades. Work samples from the beginning, middle, and end of the year in the most pertinent skill areas are a great way to show progress if you are ever called upon to do so. And it’s valuable for you and your child to see how far you’ve come!

Recommended Resources for Homeschooling in Arkansas

Arkansas Homeschool Network is a statewide homeschool organization dedicated to equipping, connecting, and informing independent Christian home educators. Not only will you find guidance for getting started, you’ll also find information on the history of homeschooling in our state, updates on state laws and how they impact homeschoolers, an opportunity to sign up for ARHSN’s helpful monthly newsletter, information on how to become a member and enjoy member benefits, updates on events like Rally at the Dome: Celebrating Homeschooling at the Capitol, opportunities to connect with likeminded families, and more! If you have questions about homeschooling in general or more specific considerations, Arkansas Homeschool Network can help get you the answers you need.

Home School Legal Defense Association has been defending homeschooling across the country for over forty years, offering support, educational resources, and legal representation if needed. Our family joined HSLDA as soon as we started homeschooling. It’s like insurance for homeschoolers against the crazy legal challenges that can pop up. HSLDA also has a charitable arm that seeks to help families through times of need by offering grants for homeschooling.

Also, never underestimate the power of having a library card!  🙂

 

Got more questions or concerns? Let me know in the comments! I wish you the best!

See also:

Ten Tips for Frugal Homeschooling

Why We Homeschool: Our Story and Top Seven Reasons