How to Homeschool in Arkansas

Arkansas 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 Ark. Code Ann. 6-15-503.

Notice / letter of intent

File a Notice of Intent to Home School (NOI) each school year under Ark. Code Ann. 6-15-503, either on paper with your resident school district or through the state's online portal (noihs.ade.arkansas.gov); the portal opens June 1 for the coming year. The deadline is August 15. The NOI asks for each child's name, date of birth, gender, and grade level, the school last attended (if any), your mailing address and phone, a statement that you accept responsibility for your child's education, the name and signature of the person providing instruction, and optional items like plans for interscholastic activities. Filing after August 15 for a child currently enrolled in public school triggers a five-school-day waiting period before withdrawal (the district superintendent can waive it on request). New Arkansas residents have 30 days after establishing residency to file.

Required subjects

Arkansas does not require any specific subjects, curriculum, or course approvals for homeschools. You choose what to teach and which materials to use. Most families cover the standard core anyway, especially in the high school years when they are building a transcript.

Required days or hours

There is no required number of instructional days or hours for Arkansas homeschools. Your calendar and daily schedule are entirely your own.

Recordkeeping

The state requires no attendance logs, portfolios, or progress reports from homeschooling families. Keeping your own records (curriculum lists, work samples, grades, and a high school transcript) is still smart, because you are the only registrar your child has. Save a copy of every filed NOI; it is your proof of legal compliance for each year.

Testing and assessment

Arkansas no longer requires standardized testing of homeschooled students; the old norm-referenced testing mandate was repealed. Families can opt into testing privately for their own benchmarks. The state collects no scores from homeschoolers.

Withdrawing from public school

If you file your NOI by August 15, your child can start the year at home with no waiting period. If your child is enrolled in public school and you file after August 15, the law imposes a five-school-day wait (reduced from 14 days by a 2021 law) during which the child must still attend, unless you ask the superintendent in writing to waive it. Submit the NOI, deliver a short withdrawal letter to the school, and confirm the release date before keeping your child home. Keep copies of both.

Good to know

Two situations require extra care before filing: if a registered sex offender lives in the home, or if your student is under current discipline (such as expulsion) from a public school, special statutory rules apply and you should get specific guidance first. A 2025 Commissioner's memo (COM-25-076) confirmed the June 1 portal opening and shifted districts away from mailing paper NOIs to the state, so the online portal is now the smoothest route.