Is homeschooling legal in Indiana?
Yes, homeschooling is fully legal in Indiana. Indiana is one of the most relaxed homeschooling states in the country. There is no required notice, no testing, no curriculum approval, and no list of mandated subjects. Your two real obligations are simple: teach for 180 days a year and keep an attendance record in case anyone ever asks.
Indiana homeschool requirements at a glance
| Notice required | No, reporting your homeschool to the Indiana DOE is voluntary, not required. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | No, Indiana requires instruction equivalent to public schools but lists no subjects. |
| Testing / assessment | No, no state testing for homeschooled students. |
| Recordkeeping | Yes, keep attendance records; officials may request them. |
| Parent qualifications | None, no degree, certification, or minimum education required. |
Indiana 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 Indiana Code 20-33-2.
Notice / letter of intent
Indiana requires no notice of intent and no registration to homeschool. The Indiana Department of Education offers an online homeschool enrollment report, but the DOE itself states that reporting homeschool enrollment is not required. Homeschools in Indiana operate as non-accredited nonpublic schools under the compulsory attendance statutes (Indiana Code 20-33-2) If your child has never been enrolled in a school, you can simply begin teaching.
Required subjects
Indiana does not mandate a list of subjects for homeschools, state law exempts home and nonpublic schools from the curriculum requirements that bind public schools. The statute instead asks for instruction "equivalent to that given in the public schools," a standard the law does not further define (IC 20-33-2-28) In practice, most families anchor on the basics: language arts, math, science, and social studies, which also makes records cleaner for college and career paths.
Required days or hours
Indiana requires 180 days of instruction per academic year, which runs July 1 through June 30. You decide which days count as school days and how long each day runs.
Recordkeeping
This is Indiana's one real recordkeeping rule: keep attendance records showing your 180 days of instruction (IC 20-33-2-20) The local superintendent or the state attendance officer may request these records to verify attendance, though no specific format or form is required, a simple calendar with school days marked works. For high schoolers, also keep a transcript and course descriptions for your own use.
Testing and assessment
Indiana requires no assessments for homeschooled students. There is no standardized testing mandate, no portfolio review, and nothing to submit at any grade level. Testing is purely optional and for your own information.
Withdrawing from public school
Notify your child's current school principal in writing that you are withdrawing your child to attend a non-accredited nonpublic school (homeschool). For high school students, complete the school's withdrawal paperwork carefully, Indiana DOE guidance notes that a high schooler withdrawn to a non-accredited school without the signed withdrawal form can be coded as a dropout, which you want to avoid. Keep dated copies of everything.
Good to know
Indiana homeschoolers operate as non-accredited nonpublic schools, which keeps things simple but means no state diploma. Public school access for classes or sports varies by district and the IHSAA's rules, so ask locally before counting on it A 2024 law improved how homeschool graduates are treated in police hiring applications, a small sign the state treats homeschool credentials seriously.
How to start homeschooling in Indiana
- Confirm your child's status: compulsory attendance in Indiana runs from age 7 to 18, and kindergarten is not mandatory.
- If your child is enrolled in a school, deliver a written withdrawal letter to the principal and complete any withdrawal form the school provides (especially important for high schoolers).
- Decide whether to file the Indiana DOE's voluntary homeschool enrollment report, it is optional either way.
- Plan your year: 180 days of instruction between July 1 and June 30, with a curriculum you consider equivalent to public school instruction.
- Start an attendance calendar on day one and mark every school day, this is the record officials can ask to see.
File your notice
Good news: Indiana requires no notice or form to homeschool. Indiana does not require homeschool registration, but the Indiana Department of Education provides a voluntary online enrollment reporting form.
Form links checked when we built this page.
Homeschool funding in Indiana
We're verifying Indiana'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 Indiana withdrawal letter template
Fill-in-the-blank and ready to send. Free, no email required.
Download the free templateFind homeschool families near you in Indiana
Co-Op
- C.H.O.I.C.E. Homeschool · Evansville
A Christ-centered, faith-based co-op for ages 3 through 12th grade that meets Mondays at Christian Fellowship Church for 12-week fall and spring sessions, giving kids mentors, enrichment classes, and plenty of fellowship.
Visit website - Character Co-op · Fishers
A parent-led academic Christian homeschool co-op for PreK through 12th grade that meets Tuesdays at Crossroads Community Church in Fishers, pairing solid academics with character building and a biblical worldview.
Visit website - Greater Lafayette Home Educators' Association (GLHEA) · Lafayette
The Greater Lafayette area's homeschool association, where families support one another through small groups, HUSTL sports, Quo Vadis speech and debate, and a member newsletter that keeps everyone connected.
Visit website - Heritage Family Educators · Corydon (Harrison County)
A Christian homeschool co-op in Corydon where parents share the teaching one day a week at no charge for their services, alongside moms' connect meetings, field day, a STEAM fair, and PE at the YMCA for southern Indiana families.
Visit website - Home Grown Hearts Elkhart County · Bristol (Elkhart County)
A Christian co-op where Elkhart County families share their gifts and talents through weekly elective and specialty classes, from art, sewing, and cooking to lab science, drama, and speech. It's so well loved that it is currently at capacity, so reach out early.
Visit website - Indiana Association of Home Educators (IAHE) · Statewide
Indiana's statewide homeschool organization, founded in 1983, supporting and encouraging families with regional representatives, events, and resources for every season of the homeschool journey. A great first stop for finding your local community anywhere in the state.
Visit website - Indy Homeschool Co-op · Indianapolis (Nora, north side)
A secular, parent-run nonprofit co-op on the north side of Indy where kids from preschool through high school meet Mondays for hands-on science classes and interest-based clubs. Families of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed.
Visit website - Life Adventures Homeschool Resources · Fort Wayne
A Fort Wayne nonprofit serving northeast Indiana homeschoolers since 2019, with three weekly co-op locations, dozens of classes from gym to high school academics, a Kids Adventure Club for field trips, and Mom Adventures for parent support.
Visit website - Vine and Branches · Chesterton (Porter County)
A Christ-centered homeschool co-op meeting at Liberty Bible Church in Chesterton, connecting northwest Indiana families through weekly classes, field trips, moms' nights out, prayer groups, family events, and sports through South Shore Homeschool Athletics.
Visit website
Forest & Nature School
- Giving Gardens of Indiana · Columbia City (Whitley County)
A Columbia City farm where kids from 6 months to 18 years learn, grow, and reconnect with nature, with the Wild Willow Nature Preschool, a Farm & Forest School for ages 4-12, nature camps, and a teen nature collective.
Visit website - Sage Valley Nature School · Worthington (Greene County)
A nonprofit education center and ecovillage in Greene County whose nature school welcomes children of all ages to experience the vast array of lessons the land has to offer through repeated, hands-on exploration outdoors.
Visit website - The Nature School of Central Indiana · Indianapolis (northeast side)
A tuition-free K-8 public charter school on 200 wooded acres at Camp Belzer, weaving Montessori wisdom, Waldorf artistry, and nature-based learning into standards-aligned academics with weekly outdoor field studies.
Visit website - White Pine Wilderness Academy · Indianapolis (Rocky Ripple)
Central Indiana's wilderness school since 2014, offering year-round forest school days for ages 3-17 built around fire-starting, tracking, foraging, archery, and deep nature connection along the White River. A favorite weekly enrichment day for homeschool families.
Visit website - YMCA of Muncie Nature Preschool · Muncie
A preschool enrichment program where the deep woods become the classroom: small groups of young children explore, discover, and learn alongside Forest Kindergarten-trained teachers through the YMCA of Muncie.
Visit website
Homeschooling in nearby states
Indiana homeschooling FAQ
Do I have to register my homeschool with the state of Indiana?
No. The Indiana DOE offers an enrollment report you can file, but the department itself says reporting is not required. Some families file it for documentation purposes; many skip it entirely.
What does "equivalent instruction" actually mean?
Indiana law requires instruction equivalent to public schools but never defines the standard, and no agency reviews your curriculum. Covering the core subjects at your child's level in good faith is how families meet it in practice.
What records am I legally required to keep?
Attendance records, that is the one statutory recordkeeping duty. A superintendent or the state attendance officer can ask to see them, so keep a simple calendar marking your 180 instruction days each year.
Is there required testing in Indiana?
No. Homeschooled students are not required to take ILEARN or any other state assessment. Any testing you arrange is private and optional.
Will my child get a diploma?
You issue the diploma and transcript as the administrator of your homeschool, Indiana does not issue diplomas to homeschool graduates. Students 16 or older also have the option of pursuing a High School Equivalency credential, but most homeschool graduates use a parent-issued diploma.
Why is the high school withdrawal form such a big deal?
If a high school student leaves for a non-accredited school without the signed withdrawal paperwork, the school can record the student as a dropout, which can cause headaches with driver's licenses and records. Doing the exit paperwork properly takes minutes and prevents all of it.
Sources
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.