HOME EDUCATION IN LOUISIANA

Louisiana law is favorable to home education.  Two options are available to home educate in Louisiana.  These options are:

1. The Home Study Law   OR

2.  The Private School Law.

Under the home study law, an initial application must be submitted to the Department of Education within 15 days after beginning the home study program.  First time applicants must enclose a copy of the birth certificate for each child registered (a photo copy is acceptable as long as the seal shows).  If your child is being withdrawn from public school, your child’s school must be notified that he/she is being withdrawn and enrolled in a home study program.

Under the private school law, a letter is sent to the State Superintendent of Schools informing him/her that you are starting a private school.  This letter is to be written on school letterhead, and should include the number of pupils, when the school starts, and the number of school days.  Law requires that you (as a private school) also notify the public school of your child’s enrollment in a private school if the child has attended a Louisiana public school immediately prior to enrolling in the private school.  Notification to the school can be in the form of a request for transcripts, but must include the student’s legal name, birth date, gender, and race.  This notification should be sent within ten (10) days of the withdrawal of your child from the public school system.