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 Beyond that filing there is no longer a state testing requirement (repealed 2015) and no statutory hours requirement for independent homeschoolers.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 · corrected September 23, 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 (DESE accepts forms for the coming school year from June 1). To withdraw a child from public school after that date, file at least 5 school days before the withdrawal; the superintendent or the local school board may waive that wait. If you move into a different school district during the school year, from elsewhere in Arkansas or from another state, file written notice with the new district's superintendent within 30 calendar days of establishing residency (§ 6-15-503(a)(2)).
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NoMandatory homeschool testing was repealed by Act 832 of 2015 — none is required.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 (DESE accepts forms for the coming school year from June 1). To withdraw a child from public school after that date, file at least 5 school days before the withdrawal; the superintendent or the local school board may waive that wait. If you move into a different school district during the school year, from elsewhere in Arkansas or from another state, file written notice with the new district's superintendent within 30 calendar days of establishing residency (§ 6-15-503(a)(2)). File one notice for your family each school year. For each child it gives the name, sex, date of birth, grade level, and the name and address of the school last attended, if any. It also gives the home school's mailing address and telephone number, the name of the parent or legal guardian providing the home school, and whether the children plan to take part in public-school interscholastic activities or to seek a high school equivalency diploma this year (§ 6-15-503(a)(3)); leaving the activities answer blank does not bar a child from taking part. The parent signs it, and by signing agrees to be responsible for the children's education. On the state form the Social Security number column and the ATLAS testing box are for Education Freedom Account participants only, and DESE says an incomplete form will not be accepted.

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; DESE accepts forms for the coming school year from June 1. To withdraw a child from public school after August 15, file at least 5 school days before the withdrawal — the superintendent or the local school board may waive that wait. If you move into a different school district during the school year, whether from elsewhere in Arkansas or from another state, file written notice with the new district's superintendent within 30 calendar days of establishing residency (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-503(a)(2)).
Official resource (dese.ade.arkansas.gov) →
2
What the notice has to say
File one notice for your family each school year. For each child it gives the name, sex, date of birth, grade level, and the name and address of the school last attended, if any. It also gives your home school's mailing address and telephone number, the name of the parent or legal guardian providing the home school, and whether your children plan to take part in public-school interscholastic activities or to seek a high school equivalency diploma this year (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-503(a)(3)) — leaving the activities answer blank does not bar a child from taking part. You sign it, and by signing you agree to be responsible for your children's education. On the state form the Social Security number column and the ATLAS testing box are for Education Freedom Account participants only, and DESE says an incomplete form will not be accepted.
3
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.
4
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
Corrected: September 23, 2026, after re-reading the official source for what changed

Every requirement above comes from our review of Arkansas’s rules, checked against these sources on June 5, 2026 and corrected on September 23, 2026 after re-reading the official source for what changed. 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. →