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Homeschool laws in Hawaii

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 3 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Hawaii to-do

For “Home schooling (notice of intent to the principal)”. 1 other legal way below.

  1. Send the notice of intent to the principal First year
    Before you start home schooling; home schooling begins as soon as the signed Form 4140 or letter is submitted to the local public school.
  2. Send a new notice when the local school changes Every year
    When the child would move to a different local public school (a move to another school area, or a change of school level such as elementary to middle school): notify the new school's principal.
  3. Send the annual progress report to the principal Every year
    Every year (the rules set no date).
  4. Provide standardized test scores Every year Grades 3, 5, 8, 10
    In grades 3, 5, 8 and 10: through the Statewide Testing Program at the local public school, or private testing at your own expense.
  5. Tell the principal when home schooling ends Every year
    When home schooling ends; the child re-enrolls in the local public school or a licensed private school unless a new alternative program is presented within five school days.

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

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What Hawaii asks

Hawaii parents send a notice of intent (Form 4140 or a letter) to the principal of the local public school before starting, keep a record of the planned curriculum, and send the principal a progress report every year (a standardized test score, a Hawaii-certified teacher's evaluation, or the parent's own written evaluation with work samples). Test scores are also required in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10, and a new notice is needed only when the child would move to a different local public school.

School age: Ages 5–17. Children who are at least 5 on or before July 31 of the school year, and not yet 18 by January 1 of the school year, must attend. The Board of Education's homeschool rules (HAR 8-12, last amended 2000) still define school age as 6 to under 18; the statute's ages are used here.

Hawaii has 2 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Home schooling (notice of intent to the principal)

HRS § 302A-1132(a)(5); HAR §§ 8-12-13 to 8-12-19 · Level 4: More involved

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Once: Before starting home schooling: Form 4140 or a letter (child's name, address, phone, birthdate, grade, parent's signature) to the principal of the local public school. Not yearly once annual progress reports are sent; send a new notice to the new school's principal when the child moves to another school's area or to a different school level (for example elementary to middle school).
The state's form
Time
No set number of days or hours
No minimum days or hours; the record of the planned curriculum should include the number of hours per week of instruction.
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
An assessment you choose from the allowed options: Every year an annual progress report to the principal, by one of: a nationally normed standardized test score at grade level; one grade level of progress a year on such a test; a written evaluation by a Hawaii-certified teacher; or the parent's written evaluation with progress in each subject, work samples and tests/assignments. Grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 also need test scores (free at the local school or private testing). On tests, the upper two-thirds counts as adequate progress.
Every year; the rules set no date. Test scores in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 can serve as that year's progress report.
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • record of the planned curriculum: start and end dates, hours per week of instruction, subject areas, the method used to determine mastery, and a list of textbooks and materials in bibliographic format
Teacher
A parent teaching their own child at home is deemed a qualified instructor.

Deadlines

  • Send the notice of intent to the principal: Before you start home schooling; home schooling begins as soon as the signed Form 4140 or letter is submitted to the local public school.
  • Send a new notice when the local school changes: When the child would move to a different local public school (a move to another school area, or a change of school level such as elementary to middle school): notify the new school's principal.
  • Send the annual progress report to the principal: Every year (the rules set no date).
  • Provide standardized test scores: In grades 3, 5, 8 and 10: through the Statewide Testing Program at the local public school, or private testing at your own expense.
  • Tell the principal when home schooling ends: When home schooling ends; the child re-enrolls in the local public school or a licensed private school unless a new alternative program is presented within five school days.
The rules say an elementary curriculum may include language arts, math, social studies, science, art, music, health and physical education, and a secondary curriculum may include social studies, English, math, science, health, physical education and guidance.
The Department notes that public school students are now tested in grade 11 instead of grade 10, while the homeschool rules still name grade 10.
No course credits are earned while home schooled; a public high school diploma needs at least three full years at a public high school.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Reading list, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Year-end summary, Report card.

Another option: Alternative educational program approved by the superintendent (tutor)

HRS § 302A-1132(a)(5); HAR §§ 8-12-8 to 8-12-12 · Level 5: Most involved

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Approval needed before you start. Every year: Form 4140 with a planned curriculum (dates, hours per week, subjects, mastery method, materials list) and proof of the instructors' qualifications to the local public school principal; the superintendent or a designee approves it. Renewed every year.
The state's form
Time
3 hours a day
The planned curriculum lists hours of instruction per week, which should average about three hours per school day.
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
Standardized test: The grades in the Statewide Testing Program, at the local public school, or comparable private testing at the family's expense (tell the principal).
With the Statewide Testing Program in those grades.
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
A yearly report: At the end of each school year: a narrative progress report and report card from the professional staff or tutor, with grades and copies of tests or assignments if available, sent by the family to the local public school principal (who may ask for more frequent reports).
Records to keep
No records required by the law
Teacher
Instructors must have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; names, contact details, other employment and official transcripts go to the principal with Form 4140.

Deadlines

  • Renew the Form 4140 request: Every year (the rules set no date).
  • Send the narrative progress report and report card: At the end of each school year, to the local public school principal.
  • Tell the principal when the program ends: When the program ends; the child re-enrolls unless evidence of a new program is presented within five school days.
This path is for instruction by someone other than the parent (tutoring) in a non-school setting; a parent teaching their own child uses home schooling.

How Homepen helps

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

Sources disagree

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 Hawaii State Department of Education.

Keep your Hawaii records without the paperwork

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

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