Homeschooling in Alaska: How To Homeschool While Following State Laws

by Rita Onyx

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular. Just in the last years alone, homeschooling rose up by 700%. What was once seen as old-fashioned and outdated is now a modern way to educate the next generation.

There are many benefits to homeschooling; it gives parents freedom in choosing the curriculums and subjects their children learn. Remote learning also ensures their children are kept safe, away from potential dangers like bullying or viruses in public schools. It’s a win-win situation.

Thinking of homeschooling your children too? Then follow this quick guide on how to homeschool your children if you live in Alaska. Know the Alaska homeschool state laws and regulations in your state so you can homeschool properly.

Quick Facts:

There are 4 ways to homeschool in Alaska:

1. Homeschool statute
2. Private tutor
3. School board approval
4. Religious private school

Requirements:

• Children between 7-16 of age must be in school

• You must notify your local school district of your intentions to homeschool if you go to a religious private school

• There are NO teacher qualifications BUT if you have a private tutor they must be certified

• There are NO state mandated subjects

• There are NO required assessments or testing UNLESS you are in a religious private school

• There are no immunization requirements, EXCEPT for private school enrollment unless you are in a religious private school

How to homeschool under a homeschool statute

• Alaska has a homeschool statute that allows homeschooling as long as you are the parent or legal guardian

• No requirement to notify the state, file any forms, have assessments, or teacher qualifications

How to homeschool with a private tutor

• Private tutor must be Alaska-certified teacher

How to homeschool with school board approval

• According to Alaska law your child does not have to attend public school if he/she/they are “equally well-served by an educational experience approved by the school board.”

• Submit a written request to the principal or school administrator of the school that your child attends and get a written excuse from school attendance from them

How to homeschool with a religious private school

• You must file a notice of enrollment with the local superintendent by the first day of public school

• File an Exempt Religious & Other Private Schools Enrollment and School Calendar forms before October 15 each year with the Department of Education

• Maintain monthly records of attendance of 180 days of school attendance

• Maintain permanent records of immunization, courses, standardized testing, academic achievement, and physical exams

• File a corporal discipline policy if your school has children of more than one family

• Do not accept any state or federal funding

• Comply with testing requirements for 4^th, 6^th, and 8^th grades in the subjects of English grammar, reading, spelling, and math

Helpful links:

https://education.alaska.gov/forms/

https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/regulation-map/alaska.html

Contact Information–State and Federal Departments of Education

• Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
  Suite 200
  801 West 10th Street
  P.O. Box 110500
  Juneau, AK 99811-0500
  Phone: 907-465-2800
  Private Schools, Forms Assistance: 907-465-8724
  Fax: 907-465-4156
  TTY: 904-465-2815
  Website: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/

• U.S. Department of Education, Alaska

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.