How to homeschool in Arkansas

Options for homeschooling

: 2

Notification required

: Yes

Standardized testing required

: No

ESA Option

: Yes

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Arkansas homeschooling laws and options

Homeschooling in Arkansas lets parents take control of their children’s education in two ways: registering as a homeschool with the state or joining an umbrella or private distance-learning program. Both options offer flexibility while following state laws, which require children aged 5 to 17 to be enrolled in some form of schooling. This ensures all kids meet education standards, whether through public, private, or homeschool.

Notice of intent: Parents or legal guardians must submit a notice of intent to homeschool annually to their local school district, including basic student and program information.
Parental qualifications: No specific qualifications are required for parents to teach their children at home.
Subject recommendations: While there is no mandated curriculum, it’s recommended to cover English, math, science, social studies, health, and fine arts for a well-rounded education.
Compulsory attendance: Homeschooled children aged 5 to 17 must meet the same attendance expectations as public and private school students, with flexibility in structuring the academic calendar.

Families can design their homeschooling approach to suit their child’s unique learning needs while adhering to these guidelines.

We have done our best to ensure the accuracy of this information, however it should not be interpreted as legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.

How to homeschool with Time4Learning in Arkansas

Homeschooling in Arkansas through Time4Learning is an easy, straightforward process!

Submit your Notice of Intent: Download and complete the Notice of Intent to Homeschool form via the Arkansas Department of Education website or request one from your local school district. Submit the completed form annually.
Choose your Time4Learning courses: Time4Learning includes all of the recommended subjects, plus plenty of supplements and access to foreign languages and electives.
Keep records: While Arkansas does not have a requirement to submit progress reports, maintaining a detailed record of your child’s work, attendance, and achievements is a good practice. This documentation will be valuable for creating transcripts or portfolios. And as a Time4Learning member, you’ll be able to download a transcript template from our parent portal to get started!
Provide regular instruction: There isn’t a set number of hours or days required, but you are expected to provide consistent educational opportunities. Time4Learning’s Activity Planner helps parents with this scheduling and helps them understand just how much extra time they have for other learning activities!

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Arkansas' high school graduation and diploma requirements

Homeschoolers in Arkansas are not required to follow public school graduation requirements, giving you flexibility to customize your child’s path toward completion. However, here are steps to prepare for post-graduation:

Set credit benchmarks: Most high school-level homeschool programs mirror public school models with around 22–24 credits required, spanning core subjects like English, math, science, and history, alongside electives.
Create a diploma: Parents can issue their own homeschool diploma to reflect the requirements and milestones their student has achieved. As a Time4Learning member, you’ll be able to download a diploma template from our parent portal.
Maintain transcripts: Detailed transcripts listing coursework, grades, and extracurricular activities will help when applying to colleges, jobs, or trade schools. As a Time4Learning member, you’ll be able to download a transcript template from our parent portal to get started!

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Standardized test requirements for Arkansas homeschoolers

Arkansas does not mandate standardized testing for homeschooled students. While this offers flexibility, parents may still choose to administer standardized tests to assess their child's academic progress or fulfill requirements for certain programs, such as college-entry prerequisites.

Voluntary assessments like the PSAT, SAT, or ACT can be valuable for high school-age homeschoolers planning to pursue higher education.

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Applying to college as a homeschooler in Arkansas

Homeschooled students in Arkansas have the same opportunities to apply to colleges and universities as traditional students. Check if the colleges you're interested in have specific admission requirements for homeschoolers. Here are some tips to simplify the college admissions process:

Prepare college-grade transcripts: Include completed courses, grades, and extracurricular activities. As a Time4Learning member, you’ll be able to download a transcript template from our parent portal.
Perform well on standardized tests: Colleges often use ACT or SAT scores to assess academic readiness for homeschoolers.
Highlight experiences: Colleges look for well-rounded students, and homeschoolers have unique opportunities to pursue unique learning experiences, internships, volunteer work, or independent projects!

Request letters of recommendation: Coaches, tutors, or mentors can provide recommendation letters to support your application.

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Using an ESA for homeschool financial aid in Arkansas

Arkansas offers Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) for parents to financially support their child’s education, but requirements vary based on specific programs. For homeschoolers:

Some ESA programs allow funds to be used for homeschooling resources, curriculum, software, and extracurricular activities.
Keep detailed receipts of all qualifying expenses for ESA compliance.

Check with the Arkansas Department of Education or individual ESA programs to learn more about eligibility and usage to ensure you're making the most of this financial aid option.