Homeschooling Regulations by State: Arkansas

by Christina Yeager

Homeschooling is a big step for most families. Especially for those who are considering it, but don't know where to start. Laws vary by each individual state. The regulations for Arkansas may or may not be different than any other state, however, we have the information you seek! If you're in the State of Arkansas and want to homeschool, keep reading.

Each state is the U.S. has a very specific set of regulations for homeschooling. If you are thinking about teaching your child at home, you'll need to know the ins and outs of what needs to be done beforehand and during. In this series, Homeschooling Regulations by State, we'll explore information to help with the decision, what to do to get started and what to do correctly to continue.

State regulations for homeschooling in Arkansas.

Compulsory School Age
The first law in Arkansas you should be aware of is the standard enrollment age. Children ages 5 - 7 years of age are required to enroll in school.

• If your child has yet to reach his/her 6th birthday before August 1st of any given school year, you can waive the attendance requirements for that year. You must file the waiver with the Department of Education.

Homeschooling Choices
You must annually submit a Notice of Intent to homeschool. You can get this form from the public school superintendent in your area.

Formally Withdrawing From Public School
If your child already attends public school, it's always a good idea to formally withdraw them to avoid any confusion. Contact your local superintendent and ask for the proper way to do so.

There is a 14 day waiting period for withdrawing a student from the public school system. Be sure you do so in writing (or ask the superintendent for a form, if available) 14 days prior to the date you wish to formally withdraw.​

Are you a homeschooler (new or veteran) seeking to share insight? Read our guidelines and then reach out introducing yourself to obtain blogging credentials! And if you're a homeschool parent, be sure to follow the Homeschooling Heroes page on Facebook for tons of resources and insight, and join the Unschool Homeschool group to expand your horizons as to what homeschooling is/can be. And finally, if you're looking for activities to join, we have a group with New Orleans-based activities, which will be expanding to an area near you - so join our group! And be excited about that, because we offer tons of exceptional educational and extracurricular activities for homeschoolers and parents, and can't wait to include you.