Your state guide · 2026
Arkansas homeschool laws
Last verified · View official sources
The short answer
Arkansas parents homeschool by filing a Notice of Intent with the superintendent of their resident school district each year, online or on paper, and agreeing that they are responsible for their child's education.
Editorial category; see the guide.
By August 15 each school year, or five school days before withdrawing a child during the year (the superintendent or school board can waive the wait). Families moving into a district during the year file within 30 calendar days of establishing residency.
See requirements for options and exceptions.
See the full guide for age exceptions.
Regulation level
L · LowView regulation data
| State | Category |
|---|---|
| Arkansas | Low |
Your requirements
A practical checklist
“Not specified” means a single yes/no requirement is not explicit in the supplied information. Read each detail for options and exceptions.
Notice
RequiredA Notice of Intent listing each child's name, birth date, gender, grade and last school attended; the parent or guardian's name, address and phone; whether the child will enroll in a GED program or join public school interscholastic activities; and the parent's signature, agreeing to be responsible for the child's education. Notarization is not required.
Subjects
RequiredNot specified in state law
Hours / days
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
Testing / evaluation
Not specifiedNot specified in state law for homeschooling itself. A score at or above the 30th percentile on a nationally normed test in the past 12 months is used to show academic eligibility for public school activities, and in grade placement when a child returns to public school. The state's 2026-27 notice says standardized testing is no longer required and parents may arrange testing on their own.
Teacher qualifications
Not specifiedNot specified in state law. The state education division says there are no educational requirements for parents who homeschool.
Records / portfolio
Not specifiedNot specified in state law. A child who enrolls or reenrolls in public school must give the school a transcript of courses and semester grades and a portfolio showing curricula used, tests taken and lessons completed.
Immunizations
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
At a glance
- Notice of Intent due August 15 each year
- Mid-year: file 5 school days before withdrawing
- File online or on paper with the district
- No state testing, subject or hours rule
- Homeschoolers can join district activities and courses
- Compulsory ages 5 through 17
Requirements at a glance
Read the details for your chosen homeschooling option below.
Open the full requirements table
| Requirement | What to know |
|---|---|
| Compulsory school ages | 5–17 |
| Notice required | Yes |
| Filing deadline | By August 15 each school year, or five school days before withdrawing a child during the year (the superintendent or school board can waive the wait). Families moving into a district during the year file within 30 calendar days of establishing residency. |
| Required subjects | Not specified in state law |
| Instruction time | Not specified in state law |
| Parent qualifications | Not specified in state law. The state education division says there are no educational requirements for parents who homeschool. |
| Tests & assessments | Not specified in state law for homeschooling itself. A score at or above the 30th percentile on a nationally normed test in the past 12 months is used to show academic eligibility for public school activities, and in grade placement when a child returns to public school. The state's 2026-27 notice says standardized testing is no longer required and parents may arrange testing on their own. |
| Records to keep | Not specified in state law. A child who enrolls or reenrolls in public school must give the school a transcript of courses and semester grades and a portfolio showing curricula used, tests taken and lessons completed. |
| Immunizations | Not specified in state law |
How to start homeschooling in Arkansas
The notice is due by August 15, or five school days before withdrawing a child during the year, and the district can waive that wait. State rules add no testing, subject or parent education requirements, but homeschoolers can join public school activities and take academic courses at their district school.
Choose your homeschooling option
Home school. A school provided by a parent or legal guardian for their own child, started by filing the annual Notice of Intent with the resident district superintendent.
Prepare your notice
A Notice of Intent listing each child's name, birth date, gender, grade and last school attended; the parent or guardian's name, address and phone; whether the child will enroll in a GED program or join public school interscholastic activities; and the parent's signature, agreeing to be responsible for the child's education. Notarization is not required.
Open the official notice resource ↗Check when and where to file
When: By August 15 each school year, or five school days before withdrawing a child during the year (the superintendent or school board can waive the wait). Families moving into a district during the year file within 30 calendar days of establishing residency.
Where: Superintendent of the resident school district, filed through the state's online Notice of Intent system or by email, mail, fax or in person.
View steps as a table
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Choose your homeschooling option | Home school. A school provided by a parent or legal guardian for their own child, started by filing the annual Notice of Intent with the resident district superintendent. |
| 2. Prepare your notice | A Notice of Intent listing each child's name, birth date, gender, grade and last school attended; the parent or guardian's name, address and phone; whether the child will enroll in a GED program or join public school interscholastic activities; and the parent's signature, agreeing to be responsible for the child's education. Notarization is not required. |
| 3. Check when and where to file | By August 15 each school year, or five school days before withdrawing a child during the year (the superintendent or school board can waive the wait). Families moving into a district during the year file within 30 calendar days of establishing residency. Superintendent of the resident school district, filed through the state's online Notice of Intent system or by email, mail, fax or in person. |
Subjects to teach
- Not specified in state law
Sports & extracurricular activities
A homeschooled student may try out for interscholastic activities at the resident public school by notifying the principal before signup or tryout deadlines and showing academic eligibility, then must meet the same tryout, conduct, practice, drug-testing, physical and fee rules as enrolled students. A student who leaves an Arkansas Activities Association member school to homeschool must wait 365 days to play in the resident district. Districts must also let homeschoolers living in the district enroll in academic courses.
Official forms & law
Forms & guidance
- 2026-2027 Notice of Intent to Home School (PDF) ↗
- Online Notice of Intent system ↗
- Rules Governing Home Schools, 6 CAR Part 33 (PDF) ↗
Statutes
Questions, answered.
What do I file to homeschool in Arkansas?
A Notice of Intent listing each child's name, birth date, gender, grade and last school attended; the parent or guardian's name, address and phone; whether the child will enroll in a GED program or join public school interscholastic activities; and the parent's signature, agreeing to be responsible for the child's education. Notarization is not required.
When do I file in Arkansas?
By August 15 each school year, or five school days before withdrawing a child during the year (the superintendent or school board can waive the wait). Families moving into a district during the year file within 30 calendar days of establishing residency.
What assessments are required in Arkansas?
Not specified in state law for homeschooling itself. A score at or above the 30th percentile on a nationally normed test in the past 12 months is used to show academic eligibility for public school activities, and in grade placement when a child returns to public school. The state's 2026-27 notice says standardized testing is no longer required and parents may arrange testing on their own.
Check the original
Sources and last checked
- Home Schools ↗Arkansas Department of Education
- Home School Rules and Laws ↗Arkansas Department of Education
- Rules Governing Home Schools, 6 CAR Part 33 ↗Arkansas Department of Education
- 2026-2027 Notice of Intent to Home School (revised July 2026) ↗Arkansas Department of Education
- Commissioner's Memo COM-25-076, Homeschool updates (June 3, 2025) ↗Arkansas Department of Education
- Act 635 of 2017 (HB 1574), amending § 6-15-503 ↗Arkansas General Assembly
- Act 544 of 2021 (SB 64), Section 30, amending § 6-18-201(a) ↗Arkansas General Assembly
Last verified .