Homeschooling Regulations By State: Indiana

by Christina Yeager

​Homeschooling is typically a crucial step! Especially when parents are unsure of what they should do properly engage the beginning process of sufficiently instructing their dependent children. 

Are you favorably considering homeschooling and live in Indiana? We possess the information needed to get going. We will direct you through filing the necessary documents, how to formally withdraw a student already in public school, materials/forms to have any specific deadlines to be adequately met.

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.

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Need to know Indiana homeschooling laws.

Compulsory School Age
Indiana state law dictates that the school age in which a child should be enrolled in is age seven for public schools and non-accredited schools. Students should attend until they are eighteen years of age or graduate. Kindergarten is not mandatory, but if you feel your child is ready to learn then teach them! Each student public or private (homeschooled) should be enrolled no later than their seventh birthday of that Fall year.

Homeschooling Choices
Homeschooling in Indiana is considered to be private school instruction. 

Formally Withdrawing From Public School
While there is no requirement from the State of Indiana for formally withdrawing a child already attending public school, there is a Homeschool Enrollment Form of the Indiana Department of Education website. It is also requested to draft a formal letter to the local principal stating that a home-based education will begin and when.

Other Important Things To Consider
You may respectfully request a copy of a students' public school records upon voluntarily withdrawing him or her. 

Also, if your child wishes to participate in any public school athletic programs, they will need to have attended private homeschooling for three consecutive years, passed a physical examination and attended required sports practices. State testing may be reasonably required by the local school district as well as sufficient proof of class attendance. 

Attendance
Recording attendance is necessary. All records of homeschool enrollment and attendance should be kept. At any given time the DOE could merely ask for these documents in reference to the child being instructed at home.

Curriculum
English or an academic equivalent of is mandatory and needs to be included in homeschooling curriculum.

Instruction
Instruction is a total of 180 days per calendar school year.
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