Homeschool laws · State guide
Homeschooling in Alabama
Alabama has no dedicated homeschool statute; families homeschool through a church school, a private school, or a state-certified private tutor, and church school enrollment is reported to the local superintendent.
Alabama at a glanceLevel: Low
- Notice to the state
- Yes
- Church school: the parent files enrollment on the local superintendent's form, countersigned by the church school (§16-28-7). Private tutor: file a statement with the superintendent before instruction begins (§16-28-5).
- Testing
- No
- No testing requirement appears in the church school or private tutor sections reviewed (§§16-28-1, 16-28-3, 16-28-5, 16-28-7).
- Record-keeping
- Required
- Church or private school: keep an attendance register showing every absence of a half day or more (§16-28-8). Private tutor: keep a register of daily hours of instruction and attendance (§16-28-5).
- Immunization
- Unclear
- Private-school homeschoolers need immunization proof or an exemption (Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-6-1-.02). Whether church-school home programs must comply remains unclear.
- Required subjects
- Yes, 3
- Church school: none specified in the sections reviewed., Private school: physical education conforming to the Department of Education program (§16-40-1)., Private tutor: the branches of study required in public schools, taught in English (§16-28-5).
- Instruction time
- Church school: not specified in the sections reviewed. Private tutor: at least 3 hours a day for 140 days each calendar year, between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.
- §16-28-5
- Parent qualifications
- Church school: none stated. Private tutor: must hold a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education
- §16-28-5
- Compulsory school age
- 6–17
- a parent may delay enrollment of a 6-year-old until age 7 by notifying the local board in writing; §16-28-3
Ways to homeschool here: Church school (home program operated as a church ministry) · Private school (home program) · Certified private tutor
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Overview
The Alabama State Department of Education says Alabama “does not have a specific law dedicated to homeschooling” and lists three legal options: attending a church school, attending a private school, or instruction by a private tutor.
Legal options
- Church school. Defined in Ala. Code §16-28-1 as a school offering K-12 instruction (any combination, including preschool), through on-site or home programs, operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination and/or association of churches that receives no state or federal funding. The parent files the child’s enrollment and attendance with the local public school superintendent on the superintendent’s form, countersigned by the church school administrator (§16-28-7). If the child stops attending, the church school notifies the superintendent.
- Private school. Defined in §16-28-1 as a school established, conducted and supported by a nongovernmental entity offering K-12 instruction through on-site or home programs. The principal teacher reports enrollment by the fifth day after public school opens and reports new enrollments and unexcused or unexplained absences at least weekly (§16-28-7). Private schools must provide physical education conforming to the Department of Education program; church schools are exempt (§16-40-1).
- Private tutor. The tutor must hold a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education, teach the branches of study required in public schools, in English, for at least 3 hours a day for 140 days each calendar year between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Before starting, the tutor files a statement with the county or city superintendent listing the children, subjects and period of instruction, keeps a register of work showing daily hours of instruction and attendance, and makes reports the State Board requires (§16-28-5). The tutor also reports enrollment by the fifth day after public school opens and reports new enrollments and unexcused or unexplained absences at least weekly (§16-28-7).
The principal teacher of each church school and private school, and each private tutor, must keep an attendance register showing enrollment and every absence of a half day or more (§16-28-8).
Compulsory attendance
Children ages 6 to 17 must attend a public, private or church school or be taught by a competent private tutor. A parent may opt a 6-year-old out until age 7 by notifying the local board in writing (§16-28-3).
Before age 16, a child attending a church school is exempt from the requirements of §16-28-3 if the family follows the enrollment and reporting procedures in §16-28-7 (§16-28-3).
Sources
Statute text was read on Justia because the Alabama Legislature’s official code site (alison.legislature.state.al.us) loads its text with JavaScript and could not be fetched. Confirm current requirements with your local superintendent and the Alabama State Department of Education.