A letter (notice) of intent to homeschool is written by a parent or guardian to inform the local school district that their child will be homeschooled. This simple letter identifies each child, their homeschool teacher, and the courses they will be taking. Most states require that a parent send in a letter of intent before withdrawing their child from public or private schooling.
Contents |
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 require any communication from the parents at all. That said, most jurisdictions want to receive a letter with the following information:
- Child information. The child’s information, including name, gender, date of birth, and residence.
- Homeschool teacher information. The homeschool teacher’s information, including their name, email, phone number, and the address of 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.
Requirements: By State
LEGEND:
- ✓ – Required
- X – NOT required
- N/A – Not applicable
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) | N/A |
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 | N/A |
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]