Homeschool requirements · Alabama
Homeschooling in Alabama
Light paperwork · A notice or an enrollment form, then keep your own records.
Most families homeschool by enrolling in a church school (which files an enrollment form with the local superintendent) or under a certified private tutor.
What Alabama asks
| Notice | Church-school enrollment form filed with the local public school superintendent; private-tutor option requires a certified teacher and 140 days. |
|---|---|
| Days and hours | 180 days |
| Subjects | Not specified |
| Assessment | None required under the church-school option. |
| Records to keep | Attendance records recommended; church schools may set their own requirements. |
| Parent qualification | None under the church-school option. |
| Worth knowing | 180 days is a common planning target, not a statutory requirement for church-school families. |
Deadlines
Alabama lets a family homeschool more than one way, and the paperwork differs by route. You pick the route once in the app and it tracks only those dates. Districts vary; the app lets you edit any of them.
Church school
Enroll with a church (cover) school each year. The church school files the enrollment form with your local superintendent. Keep attendance; the school may ask for more. The most common choice.
| What | When | To whom | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church school enrollment Notice · Mail it | Within -14 days of starting | Your church (cover) school | Enroll before the year starts. The church school sends the enrollment form to the local superintendent; keep its confirmation. |
| Attendance record Records · Keep in your files | By the end of the school year | Keep in your files; your school may ask | Daily attendance for each child, kept with your church school's other requirements. |
Private school
Enroll with a private school that serves home educators. Same enrollment form to the superintendent, filed by the school; the school sets its records.
| What | When | To whom | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private school enrollment Notice · Mail it | Within -14 days of starting | Your private school | Enroll before the year starts. The school files the enrollment form with the local superintendent. |
| Records your school asks for Records · Keep in your files | By the end of the school year | Keep in your files; your school reviews | Attendance and any grades or samples the private school requires. |
Private tutor
Instruction by an Alabama-certified teacher who files with the superintendent, teaches 140 days of at least 3 hours, and keeps an attendance register.
| What | When | To whom | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutor's statement to the superintendent Notice · Mail it | When you start the school year | County or city superintendent | The certified tutor files a statement of the children, subjects, and term before instruction begins. |
| Attendance register Report · Mail it | By the end of the school year | County or city superintendent | 140 days of at least 3 hours. The tutor keeps a register and reports as the superintendent requires. |
What HomeSchool Scribe does in Alabama
- Church school enrollment: Prepares the notice letter; reminds you 14 days and 2 days before; lets you mark it filed with the date.
- Attendance record: Prepares the attendance and hours report; reminds you 14 days and 2 days before; keeps it in records.
- Private school enrollment: Prepares the notice letter; reminds you 14 days and 2 days before; lets you mark it filed with the date.
- Records your school asks for: Prepares the attendance and hours report and the report card; reminds you 14 days and 2 days before; keeps it in records.
- Tutor's statement to the superintendent: Prepares the notice letter and the course of study; reminds you 14 days and 2 days before; lets you mark it filed with the date.
- Attendance register: Prepares the attendance and hours report; reminds you 14 days and 2 days before; lets you mark it filed with the date.
Attendance and hours fill in from the lessons you check off, so the documents above come from records you already have.
Read the law yourself
Code of Alabama § 16-28-3 · HSLDA’s Alabama summary