Homeschooling in Alaska: Laws & Requirements (2026)

Alaska takes homeschool freedom seriously. Under the primary homeschool statute—AS 14.30.010(b)(12)—your child is exempt from compulsory attendance simply by "being educated in the child's home by a parent or legal guardian." That's it. No notification, no testing, no approval, no curriculum oversight.

But Alaska offers something else that catches many families off guard: state-funded correspondence programs that provide free curriculum, materials, and teacher support while you teach at home. The Alaska Department of Education distinguishes these as separate categories—"homeschooling" means complete independence without district affiliation, while "correspondence programs" provide district support with some accountability. You choose your path: pure freedom or funded resources.

Alaska's homeschool community has been thriving since APHEA (Alaska Private and Home Educators Association) formed in 1986—nearly 40 years of families successfully educating outside the system. This guide covers your legal options and helps you decide which approach fits your family.

Alaska Homeschool Requirements at a Glance

Your Homeschool Options in Alaska

Alaska provides four distinct legal pathways for home education^[2]. The overwhelming majority of families choose Option 1—the homeschool statute—which requires nothing from the state. The other options exist for specific circumstances.

Option 1: Homeschool Statute (Most Popular): Simply educate your child at home as parent or legal guardian. No notification, no approval, no testing, no forms, no teacher qualifications. This is what most people mean when they talk about Alaska's homeschool freedom.

Option 2: Private Tutor: Your child receives instruction from an Alaska-certified teacher acting as a private tutor. This option exists but is rarely used—it requires hiring a certified teacher, which defeats the purpose for most homeschooling families.

Option 3: School Board Approval: Submit a written request to your local school district demonstrating your child is "equally well-served" by home instruction. The school board grants an excusal from mandatory attendance. This path involves district oversight most families prefer to avoid.

Option 4: Religious or Private School: Operate as a private religious school. This option carries the most requirements: enrollment reports to the superintendent, filings with the Department of Education, attendance records for 180 days, immunization and testing records, and standardized testing in grades 4, 6, and 8. Most families choose this path only if they want to create a formal school covering multiple families.

Comparing Your Options

How to Start Homeschooling in Alaska

Alaska's Unique Correspondence Programs

The Alaska Department of Education makes an important distinction: "Correspondence programs are district-supported schooling options in the home. Homeschooling refers to schooling without district affiliation."^[3] This matters because correspondence programs provide substantial state funding while pure homeschooling provides complete independence.

How correspondence works: You enroll in a statewide correspondence program (IDEA Homeschool, Alaska Gateway, AKAA, or others). A certified teacher serves as your advisor—helping with planning and resources—but you remain the primary instructor. The state funds curriculum, materials, and an annual allotment for educational purchases.

The allotment advantage: Most correspondence programs provide $1,000–$2,500 annually to purchase curriculum, supplies, classes, and educational services. For families watching their budget, this substantially offsets homeschool costs. You're accessing public education funding while teaching at home.

What you trade: Correspondence programs involve district affiliation. Some require testing, progress reports, or advisory meetings. You're technically enrolled in a public school program, even though instruction happens at home. For families wanting zero government interaction, pure homeschooling under Option 1 keeps the state entirely out of your educational decisions.

Popular programs: Check the Alaska DOE correspondence school directory for current options. Programs vary in philosophy, allotment amounts, and flexibility. Many families interview multiple programs before enrolling.

Record-Keeping: What Alaska Requires (and What Makes Sense)

Legally, Option 1 homeschoolers in Alaska face no record-keeping requirements. The state doesn't ask for attendance logs, curriculum documentation, test scores, or work samples. You could homeschool for years without generating a single piece of paper for state review.

Why keep records anyway: Even without legal mandates, maintaining basic records serves your family. If you move to another state, records demonstrate completed work for grade placement. If your child returns to public school, documentation supports appropriate class assignments. For college applications, transcripts and course records become essential.

What experienced Alaska homeschoolers track: - Curriculum used and courses completed - Books read and major projects - Annual portfolio of work samples - Attendance (even a simple calendar notation) - Any standardized test scores you choose to administer

The practical approach: Keep records light during elementary years and more detailed for high school. You're building toward college applications or work history—not satisfying state bureaucracy. Alaska's freedom means you document what matters to your family, not what a compliance checklist demands.

Recommended (Not Required) Records

High School, Graduation & Beyond

Alaska homeschool parents issue their own diplomas. The state doesn't recognize or certify homeschool graduation—you determine when your child has completed high school and award the diploma yourself. This mirrors most states' approach.

Creating transcripts: For college applications, you'll create a transcript listing courses, grades, and credits. Include course titles, credit hours (typically 120–180 hours per credit), grades, and cumulative GPA. There's no mandated format; consistency and clarity matter most.

College preparation: Alaska universities, including the University of Alaska system, accept homeschool applicants. You'll typically need ACT or SAT scores, transcripts, and potentially course descriptions. Many homeschoolers find the Accuplacer placement test helpful for community college enrollment.

The Alaska Performance Scholarship: This state scholarship program provides up to $4,755 annually for Alaska high school graduates attending Alaska colleges. Homeschoolers can qualify by meeting GPA requirements (typically 2.5+) and either ACT/SAT scores or completing an approved career/technical education program.

Dual enrollment: Alaska community colleges and universities allow homeschool students to enroll in college courses during high school. This builds college credit and demonstrates academic capability to future institutions.

Sports and Extracurricular Access

Alaska provides legal access for homeschool students to participate in public school interscholastic activities under Alaska Statute § 14.30.365^[4]. This law, effective since 2013, ranks among the stronger homeschool access provisions nationally.

Who qualifies: Full-time students in grades 9–12 enrolled in an alternative education program (including homeschool programs accredited by a recognized accrediting body) that doesn't offer interscholastic activities. "Full-time" means at least five classes in grades 9–11 and four classes in grade 12, on track to graduate within four years.

What's covered: Interscholastic activities sanctioned by the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA)—sports competitions between schools conducted outside regular curriculum. This includes most varsity sports but typically not activities like student government.

Eligibility requirements: You must either live in the school's attendance zone or request participation at another school with demonstrated good cause and school governing body approval. You must meet the same eligibility standards as enrolled students and provide documentation including transcripts and proof of enrollment.

Correspondence school advantage: Students enrolled in Alaska correspondence programs often have cleaner eligibility paths for sports participation, as they're technically enrolled in a public school program.

Special Considerations for Alaska Families

Rural and remote locations: Alaska's geography makes homeschooling particularly practical for families in remote areas. Correspondence programs serve families across the state regardless of location, providing curriculum and support via mail and internet.

Military families: Alaska's significant military presence means many homeschool families face regular relocations. Alaska's no-notification, no-testing approach makes transitions simple—you're not extracting yourself from district oversight when orders arrive.

Special needs: Homeschooled children may access limited special education services through their local school district. Alaska's Child Find requirements apply—districts must assess suspected disabilities. However, comprehensive IEP services generally require school enrollment. Correspondence programs may offer additional support resources.

Moving to Alaska: If relocating from a more regulated state, you'll appreciate the transition. Alaska requires nothing from incoming homeschoolers under Option 1. Simply continue teaching your child—no registration, no waiting period, no transcript submission.

Leaving Alaska: If you move to a state with notification or testing requirements, you'll need to comply with that state's laws. Maintain at least basic records during your Alaska years to smooth any future transitions.

The Bottom Line

Alaska offers homeschool freedom that most states don't approach. Under Option 1, you can educate your children with zero government interaction—no forms, no testing, no approval, no oversight. This represents homeschooling in its purest legal form.

The state's correspondence programs add an unexpected dimension: free curriculum, materials, allotment funds, and certified teacher support for families who want resources without surrendering independence. You can homeschool with complete freedom or substantial support—or combine elements of both.

Your first step is simply deciding your approach. If you want pure independence, begin teaching under Option 1. If you want state-funded resources, research correspondence programs like IDEA or AKAA. Either path leads to legal, supported homeschooling in one of America's most welcoming states for home education.