Homeschooling in Louisiana: Laws & Requirements (2026)

Louisiana respects parental authority in education with one of the nation's more straightforward homeschool frameworks. File your application with the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, maintain attendance records, and educate your children as you see fit. No standardized tests, no curriculum approval, no inspections.

The simplicity is genuine—but it means parents carry full responsibility for educational decisions. Louisiana won't tell you what to teach or how to assess progress. Some families find this liberating; others appreciate more structure. Understanding Louisiana's requirements (and lack thereof) helps you decide if this approach works for your family. This guide covers both legal pathways, what the state actually requires, and what experienced Louisiana homeschoolers recommend beyond the legal minimum.

Louisiana Homeschool Requirements at a Glance

Your Homeschool Options in Louisiana

Louisiana provides two legal pathways for home education, both administered through the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). The requirements are nearly identical—the difference lies primarily in administrative structure.

Home Study Program: The most common choice for Louisiana homeschoolers. You register directly with BESE by submitting an annual application. The state approves your application (essentially a rubber stamp if completed correctly) and you educate your child independently. No curriculum approval, no testing, no oversight beyond the annual renewal.

BESE-Approved Non-Public School: Some families register as or enroll through a non-public school that has BESE approval. This might be an umbrella school, cooperative, or independent study program. The school handles registration, and you may receive additional services like transcripts or graduation ceremonies. You still educate at home.

For most families, the Home Study Program is simpler and less expensive. The BESE-approved school route makes sense if you want institutional support, need an accredited diploma, or prefer having an organization handle administrative details.

Both pathways give you complete curriculum freedom. Louisiana doesn't mandate specific subjects, teaching methods, or educational philosophies.

Comparing Your Options

How to Start Homeschooling in Louisiana

What Louisiana Actually Requires

Louisiana's requirements are genuinely minimal compared to most states. Understanding what's legally mandated versus what's recommended helps you calibrate your approach.

Required by law: - File initial application within 15 days of starting instruction - Renew application annually (typically by October 1 for the new school year) - Provide 180 days of instruction following the public school calendar - Maintain an attendance register or roll book

Not required by law: - No standardized testing at any grade level - No specific subjects or curriculum - No parent qualifications (no diploma, degree, or certification needed) - No portfolio submission or progress reports to the state - No home visits or inspections - No evaluation by licensed professionals

The attendance requirement: Louisiana specifies 180 days matching the public school calendar, but there's flexibility in interpretation. Many families interpret this as roughly equivalent instruction time rather than strict calendar alignment. The state doesn't inspect attendance records unless there's a complaint.

Practical reality: Louisiana trusts parents to educate their children. The state's role is administrative registration, not educational oversight. This means you have freedom—and full responsibility—for educational outcomes.

Record-Keeping Recommendations

Louisiana's minimal requirements don't mean you should keep minimal records. Documentation serves your family even when the state doesn't demand it.

What protects you: An attendance log showing 180 instructional days, a basic curriculum description, and periodic work samples. If any authority ever questions your homeschool—unlikely but possible—these records demonstrate legitimate education is occurring.

What serves your child: Detailed course records, reading logs, project documentation, and dated work samples. These become the foundation for high school transcripts and tell your child's educational story for college applications.

High school records are critical: Colleges need transcripts with course titles, credits, and grades. Start maintaining high-school-level documentation in 9th grade (or earlier). Include course descriptions explaining scope and rigor—especially important for challenging subjects like lab sciences and foreign languages.

Recommended system: - Attendance log (dates of instruction) - Annual curriculum summary (subjects, materials, scope) - Work samples (quarterly or by unit) - Reading list (books completed) - Course grades (if you assign them) - Extracurricular activities and achievements

Annual Compliance Checklist

High School, Graduation & Beyond

Louisiana homeschool parents determine graduation requirements and issue diplomas. There's no state-mandated curriculum for high school completion—you define what graduation means for your student.

Diploma authority: Home Study Program families issue their own diplomas. BESE-approved schools issue school diplomas, which may carry more institutional weight for certain purposes. Neither requires state approval.

Transcript development: Create detailed transcripts for college applications. Include course titles, credit hours (typically 120-180 hours = 1 credit), grades, and cumulative GPA. Many Louisiana homeschoolers use four-year high school planning to ensure transcript completeness.

Louisiana college admission: Louisiana public universities (LSU, UL Lafayette, Louisiana Tech, etc.) accept homeschool applicants with established processes. You'll typically need ACT/SAT scores, transcripts, and possibly course descriptions or portfolios. Each university has specific homeschool admission requirements—check early.

TOPS scholarship: Louisiana's Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) provides merit-based tuition for Louisiana residents attending in-state colleges. Homeschoolers can qualify with appropriate ACT scores and course documentation. TOPS eligibility requires specific core curriculum completion—plan your high school courses accordingly.

Dual enrollment: Louisiana community colleges and universities offer dual enrollment to homeschoolers. Your student can earn college credit during high school, building both their transcript and demonstrating academic readiness.

Sports and Extracurricular Access

Louisiana provides strong homeschool access to public school athletics. Under Louisiana law, homeschool students can participate in LHSAA-sanctioned sports at their zoned public school.

Legal basis: Louisiana Revised Statutes 17:236.1 grants home study students the right to participate in interscholastic athletics at the public school they would otherwise attend. Schools cannot deny access based solely on homeschool status.

Eligibility requirements: Your student must meet the same academic, age, and behavior standards as enrolled students. You'll need to provide documentation that your child is meeting academic progress standards (your BESE approval and attendance records typically suffice).

Process: Contact the athletic director at your zoned school before the sports season begins. Ask about tryout dates, eligibility documentation, and any school-specific requirements. Some schools are more welcoming than others, but the law is clear.

Beyond LHSAA sports: Louisiana has active homeschool sports leagues, particularly in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport areas. These offer competition without navigating public school systems. State homeschool associations maintain directories of leagues and teams.

Financial Assistance

Louisiana offers limited funding that can benefit homeschool families, though the primary ESA program has restrictions.

Louisiana Student Scholarships for Excellence (ESA): This ESA program provides funding for students with disabilities (IEP or 504 plan) to cover private school tuition, therapy, and educational services. Homeschool expenses specifically are generally not covered, but therapy and specialized services used by homeschoolers may qualify.

School Choice Scholarship Program: Provides scholarships for low-income students to attend participating private schools. This is a private school voucher program, not homeschool funding.

Practical funding reality: Louisiana doesn't offer direct homeschool expense reimbursement for typical families. You'll fund curriculum, materials, and activities independently. The available programs target specific populations (special needs, low-income) and primarily support private school enrollment rather than homeschooling.

For complete details on eligibility and application processes, see our Louisiana Homeschool Funding Guide.

Special Situations

Starting mid-year: Louisiana allows withdrawal from public school at any point. Submit your BESE Home Study application within 15 days of beginning instruction, then notify the school of withdrawal. There's no waiting period or approval process from the school.

Moving to Louisiana: File your Home Study application within 15 days of establishing residency. Your previous state's homeschool records help document educational continuity but aren't required for Louisiana approval.

Special needs students: Homeschooled students with disabilities may be eligible for Louisiana's ESA program, which can fund therapies and specialized services. Additionally, local school districts must evaluate suspected disabilities under Child Find requirements. Some services may be available through a services plan.

Returning to public school: If your child returns to public school, they may face placement assessment. Louisiana schools place students based on demonstrated proficiency, which may or may not match your assigned grade level. Thorough records support appropriate placement.

Multiple children: File one application listing all children being homeschooled. Each child receives individual approval from BESE.

The Bottom Line

Louisiana offers one of the nation's more straightforward homeschool frameworks. File your BESE application, provide 180 days of instruction, and educate your children according to your values and their needs. No testing, no curriculum approval, no ongoing oversight.

This freedom carries responsibility. Louisiana won't tell you what to teach or how to measure progress—those decisions rest entirely with you. Many families thrive under this autonomy; others prefer more external structure. Know yourself and your children when deciding if Louisiana's approach fits.

Your first step: submit your Home Study Program application to BESE within 15 days of beginning instruction. Louisiana's homeschool community is active and supportive, with strong regional groups and statewide organizations ready to help new families get started.