Legal/Homeschool Laws
Laws that regulate home education vary from state to state. It is important to understand the legal requirements in your state and to be aware of legislative and other legal issues that affect homeschoolers in your community. We've compiled resources that will help you become informed. Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, and the vast majority of homeschoolers face no problems, you may find that you need legal assistance at some point in your homeschooling career. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the support you need. And if you'd like to become more involved in working towards homeschooling freedoms, we discuss some of the issues facing homeschoolers that we hope you find compelling.
State Laws
Read the laws regulating home education in Louisiana and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
Forms
Which forms do you need to fill out? Where can you get them? Here is a list of useful forms for homeschooling in Louisiana.
Legal Support
If you need legal information or have run into a legal situation regarding your decision to homeschool, these resources will be helpful.
Lobbying Groups
A listing of local and national lobbying groups and information on how you can become involved in the political process to ensure the freedom to homeschool is protected.
Attorneys
When searching for an attorney, it is helpful to know whether he or she has experience working with homeschoolers and is interested in protecting the right to homeschool.
Legal Issues
Is homeschooling legal? Which laws pertain to homeschoolers and which don't? How do homeschoolers protect their rights to freely educate their children and to preserve their privacy?
Government Resources
A listing of local and state government resources, including your state's Department of Education, school districts, and Senate and House of Representative information.
What's Popular
RS 17:221 School attendance; compulsory ages; duty of parents; consent to withdraw.
A.(1) Every parent, tutor, or other person residing within the state of Louisiana, having control or charge of any child from that child's seventh birthday until his eighteenth birthday, shall send such child to a public or private day school, unless the child graduates from high school prior to his eighteenth birthday. Any child below the age of seven who legally enrolls in school shall also be subject to the provisions of this Subpart. Every parent, tutor, or other person responsible for se...
RS 17:236 Definition of a school.
For the purposes of this Chapter, a school is defined as an institution for the teaching of children, consisting of an adequate physical plant, whether owned or leased, instructional staff members, and students. For such an institution to be classified as a school, within the meaning of this Chapter, instructional staff members shall meet the following requirements: if a public day school or a nonpublic school which receives local, state, or federal funds or support, directly or indirectly, the...
Rules and Procedures for the Distribution of School Books and Materials to Home Study Students
Includes information on the distribution of books to home study students.
Louisiana Department of Education - Non-Approved Registration Form
The DOE site now only has general information about submitting a notice or letter of intent on its site and is apparently discontinuing the use of its private school notification form. The most recent copies are archived on this site. However, you should submit a letter, rather than the old form. This link is provided for reference.
Sample Letter to the State Superintendent of School
CHEF of Louisiana provides these guidelines for writing your letter of intent to home educate in the state of Louisiana under the private school law.
Sample Letter of Intent
Sample letter of intent to homeschool in the state of Louisiana.
Louisiana Home Education Network Announcement List
The purpose of this list is to alert homeschoolers to upcoming events or legislation, particularly as it pertains to homeschoolers in the state of Louisiana. This is an announcement only list.
SBESE-Approved Home Study Information Packet
The information packet contains general information and instructions regarding the Home Study Program; guidelines for compliance; guidelines for transferring students into public school systems (e.g., participation in the LEAP 21); order form for LA Content Standards and Assessment Guides; a list of district test coordinators; legislation related to the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), and a Home Study Program application.
RS 17:236.1 Approval of home study programs.
A. A parent or legal guardian shall apply to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval of a home study program. An initial application must be made within fifteen days after commencement of the program. A renewal application must be made by the first of October of the school year, or within twelve months of approval of the initial application, whichever is later. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, upon receipt of such initial or renewal application, shall imm...
BESE-Approved Home Study Program
A BESE-Approved Home Study program provides Louisiana families the opportunity to independently educate their child.
In a BESE-Approved Home Study program, parents have complete control and responsibility for educating their child.
Parent’s primary responsibilities include: a) selecting and using the curriculum to teach their child; b) determining the
child’s grade placement; and c) submitting initial and renewal home study applications to the LDE for approval.
Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education - Approved Home Study Program (html)
Louisiana Department of Education form. This form is in html format.
Louisiana Home School Laws from HSLDA
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Louisiana. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Louisiana.
Louisiana Home Education Network (LAHEN)
Louisiana Home Education Network (LAHEN) is a statewide homeschooling network consisting of families covering a diverse spectrum of homeschooling styles and philosophies. It exists to help homeschoolers protect the fundamental right of the family to educate its children in the manner it deems appropriate without regulation or interference by federal, state or local agencies.
Louisiana Home Education Network monitors and responds to legislation which may pose a threat to homeschooling, and to...
Louisiana Department of Education
This is the official web presence for the Louisiana Department of Education.
RS 17:11 Approval of private schools by board.
A. The board shall adopt standards and guidelines which shall be applied in determining whether a private or proprietary school applying for approval meets the requirements of a sustained curriculum or specialized course of study of quality at least equal to that prescribed for similar public schools. The board shall appoint an advisory committee of private and proprietary school representatives, who shall advise and counsel with the board relative to standards and guidelines affecting these s...
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Featured Resources
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Homeschoolers' Success Stories : 15 Adults and 12 Young People Share the Impact That Homeschooling Has Made on Their Lives
Despite their growing numbers, many homeschoolers still find their experience somewhat isolating. This collection of short biographies aims to alleviate some of that loneliness. While the stories profile modern-day homeschool grads and students, famo...
The Work-at-Home Sourcebook
This indispensable directory contains information not found in any other book on the subject. The Work-at-Home Sourcebook is the only book available which gives specific information for finding, applying for, and getting home work with AT&T, J. C. Pe...
The Way They Learn
The learning-styles expert, Cynthia Ulrich Tobias, gives parents a better understanding of the types of learning approaches that will help their children do better in school and at home. She offers practical advice for teaching in response to y...
Homeschooling 101: A Guide to Getting Started
Homeschooling 101 gives you the steps to help you get started on your homeschool journey. This guide lays out how to get started, choose and gather curriculum, scheduling, organizing your home, and finding the joy in homeschooling. This book is perfe...
Conquering Chronic Disorganization
The real-life stories of chronically disorganized people and the ground breaking, easy-to-learn organizing methods used to end their chronic disorganization in the area of residential clutter, office organizing, paper management, storage, and time ma...