Romeschool

Arkansas homeschool requirements

To homeschool in Arkansas, file a Notice of Intent with your local school district by August 15 each year. Beyond that filing there is no longer a state testing requirement (repealed 2015) and no statutory hours requirement for independent homeschoolers.

Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · Sources below

Moderate regulation Notice required
Another state:

Arkansas homeschool requirements at a glance

Notice
RequiredWhere it goes: Local school district superintendent. When: By August 15 each year; or at least 5 school days before withdrawing mid-year (the superintendent may waive the wait).
Required subjects
No set list
Instruction time
NoneNo minimum days or hours required by statute.
Testing or evaluation
NoMandatory homeschool testing was repealed by Act 832 of 2015 — none is required. Separately, families who accept LEARNS Act EFA funds must administer an annual nationally-normed test as an EFA condition — that is an ESA accountability rule, not a homeschool requirement.
Records
No
Parent qualifications
Not required
Compulsory attendance ages
5–17
Ways to homeschool
Independent (Notice of Intent to local district)
Law
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-501 to § 6-15-510

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Local school district superintendent. How: Notice of Intent form (paper to the district, or online via the DESE portal). When: By August 15 each year; or at least 5 school days before withdrawing mid-year (the superintendent may waive the wait). The NOI lists each child's name, sex, birthdate, grade, last school, address, and parent signature.

What subjects does Arkansas require homeschoolers to teach?

Arkansas does not spell out a list of required subjects for homeschoolers. No state-mandated subjects for independent homeschoolers.

How many days or hours of instruction does Arkansas require?

None. Arkansas does not set a minimum number of instructional days or hours for homeschoolers. No minimum days or hours required by statute.

Is standardized testing required to homeschool in Arkansas?

No. Arkansas does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. Mandatory homeschool testing was repealed by Act 832 of 2015 — none is required. Separately, families who accept LEARNS Act EFA funds must administer an annual nationally-normed test as an EFA condition — that is an ESA accountability rule, not a homeschool requirement.

What records do I need to keep to homeschool in Arkansas?

Arkansas does not require homeschooling families to keep specific records. No state-mandated record-keeping for independent homeschoolers.

Do parents need a teaching certificate or other qualification to homeschool in Arkansas?

No. Arkansas does not set a general qualification for homeschooling parents.

What ages does Arkansas's compulsory attendance law cover?

Arkansas's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 5 to age 17.

What are the ways to homeschool in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, families homeschool under this pathway: independent (Notice of Intent to local district).

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Arkansas, as it is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To homeschool in Arkansas, file a Notice of Intent with your local school district by August 15 each year. Beyond that filing there is no longer a state testing requirement (repealed 2015) and no statutory hours requirement for independent homeschoolers.

How to get started in Arkansas

1
File a Notice of Intent with your district superintendent
Due by August 15 each year (Arkansas's compulsory school ages are 5 to 17). Turn in the paper form at your resident school district or file online through the state's DESE portal. The notice lists each child's name, sex, birthdate, grade, and last school attended, plus your address and your signature. If you withdraw a child from school partway through the year, file at least 5 school days before withdrawing; the superintendent may waive that wait.
Official resource (dese.ade.arkansas.gov) →
2
No testing, required subjects, or minimum hours
Arkansas repealed homeschool testing with Act 832 of 2015. There is no required subject list, no minimum number of days or hours, and no teaching qualification for parents. The state doesn't require you to keep records, but keeping them is wise for your own protection.
3
If you accept Education Freedom Account funds
Families who take LEARNS Act Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds must give an annual nationally normed test as a condition of the account. That is an EFA rule, not a homeschool requirement — homeschoolers who don't take EFA funds have no testing.
Official resource (dese.ade.arkansas.gov) →
What Romeschool tracks for you: Annual NOI filing reminder, activity log.
If you take an ESA: Home-path EFA students 'are legally considered homeschoolers' and MUST file the annual NOI (it's a funding precondition). Don't withdraw it.

Sources for Arkansas

Official source (dese.ade.arkansas.gov) ↗HSLDA's Arkansas summary ↗
Statute: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-501 to § 6-15-510
Last reviewed: June 5, 2026

Every requirement above comes from our review of Arkansas’s rules, last checked against these sources on June 5, 2026. Homeschool law changes, and a state can amend its rules between our reviews — read the official source before you file anything or rely on a date here. How we review state requirements.

Nearby states

States that share a border with Arkansas:

All 50 states & D.C. →