Homeschooling in Alabama
What you need to know in order to homeschool in the great state of Alabama.
Alabama Homeschool Laws
Before 2014 the only ways to homeschool in Alabama were to be a part of a private school, church school, or to hire a private tutor.
However, per the 2014 constitutional amendment (SB38) “a parent or guardian in Alabama has a constitutional right to choose the type of K-12 education that is best for his or her child, whether public or nonpublic, religious or nonreligious, and including home-based education.”
In other words you can legally home educate your children without having to join a church school or private school (also known as cover schools) in AL. Under this law your home is considered the private school.
To start homeschooling you simply start homeschooling. There are no forms to fill out and no fees to pay. In your child’s education you are the administrator, principal, teacher, secretary, etc. This also means if a form is required, you’re responsible for creating it. Transcripts needed? You’re responsible for creating one or finding someone to do it for you. Graduation requirements are your job, too. You decide what is required and what will receive a credit*. The decision to test or not is up to you, too.
In addition, Alabama does not require parents to teach specific subjects, teach a certain amount of hours per day, or hold any specific certifications.
Although, its worth noting that many parents do use cover schools as they provide resources such as report cards, graduation ceremonies, and special resources.
