Homeschool funding & ESAs in Louisiana

Can I get paid to homeschool in Louisiana?

Not as a salary, and not from an ESA: our review found none in Louisiana that an independent homeschooling family can use. Our funding directory does list the LA GATOR Scholarship Program — an account or award spent on approved education costs, not a payment for teaching. You cannot participate while registered in a Louisiana home-study program — joining reclassifies you out of independent-homeschool status. Confirm with the LA Dept of Education. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. It runs the other way too: Louisiana's homeschool rules require a test or an evaluation each year. The accepted options, and who administers each, are in the testing line below. Which pathway you homeschool under changes that, so read the testing line before you plan around it. If the option you choose charges a fee, plan for it.

Louisiana scholarships, grants & tax credits

What does Louisiana require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

Louisiana requires a test or an evaluation each year. That is the part of the year a family arranges ahead of time. Which pathway you homeschool under changes this: BESE Home Study (renewal evidence; the registered-nonpublic pathway has none). Which options Louisiana accepts — and who administers each one — is in the testing line below, in the reviewed rules' own words. If the option you choose charges a fee, plan for it. What Louisiana asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

Yes. Louisiana requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Louisiana Department of Education (for BESE) — Home Study; or BESE/LDOE — registered nonpublic. How: BESE Home Study application via the EdLink portal. When: Within 15 days of starting; annual renewal by October 1. Home Study is the common pathway; renewal requires evidence of a sustained curriculum at least equal to public schools.

Testing or evaluation

Yes. Louisiana requires a test or another accepted form of evaluation. How often: Annual renewal evidence (method is the family's choice). Who this applies to: BESE Home Study (renewal evidence; the registered-nonpublic pathway has none). Accepted options: nationally-normed standardized test, certified-teacher evaluation, and portfolio packet. Home-study students are not required to take a state test — a test is only one of three acceptable annual renewal-evidence options. The 'grades 4/8/10' testing claim is incorrect.

Days and hours

Louisiana's rule: 180 days a school year, with no hour-per-day minimum. The 180 days are the Department of Education's: its home study guidelines warn that a child aged 5 through 18 who is not in a school and not participating in an approved home study program for at least 180 days in the school year can put the parents in violation of the compulsory attendance law. R.S. 17:236.1 itself sets no day or hour count, and the yearly home study application asks nothing about attendance; families on the registered nonpublic route do report, sending the school's total attendance as of the thirtieth day of its term to the Department each year under R.S. 17:232(C).

Records

Louisiana requires these records: annual renewal evidence: a standardized test, a certified-teacher evaluation, or a portfolio packet (subject outline, materials list, work samples). How long, or where they go: Annual (submitted each Oct 1). Families choose one evidence method per year and may change it year to year.

Full Louisiana homeschool requirements →

Common questions about homeschool funding in Louisiana

Does Louisiana have an education savings account (ESA) for homeschoolers?

Not one our review found that an independent homeschooling family can use. Louisiana does list the LA GATOR Scholarship Program. You cannot participate while registered in a Louisiana home-study program — joining reclassifies you out of independent-homeschool status. Confirm with the LA Dept of Education. Eligibility and current status for it are listed on this page, and both can change from year to year. Louisiana also offers the School Expense Deduction (Home-Schooled Children), a state tax deduction.

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →