Homeschool laws in North Carolina

Notice

Once: At least five business days before the home school begins (or before the child's 7th birthday). DNPE accepts notices July-April only, not in May or June. One notice per household, no yearly renewal: the school stays open until it is closed. Tell DNPE when the address or enrollment changes and when the school closes.
The state's form

Time

No set number of days or hours
No set number of days or hours: teach on a regular schedule for at least 9 calendar months of the July 1-June 30 school year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations (time already spent in another school that year counts). DNPE recommends, but does not require, at least 5 hours of instruction each school day.

Subjects

No subjects listed in the law

Assessment

Standardized test: all
At least once each school year (July 1-June 30) for every enrolled student; the first test within the school year the home school opens. The test must cover English grammar, reading, spelling and math; there is no minimum score, and results stay at home unless DNPE asks for them.

Portfolio

Not required

Reports

No reports to send

Records to keep

• annual attendance records for each student
• immunization records for each student
• nationally standardized test results for each student (open to DNPE inspection)

Keep them 1 year.

Teacher

At least a high school diploma or its equivalent for the chief administrator and everyone providing instruction; proof is sent with the Notice of Intent.

Deadlines

• File the Notice of Intent with DNPE: At least five business days before the home school begins (or before the child's 7th birthday); notices are accepted July-April only.
• Give the old school a copy of your home school registration: When withdrawing a child from a school, after DNPE has acknowledged your Notice of Intent.
• Give each student a nationally standardized test: At least once each school year (July 1-June 30), starting in the school year the home school opens.