How to Write
The contents of a letter of intent to homeschool will vary depending on the state (and sometimes school district) requirements. Some states use a specific government form for the LOI, while others don’t demand any communication from the parents at all.
Most jurisdictions require the letter to include the following information:
- Child information – Including name, gender, date of birth, and residence.
- Homeschool teacher information – This includes the homeschool teacher’s name, email, phone number, and the address where they’ll be homeschooling.
- Homeschool curriculum – The subjects that will be included in the homeschooling curriculum.
- Parent/guardian information – The parent or guardian’s information, including their name, email, and phone number.
- Instructional days/hours – The total number of hours and days during which the child will be homeschooled throughout the school year.
State Requirements
LEGEND:
- ✓ – Required
- X – NOT required
- N/A – Not applicable
View State Requirements |
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STATE | REQ? | WHEN | RECIPIENT |
FORM |
AL | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
AK | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
AZ | ✓ | Within 30 days of beginning homeschooling | County/resident school superintendent | Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool |
AR | ✓ | August 15th | County/resident school district | Notice of Intent |
CA | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
CO | ✓ | At least 14 days before beginning homeschooling | Any Colorado school district | N/A |
CT | X | Within 10 days of beginning homeschooling (not mandatory) | School district (not mandatory) | Intent to Homeschool (optional) |
DE | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
FL | ✓ | Within 30 days of beginning homeschooling | County/resident school superintendent | N/A |
GA | ✓ | Within 30 days of beginning homeschooling/every following year by September 1st | Georgia Department of Education | Online application (OR Declaration of Intent) |
HI | ✓ | N/A | District school principal | Form 4140 (optional) |
ID | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
IL | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
IN | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
IA | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
KS | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
KY | ✓ | No later than 2 weeks after the beginning of the public school year | County/resident school superintendent | N/A |
LA | * | Within 10 days of beginning homeschooling | Former public school | N/A |
ME | ✓ | Within 10 days of beginning homeschooling | County school superintendent (and commissioner of education, upon request) | Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction |
MD | ✓ | At least 15 days before beginning homeschooling | County/resident school superintendent | Maryland State Home School Notification |
MA | ✓ | N/A | County/resident school district | N/A |
MI | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
MN | ✓ | By October 1st or within 15 days of withdrawing student from public school | County/resident school superintendent | Initial Registration Form / Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction |
MS | ✓ | Every year by September 15th | Local school attendance officer | Certificate of Enrollment |
MO | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
MT | ✓ | N/A | County/resident school superintendent | N/A |
NE | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
NV | ✓ | Before homeschooling begins, within 10 days of withdrawing from school, or within 30 days of becoming state resident | County/resident school superintendent | Notice of Intent to Homeschool in Nevada |
NH | ✓ | Within 5 days of beginning homeschooling | County/resident school superintendent, Commissioner of Education, or the principal of a non-public school | Notification of Commencement of a Home Education Program (optional) |
NJ | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
NM | ✓ | Within 30 days of beginning homeschooling and by August 1st every following year | New Mexico Public Education Department or online | N/A |
NY | ✓ | Within 14 days of beginning homeschooling or by July 1st every year | County/resident school superintendent or to the Department of Education’s Office of Home Schooling for families living in New York City | Letter of Intent for Home School (NYC) or Notice of Intent to Commence a Home Instruction Program (requires HSLDA membership) |
NC | ✓ | N/A | North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education or online | N/A |
ND | ✓ | At least 14 days before beginning homeschooling or within 14 days of moving into a new school district, and once every following year | County/resident school superintendent | Statement of Intent Home Education |
OH | ✓ | No later than the first week of the start of the district public school, within 1 week of moving into a new district, or within 1 week from the child’s withdrawal from school | County/resident school superintendent | Home Education Notification Form |
OK | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
OR | ✓ | Within 10 days of beginning homeschooling or withdrawing from public school | Local ESD (Education Service District) | ESD Notice Letter (optional) |
PA | ✓ | Before beginning homeschool and by August 1st every following year | County/resident school superintendent | Affidavit of the Supervisor of a Home Education Program |
RI | ✓ | Before beginning homeschooling | Resident school committee | Home School Letter of Intent |
SC | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SD | ✓ | Within 30 days of beginning homeschooling | Department of Education or local school district | Notification for Public School Exemption Certificate |
TN | ✓ | Before the start of the school year | County/resident school superintendent | Notice of Intent to Home School |
TX | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
UT | ✓ | Before beginning homeschooling | Local school board | Model Affidavit and Exemption Certificate for Home School Instruction (optional) |
VT | ✓ | Before beginning homeschooling | Secretary of Education | Home Study Form A OR online application |
VA | ✓ | Every year by August 15th | County/resident school superintendent | Sample Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction |
WA | ✓ | Every year by September 15th or within 2 weeks of the beginning of a school quarter, trimester, or semester | County/resident school superintendent | Declaration of Intent to Provide Home-Based Instruction (optional) |
WV | ✓ | On or before the date homeschooling begins | County/resident school superintendent or board | Homeschool Notice of Intent |
WI | ✓ | On or before October 15th, annually | Department of Public Instruction | Online application |
WY | X | N/A | N/A | N/A |
*Only required if the student attended public school before homeschooling.
Sample
Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument
HOMESCHOOL LETTER OF INTENT
[MM/DD/YYYY]
[SENDER NAME]
[SENDER STREET ADDRESS]
[SENDER CITY, STATE, ZIP]
[RECIPIENT NAME], [RECIPIENT TITLE]
[SCHOOL DISTRICT]
[RECIPIENT STREET ADDRESS]
[RECIPIENT CITY, STATE, ZIP]
This letter of intent is to notify the [AUTHORITY] that the child(ren) specified below will be receiving homeschooling instead of enrolling in a public or private school.
Name: [NAME] Gender: [GENDER] Date of Birth: [DATE OF BIRTH]
Name: [NAME] Gender: [GENDER] Date of Birth: [DATE OF BIRTH]
Name: [NAME] Gender: [GENDER] Date of Birth: [DATE OF BIRTH]
Name: [NAME] Gender: [GENDER] Date of Birth: [DATE OF BIRTH]
Residence: [RESIDENCE]
The child(ren) will be homeschooled by [INSTRUCTOR] at [HOMESCHOOL ADDRESS]. The child(ren) will be taught the following subjects over the course of [#] days [#] hours) of teaching throughout the school year: [SUBJECTS]
Signature: ___________________
[INSTRUCTOR NAME]
As the parents/legal guardian of the child(ren) identified in this letter, we hereby declare our intent to homeschool said child(ren) in accordance with the terms established herein.
Signature: ___________________
[PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME]
Signature: ___________________
[PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME]