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Homeschool laws in Louisiana

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 10 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Louisiana to-do

For “BESE-approved home study program”. 1 other legal way below.

  1. Apply for home study approval First year
    Within 15 days after the home study program starts.
  2. Send the renewal application with evidence Every year after
    By October 1 of the school year, or within 12 months of the first approval, whichever is later.

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

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What Louisiana asks

Most Louisiana homeschoolers use a BESE-approved home study program: apply to the Department of Education within 15 days of starting, then renew every year with a packet of the child's work, test results or a certified teacher's statement. The other path is a nonpublic school not seeking state approval, which reports its attendance to the Department each year.

School age: Ages 5–18. From age 5 by September 30 through 18, unless the parent deferred kindergarten or the child graduates from high school before turning 18. A child under 5 who legally enrolls in school is covered too.

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

BESE-approved home study program

La. R.S. 17:236.1; R.S. 17:236 · Level 4: More involved

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Every year: First application to the Department of Education (for BESE approval) within 15 days after the home study program starts, with a certified copy of the child's birth certificate. Renewal by October 1 of the school year or within 12 months of the first approval, whichever is later. Each approval lasts one year.
Time
Not verified yet: check with your state
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
An assessment you choose from the allowed options: Every renewal (each year after the first), all grades: a packet of materials (subject outlines, book lists, work samples, third-party statements), or a standardized test at or above grade level or showing one grade level of progress per year, or a statement from a teacher certified at the child's grade level.
With the renewal application: by October 1 of the school year or within 12 months of the first approval, whichever is later.
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
No records required by the law
Teacher
No qualification required

Deadlines

  • Apply for home study approval: Within 15 days after the home study program starts.
  • Send the renewal application with evidence: By October 1 of the school year, or within 12 months of the first approval, whichever is later.
State tests are not required, but parents can ask the local school board to give the state test.
A diploma from an approved home study program has the same rights as one from a state-approved nonpublic school; the program, not BESE or LDOE, issues it.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Reading list, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Year-end summary, Report card, High-school transcript.

Another option: Nonpublic school not seeking state approval ("registered nonpublic school")

La. R.S. 17:236; R.S. 17:232(C); R.S. 17:221.3 · Level 3: Moderate

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Every year: Every year the school reports its total attendance to LDOE as of the 30th day of its school term (online attendance submission form; the confirmation is valid for one year). For a child who left a public school, the school sends that school a written notice of enrollment within 10 days.
Time
Not verified yet: check with your state
Subjects
Not verified yet: check with your state
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Not verified yet: check with your state
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
Not verified yet: check with your state
Teacher
Set by your school or school district

Deadlines

  • Submit the school's attendance to LDOE: Each year, total attendance as of the 30th day of the school term or session.
  • Send a notice of enrollment to the former public school: Within 10 days of enrolling a child who left a public school (during the year, or who attended public school at the end of the previous year).
LDOE's attendance collection is not approval: it does not confirm that students meet compulsory attendance laws.
Students are not eligible for TOPS scholarships.
The school, its students and their parents must receive no local, state or federal education funds or assistance.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Report card, High-school transcript.

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 Louisiana Department of Education.

Keep your Louisiana records without the paperwork

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

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