Is homeschooling legal in Alaska?
Yes, homeschooling is fully legal in Alaska. Alaska is the easiest state in the country to start homeschooling: if a parent or legal guardian teaches a child at home, the law asks for nothing else. No notice, no forms, no testing, no subject list. Many families still choose to join an optional state correspondence program for the yearly allotment money, but that is a choice, never a requirement.
Alaska homeschool requirements at a glance
| Notice required | No, independent homeschoolers file nothing with anyone. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | No, the statute sets no subject requirements. |
| Testing / assessment | No testing for independent homeschoolers (correspondence programs have their own rules). |
| Recordkeeping | No state requirement, though keeping your own records is wise. |
| Parent qualifications | None; any parent or legal guardian qualifies. |
Alaska homeschool law in detail
We link the governing law so you can read it yourself instead of taking our word for it. The governing law is AS 14.30.010(b)(12) (compulsory attendance exemption for home education).
Notice / letter of intent
Alaska requires no notice of intent at all. Under AS 14.30.010(b)(12), a child who is being educated in the child's home by a parent or legal guardian is simply exempt from compulsory attendance. You do not register, notify the district, seek approval, or file any form, ever. This has been the law since 1997 and remained unchanged through the 2024-2026 sessions as of this writing.
Required subjects
The homeschool exemption sets no required subjects, curriculum standards, or instructional approach. Parents choose everything. Families enrolled in an optional correspondence school program agree to that program's learning plan requirements, but that is a condition of the program and its allotment, not of homeschooling itself.
Required days or hours
There is no required number of days or hours of instruction for home education under AS 14.30.010(b)(12). Your calendar is your own.
Recordkeeping
Alaska requires no homeschool records, attendance logs, or portfolios from independent homeschoolers. Practically, it is smart to keep a simple yearly record of curriculum, work samples, and (for teens) a transcript, since colleges, employers, and any future school enrollment will ask for evidence of what was learned. Correspondence program families follow their program's documentation rules.
Testing and assessment
Independent homeschoolers face no testing or evaluation requirements of any kind. Children enrolled in a state correspondence school program are public school students and typically participate in required state assessments under that program's rules. Families using the separate religious or private school exemption administer standardized tests in grades 4, 6, and 8 under that exemption's requirements.
Withdrawing from public school
To move from public school to homeschooling, simply withdraw your child from the school. There is no state form; a short, dated withdrawal letter to the school office (keep a copy) cleanly closes out enrollment and prevents truancy confusion. Once withdrawn, you are done; no further filing is needed because Alaska requires no homeschool notice.
Good to know
Alaska's optional correspondence school programs (IDEA, Raven Homeschool, and various district programs) are the big local wrinkle: they offer annual allotment funds for curriculum and activities in exchange for public school enrollment, learning plans, and assessments. Litigation over whether allotments can be spent at private institutions (the Alexander case) has been active since 2023; the Alaska Supreme Court vacated the ruling that struck the statutes and remanded, and lawmakers have worked to stabilize the program. None of this touches the no-notice homeschool exemption itself. A separate religious/private school exemption exists with real requirements (enrollment forms, attendance records, testing in grades 4, 6, and 8) for families who prefer that structure.
How to start homeschooling in Alaska
- Decide between fully independent homeschooling (no paperwork, no funding) and enrolling in an optional public correspondence school program (yearly allotment funds, teacher support, and program requirements such as a learning plan and state testing).
- If your child attends public school, send the school a short written withdrawal letter and keep a dated copy. If your child has never enrolled, you can simply begin; nothing needs to be filed.
- Choose your curriculum and schedule freely. Alaska sets no subjects, hours, or testing for independent homeschoolers.
- Set up a simple home record system: a list of materials used, work samples each year, and a transcript once you hit the high school years.
- If you want the allotment route, compare correspondence programs (statewide programs like IDEA, Raven, and district programs) and enroll directly with the program; they will walk you through their learning plan and reimbursement rules.
File your notice
Good news: Alaska requires no notice or form to homeschool. No notice or form required to homeschool in Alaska under its home study statute.
Form links checked when we built this page.
Homeschool funding in Alaska
We're verifying Alaska's funding programs against official sources right now, dollar amounts and rules change yearly, and we'd rather be right than first. Check back soon.
Free Alaska school withdrawal letter template
Fill-in-the-blank and ready to send. Free, no email required.
Download the free templateFind homeschool families near you in Alaska
Co-Op
- AK Homeschool Classes · Anchorage
A learning community for homeschoolers that meets twice a week at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Anchorage, with small-group classes from PreK through 12th grade. Instructors are approved district vendors, so most classes can direct-bill Alaska's state-funded homeschool programs.
Visit website - Alaska Private and Home Educators Association (APHEA) · Statewide
Alaska's statewide Christian homeschool organization, run entirely by volunteers since 1986. They keep families current on Alaska homeschool law and host an annual convention, along with scholarships and member resources for homeschooling parents.
Visit website - Gather Alaska (GACHA Inc.) · Anchorage
A Christian homeschool association in Anchorage that runs Monday and Thursday co-op days plus field trips, classes, workshops, conventions, and family events through the year. A welcoming hub for families who want fellowship and enrichment alongside other homeschoolers.
Visit website - Moose Creek Baptist Church Homeschool Co-op · North Pole
A church-hosted homeschool co-op at Moose Creek Baptist Church in North Pole that brings Interior homeschool families together for co-op days. The family handbook and registration are available right on the church's website.
Visit website
Forest & Nature School
- Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies · Homer (Kenai Peninsula)
Homer's hands-on environmental education nonprofit since 1982, with naturalist programs at the Wynn Nature Center, summer day camps, and coastal ecology programs for school groups from all over Alaska. A natural fit for homeschool families who want real field science on the Kenai Peninsula.
Visit website - Haadaa Héeni Forest Preschool (Discovery Southeast) · Juneau
Discovery Southeast's forest kindergarten in Juneau, where 3 to 5 year olds spend the whole morning outside playing, exploring, and sharing snack and forest tea on Tuesday and Thursday mornings through the school year. Sliding-scale tuition keeps it within reach for local families.
Visit website - Kellogg Field School · Palmer (Mat-Su Valley)
An outdoor enrichment program for homeschooled kids on a working farm campus in Palmer, with age-grouped classes from Chickadees (age 5) up through Owls (ages 12-13) and a Wilderness Adventure track. Fall and spring sessions weave natural and cultural history together with hands-on problem solving.
Visit website - Small Forest School · Fairbanks
An outdoor, play-based early-learning program in Fairbanks built on the belief that children deserve to grow and learn in a place as wild and alive as they are. A full teaching team runs school-year and summer sessions, plus a Boreal Babies program for the littlest ones.
Visit website
Waldorf School
- Anchorage Waldorf School · Anchorage
The only independent Waldorf school in Alaska, nestled below the Chugach Mountains and serving children from preschool through 8th grade since 1992. Kids learn with their hands, heads, and hearts in a warm, arts-rich environment, with summer camp offerings too.
Visit website - Winterberry Charter School · Anchorage
A tuition-free K-8 Waldorf-inspired public charter school in the Anchorage School District, founded by parents in 2004 under the motto 'Educate them in Love.' One class per grade, arts-integrated learning, and a hybrid program for families who want extra flexibility.
Visit website
Homeschooling in nearby states
Alaska homeschooling FAQ
Do I really not have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Alaska?
Correct. Under AS 14.30.010(b)(12), home education by a parent or legal guardian is exempt from compulsory attendance with no notice, registration, testing, or qualification requirements. If your child is currently enrolled in a school, you should still formally withdraw them so attendance records are closed.
What are correspondence school allotments, and do they make me a public school family?
Correspondence programs are public school programs you can do at home, and they provide an annual allotment (often a few thousand dollars per student) for curriculum and educational services. Enrolling does make your child a public school student subject to the program's learning plan and assessment rules; many Alaska families happily make that trade, and many do not.
Was homeschool funding struck down by the courts?
In 2024 a trial court found the correspondence allotment statutes unconstitutional, but the Alaska Supreme Court vacated that ruling and sent the case back for further proceedings, leaving allotments in place. Independent homeschooling under AS 14.30.010(b)(12) was never part of the dispute and is unaffected either way.
What ages does compulsory attendance cover?
Ages 7 to 16 in Alaska. Outside that window nothing applies at all, and inside it the homeschool exemption covers you with no paperwork.
Can my homeschooler take classes or play sports at the local school?
Often yes, but it is district and ASAA policy rather than a clear statutory right, so call your local school. Families enrolled in correspondence programs usually have the smoothest access to activities.
Do I need a diploma or degree to teach my own children?
No. The home education exemption has no parent qualification requirements whatsoever. You are legally qualified simply by being the parent or legal guardian.
Sources
- Alaska Statutes, AS 14.30.010 (compulsory attendance exemptions)
- HSLDA, Alaska
- APHEA, Alaska Homeschool Law
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Homeschool laws change, always confirm current requirements with your state's official sources before relying on them.