Alaska

Alaska Homeschool Laws

Overview

• The state recognizes several options under which a child may be educated in his or her home and meet the Alaska compulsory enrollment law. 
• The Alaska home school statute states that compulsory attendance is met “if a child is being educated in the child’s home by a parent or legal guardian.
• Alaska statutes that address other alternatives to attending public school include: 1) attending a home school that meets legal requirements qualifying it as a “religious or other private school”; 2) tutoring by a certified teacher; 3) enrolling in “a full-time program of correspondence study approved by the department”; and 4) participating in a school board approved educational experience requested in writing by the child’s parents or guardian for excuse from school attendance. 

• Parents intending to homeschool their children are not required to register with the state or their local school district. Additionally, there are no requirements to notify, seek approval, test, file forms, or have any teacher qualifications.
• If the parent chooses to homeschool through establishing the home school as a private or religious school option, forms or reports are required for the following: affidavit of compliance; corporal punishment policy; private, religious or other private schools’ enrollment; school calendar; enrollment reporting for school district; immunization; standardized testing; and academic achievement. 

• Home schools are exempt from fire, safety, and asbestos regulations as well as from developing a corporal punishment policy.

• No testing requirements are set for a home school unless it is operating as a private or religious school. If this is the case, then the parent must administer any nationally standardized achievement test for English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics. Assessment is required of students in grades four, six, and eighth.

• Beginning July 1, 2013, homeschooled students have the opportunity to participate in school sports and interscholastic activities held at public schools.

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Suite 200
801 West 10th Street
P.O. Box 110500
Juneau, AK 99811-0500
(907)465-2800
Private Schools, Forms Assistance: 907-465-8724
Fax: (907) 465-4156
http://www.eed.state.ak.us/

Statewide Homeschool Groups

www.aphea.org

Conferences: www.aphea.org

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