How to Homeschool in Idaho

Idaho does not require any registration or reporting related to homeschooled students.

A nonpublic student is one who receives educational instruction outside of a public school classroom, including a private or home school. Idaho Code §33-203(9).

A homeschooled student must be comparably instructed to students in the public school during the compulsory attendance ages of seven through 16 years. Idaho Code §33-202

Homeschooled students may participate in statewide testing and assessment. Idaho State Department of Education School Choice Packet. A homeschooled student may, at the age of 18, take the General Education Development (GED) test and, upon successful completion of all requirements, apply for an Idaho High School Equivalency Certificate. There are exceptions to the age criteria. .

The parent or guardian of a homeschooled child is allowed to enroll the student in the public school for dual enrollment purposes. Dual enrollment allows the student to enter into any program, including public school classes and extracurricular activities, in the public school that are available to other students subject to compliance with the same rules and regulations as other students. Idaho Code §33-203.

Contact Information

Idaho State Department of Education
650 West State Street
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0027
Phone: (208) 332-6800
Toll-Free: (800) 432-4601
Fax: (208) 334-2228
Website: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/

Source: United States Department of Education - Idaho State Regulations

Idaho defines home schooling as education directed by the parent/guardian.

Intent to Home School Notification

Idaho does not require any registration or reporting related to homeschooled students.

Parents should contact the school office, in person and/or in writing, to let the school know that the child will be instructed at home and is being withdrawn from public school. The school may have a withdrawal form to be completed by the parent or guardian. If a parent does not withdraw the child, the child may remain on the school attendance list and may be considered truant.

Curriculum

Since Idaho does not regulate or monitor home school education, it is up to the parent/guardian to select the curriculum they wish to use. There is no registration or sign up procedure required.

The state of Idaho does not have a set curriculum to be followed for home school education. All costs associated with home schooling are the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

Parents need to make an informed decision and determine if they have the capacity to provide the instruction and oversight necessary for home schooling. Access to high quality curriculum; ability to accurately track or assess learning, and time to provide the instruction and oversee the work are just a few of the items to consider when looking at home schooling.

Required Subjects

The State Board of Education’s Administrative Rules list of core instructional requirements for public schools are:
Language Arts and Communication
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies

A variety of other subjects such as fine arts, health, and physical education are also listed. To review this rule in its entirety, please view the administrative rule regarding basic curriculum and instructional requirements for public schools.

Attendance Requirements

A parent or guardian has the responsibility of setting hours of instruction per day and deciding what days of the week instruction occurs. Parents should be aware of the instructional time requirements for public schools:
Kindergarten, four hundred fifty (450) hours per year
Grades one through three (1-3), eight hundred ten (810) hours per year
Grades four through eight (4-8), nine hundred (900) hours per year
Grades nine through twelve (9-12), nine hundred ninety (990) hours per year
Grades nine through twelve (9-12), sixty (60) hours of total instruction per credit

Record Keeping

It is the sole responsibility of parents or guardians to monitor their child’s progress and attendance in a homeschool. It is important to keep schedules and records of the instructional time provided to prevent any issues related to truancy.

Teacher Requirement

Idaho has no teacher certification requirement for a parent/guardian who chooses to provide an education for his/her child at home.

Diplomas

Idaho does not have a state diploma, and school districts issue diplomas for students who have taken their course work in that school system and completed the district’s requirements for graduation.

Dual Enrollment Public School

According to Idaho Code §33-203 (commonly known as the Dual Enrollment Law), the parent or guardian of a child of school age who is enrolled in a nonpublic school or public charter school shall be allowed to enroll the student in a public school for dual enrollment purposes. Contact the school or district for more information on enrollment and policies.

This is a decision of local districts and/or charters schools. Arrangements must be made with the school before the testing period begins. Districts and charters are not required to accommodate home school students, but may be willing if space is available and arrangements are made in advance.

Re-enrollment Public School

It is the responsibility of the school (or district) to place transferred students in an appropriate grade. The Idaho State Department of Education does not dictate policy to school districts regarding the placement of students. Examples of what a district may use for determining placement include testing, review of homeschool coursework and/or records, or provisional placement in an age-level grade.

This will depend on district policy. Districts and the school will determine how the coursework completed aligns to their curriculum. At the high school level, they will determine if credit will be awarded for the work. Unless the work is completed through an accredited institution recognized by AdvancED, the districts aren’t required to accept the work.

Diplomas

Many occupations require students to graduate from an accredited high school. Home schooling can make it more challenging for students after they have completed the high school course work if they don’t have a diploma from an accredited institution.

Idaho Home Schooling Links

• Idaho State Department of Education School Choice Packet (PDF)
• Idaho Department of Education School Choice webpage.

Source: Idaho Department of Education