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Homeschool laws in New Mexico

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 4 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your New Mexico to-do

  1. Notify NMPED that you started a home school First year
    Within 30 days of establishing the home school.
  2. Renew your home school notification Every year after
    On or before August 1 of each later year (the notification period opens June 1).

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

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What New Mexico asks

New Mexico parents notify the Public Education Department within 30 days of starting a home school and again by August 1 every year, keep immunization records (or a waiver), and teach reading, language arts, math, social studies and science; the teaching person needs a high school diploma or equivalent. There is no required testing, and the department's form and FAQ also list the public-school minimum of 1,140 instructional hours a year, which the home school statute itself does not mention.

School age: Ages 5–17. A child who is 5 before September 1 of the school year must attend public school, private school, home school or a state institution until at least age 18, unless they have graduated or earned a high school equivalency credential. Between 16 and 18 a parent may give written permission to leave school for an approved hardship.

Home school

NMSA 1978 § 22-1-2.1; § 22-1-2(G); § 22-12A-4(A); § 22-2-8.1(A) · Level 3: Moderate

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Every year: Within 30 days of establishing the home school, then on or before August 1 of each later year (the notification period opens June 1). Notify online in the NMPED Home School System, or mail the paper Notification of a Home School form.
The state's form
Time
1,140 hours a year
The department lists the public-school minimum (§ 22-2-8.1) for home schools: 1,140 instructional hours a year, or 550 hours for half-day kindergarten. The home school statute (§ 22-1-2.1) itself sets no hours, and hours do not have to be reported.
Subjects
  • reading
  • language arts
  • mathematics
  • social studies
  • science
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • student immunization records, or a waiver of that requirement
Teacher
The person providing instruction must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent (high school equivalency credential).

Deadlines

  • Notify NMPED that you started a home school: Within 30 days of establishing the home school.
  • Renew your home school notification: On or before August 1 of each later year (the notification period opens June 1).
NMPED encourages, but does not legally require, records of notifications, instructional hours and materials, and a portfolio of student work.
If a home school does not comply with the law, the department may order the student to attend a public or private school.

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, Reading list, Portfolio and evaluator packet, 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 New Mexico Public Education Department.

Keep your New Mexico records without the paperwork

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

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