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Homeschool laws in Alabama

Checked Oct 11, 2026 against 8 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Alabama to-do

For “Church school (home program of a church or cover school)”. 2 other legal ways below.

  1. File the church school enrollment form with the local superintendent First year
    When the child enrolls in the church school; the form comes from the local superintendent, is countersigned by the church school administrator and is returned by the parent.

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What Alabama asks

Most Alabama home-schooling families enroll their child in a church school (a cover school) and file the church school enrollment form, countersigned by the church school, with the local public school superintendent; the state sets no days, hours, subjects or tests for church schools, so the church school sets its own rules. The other legal paths are a home-based private school, which reports enrollment and unexcused absences to the superintendent and registers with the State Department of Education every year by October 10, or a state-certified private tutor who teaches at least 3 hours a day for 140 days a year.

School age: Ages 6–17. Children between 6 and 17 must attend a public, private or church school or be taught by a certified private tutor. A parent may hold a 6-year-old out until age 7 by telling the local board of education in writing. A child in a church school is exempt from this attendance law before the 16th birthday if the church school enrollment and reporting steps are followed.

Alabama has 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Church school (home program of a church or cover school)

Ala. Code §§ 16-28-1(2), 16-28-3(a), 16-28-7, 16-28-8; § 16-1-11.2 · Level 3: Moderate

All the details, deadlines
Notice
Once: When the child enrolls in the church school: the parent files the enrollment form (from the local superintendent, countersigned by the church school administrator) with the local public school superintendent. The law sets no date and no yearly refiling; the church school tells the superintendent if the child stops attending.
Time
Set by your school or school district
Subjects
Set by your school or school district
Assessment
Set by your school or school district
Portfolio
Set by your school or school district
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • attendance register showing enrollment and every absence of a half day or more (kept by the church school's principal teacher)
Teacher
Set by your school or school district

Deadlines

  • File the church school enrollment form with the local superintendent: When the child enrolls in the church school; the form comes from the local superintendent, is countersigned by the church school administrator and is returned by the parent.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Report card, Year-end summary, High-school transcript.

Another option: Home-based private school

Ala. Code §§ 16-28-1(1), 16-28-3, 16-28-7, 16-28-8; §§ 16-1-11, 16-1-11.2 · Level 5: Most involved

All the details, deadlines
Notice
Every year: At the end of the 5th day after the public schools open, the school's principal teacher reports the names and addresses of enrolled children of compulsory age to the county or city superintendent (on the State Superintendent's forms); after that, at least weekly reports of new enrollees and unexcused absences.
Time
No set number of days or hours
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
Weekly reports: At least weekly: names and addresses of newly enrolled children of compulsory age and unexcused absences, to the county or city superintendent. Also register with the State Department of Education every year on or before October 10.
Records to keep
  • attendance register showing enrollment and every absence of a half day or more
Teacher
No qualification required

Deadlines

  • Report enrolled children to the county or city superintendent: At the end of the fifth day from the opening of the public school.
  • Send weekly reports of new enrollees and unexcused absences: At least weekly, throughout the compulsory attendance period, after the first enrollment report.
  • Register the private school with the State Department of Education: Every year on or before October 10.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Report card, High-school transcript.

Another option: Certified private tutor

Ala. Code § 16-28-5; §§ 16-28-7, 16-28-8 · Level 5: Most involved

All the details, deadlines
Notice
Every year: Before teaching any child: file a statement with the county or city superintendent listing the children, the subjects and the period of instruction. Every year at the end of the 5th day after the public schools open: report enrolled children's names and addresses; then at least weekly reports of new enrollees and unexcused absences.
Time
140 days a year, 3 hours a day
At least 3 hours a day for 140 days each calendar year, taught between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., in English.
Subjects
  • the branches of study required in Alabama public schools
  • instruction in English
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
Weekly reports: At least weekly: names and addresses of newly enrolled children of compulsory age and unexcused absences, to the county or city superintendent; plus any reports the State Board of Education requires.
Records to keep
  • register of work showing daily the hours of instruction and each child's presence or absence
  • attendance register showing enrollment and every absence of a half day or more
Teacher
A certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education (a certified teacher).

Deadlines

  • File the tutor's statement with the county or city superintendent: Before beginning the instruction of any child.
  • Report enrolled children to the county or city superintendent: At the end of the fifth day from the opening of the public school.
  • Send weekly reports of new enrollees and unexcused absences: At least weekly, throughout the compulsory attendance period, after the first enrollment report.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Report card, High-school transcript.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Alabama State Department of Education.

Keep your Alabama records without the paperwork

Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Alabama asks for.

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