Homeschool States

Your state guide · 2026

Hawaii homeschool laws

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The short answer

Hawaii parents can homeschool by sending a notice of intent, either Form 4140 or a short letter, to the principal of the public school the child would otherwise attend.

Regulation levelModerate

Editorial category; see the guide.

Notice requiredYes

Before homeschooling begins. It is not refiled each year once progress reports are in, but a new notice goes to the new school when the child moves to another school's area or changes school level, such as elementary to middle school.

Testing / evaluationYes

See requirements for options and exceptions.

Compulsory ages5–18

See the full guide for age exceptions.

Regulation level

M · Moderate
None—
Low—
Moderate▲ This state
High—
The category supplied with this guide, not a score or a legal classification. Requirements depend on your homeschooling option.
View regulation data
Hawaii regulation category
StateCategory
HawaiiModerate

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

    Required

    A notice of intent on Form 4140 or in a letter giving the child's name, address, phone number, birth date and grade level, signed by the parent.

  • Subjects

    Required

    Not specified in state law. The rules list suggested areas: elementary language arts, math, social studies, science, art, music, health and physical education; secondary social studies, English, math, science, health, physical education and guidance.

  • Hours / days

    Not specified

    Not specified in state law. The parent's curriculum record should note the number of hours per week spent on instruction.

  • Testing / evaluation

    Required

    Parents send the principal a yearly progress report using one of four methods: a nationally normed achievement test score at grade level for age, a year's gain on such a test, a written evaluation by a Hawaii-certified teacher, or a parent evaluation with a progress description, work samples and sample tests. Test scores are required in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10; the child may take the state tests at the local school for free or test privately at the parent's cost. If progress is inadequate, the principal meets with the parent to set an improvement plan.

  • Teacher qualifications

    Not specified

    A parent teaching their own child at home is considered a qualified instructor. No other qualifications are set.

  • Records / portfolio

    Required

    Keep a record of the planned curriculum: start and end dates, hours of instruction per week, subjects covered, how mastery is measured, and a list of textbooks and materials in bibliographic form. It is not submitted, but the principal may ask to see it if progress is inadequate.

  • Immunizations

    Not required

    Not required for homeschooling. The state education department says health records such as Form 14 and TB clearance are not needed.

At a glance

  • Notice to local school principal before starting
  • No yearly renewal unless changing schools
  • Annual progress report required
  • Test scores in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10
  • Parent is a qualified instructor
  • No health records needed

Requirements at a glance

Read the details for your chosen homeschooling option below.

Open the full requirements table
Hawaii homeschool requirements
RequirementWhat to know
Compulsory school ages5–18
Notice requiredYes
Filing deadlineBefore homeschooling begins. It is not refiled each year once progress reports are in, but a new notice goes to the new school when the child moves to another school's area or changes school level, such as elementary to middle school.
Required subjectsNot specified in state law. The rules list suggested areas: elementary language arts, math, social studies, science, art, music, health and physical education; secondary social studies, English, math, science, health, physical education and guidance.
Instruction timeNot specified in state law. The parent's curriculum record should note the number of hours per week spent on instruction.
Parent qualificationsA parent teaching their own child at home is considered a qualified instructor. No other qualifications are set.
Tests & assessmentsParents send the principal a yearly progress report using one of four methods: a nationally normed achievement test score at grade level for age, a year's gain on such a test, a written evaluation by a Hawaii-certified teacher, or a parent evaluation with a progress description, work samples and sample tests. Test scores are required in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10; the child may take the state tests at the local school for free or test privately at the parent's cost. If progress is inadequate, the principal meets with the parent to set an improvement plan.
Records to keepKeep a record of the planned curriculum: start and end dates, hours of instruction per week, subjects covered, how mastery is measured, and a list of textbooks and materials in bibliographic form. It is not submitted, but the principal may ask to see it if progress is inadequate.
ImmunizationsNot required for homeschooling. The state education department says health records such as Form 14 and TB clearance are not needed.

How to start homeschooling in Hawaii

Homeschooling starts once the signed notice is submitted, and it does not have to be refiled each year unless the child moves to a new school area or school level. Parents must send the principal a yearly progress report and provide standardized test scores in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10. The parent counts as a qualified instructor, and no health records are needed.

  1. Choose your homeschooling option

    Homeschooling. A parent teaches their own child at home after filing a notice of intent with the local public school principal under the Board of Education's compulsory attendance exception rules.

  2. Prepare your notice

    A notice of intent on Form 4140 or in a letter giving the child's name, address, phone number, birth date and grade level, signed by the parent.

    Open the official notice resource ↗

  3. Check when and where to file

    When: Before homeschooling begins. It is not refiled each year once progress reports are in, but a new notice goes to the new school when the child moves to another school's area or changes school level, such as elementary to middle school.

    Where: Principal of the local public school the child would otherwise attend. The principal and complex area superintendent acknowledge it and a signed copy comes back to the family.

Getting-started steps from the published Hawaii guide. Follow the official links for your chosen option.
View steps as a table
How to start homeschooling in Hawaii
StepDetails
1. Choose your homeschooling optionHomeschooling. A parent teaches their own child at home after filing a notice of intent with the local public school principal under the Board of Education's compulsory attendance exception rules.
2. Prepare your noticeA notice of intent on Form 4140 or in a letter giving the child's name, address, phone number, birth date and grade level, signed by the parent.
3. Check when and where to fileBefore homeschooling begins. It is not refiled each year once progress reports are in, but a new notice goes to the new school when the child moves to another school's area or changes school level, such as elementary to middle school. Principal of the local public school the child would otherwise attend. The principal and complex area superintendent acknowledge it and a signed copy comes back to the family.

Subjects to teach

  • Not specified in state law. The rules list suggested areas: elementary language arts, math, social studies, science, art, music, health and physical education; secondary social studies, English, math, science, health, physical education and guidance.

Sports & extracurricular activities

State rules make the parent responsible for the child's whole educational program, including athletics and other co-curricular activities. No right to join public school teams is set out in the homeschool rules.

Official forms & law

Hawaii State Department of Education ↗

Forms & guidance

Statutes

Questions, answered.

What do I file to homeschool in Hawaii?

A notice of intent on Form 4140 or in a letter giving the child's name, address, phone number, birth date and grade level, signed by the parent.

When do I file in Hawaii?

Before homeschooling begins. It is not refiled each year once progress reports are in, but a new notice goes to the new school when the child moves to another school's area or changes school level, such as elementary to middle school.

What assessments are required in Hawaii?

Parents send the principal a yearly progress report using one of four methods: a nationally normed achievement test score at grade level for age, a year's gain on such a test, a written evaluation by a Hawaii-certified teacher, or a parent evaluation with a progress description, work samples and sample tests. Test scores are required in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10; the child may take the state tests at the local school for free or test privately at the parent's cost. If progress is inadequate, the principal meets with the parent to set an improvement plan.

Check the original

Sources and last checked

  1. HRS § 302A-1132, Attendance compulsory; exceptions ↗Hawaii State Legislature
  2. Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 8, Chapter 12, Compulsory Attendance Exceptions ↗Hawaii State Board of Education
  3. Homeschool ↗Hawaii State Department of Education
  4. Homeschooling Frequently Asked Questions (revised 2/2026) ↗Hawaii State Department of Education

Last verified .