Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about registering with the state, TOPS eligibility, records, membership, and our events. Each answer links to the page on our site where you can read more.
Getting started
How do I start homeschooling in Louisiana?
Our Get Started guide walks through five steps:
- Learn the law and register with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) under one of the two options described below.
- Withdraw your child from their current school, if they are enrolled in one.
- Connect with other homeschool families through a local or virtual support group.
- Define your educational philosophy. You don't need everything figured out before you begin.
- Keep good records of attendance, curriculum, and progress.
You can also download our Getting Started in Homeschooling infographic.
From: Get Started
When do I have to notify the state that I'm homeschooling?
You are not required to notify LDOE until September of the year your child turns 5. If your child was previously enrolled in a public education program, register now, even if they are under the required age.
From: Get Started and our home page
How do I choose a curriculum or teaching approach?
Homeschoolers aren't limited to "school at home." You can build an education that fits each child. A good starting point is Cathy Duffy's book 103 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum (2022), which introduces different homeschool philosophies, learning styles, and specific curricula. Cathy Duffy also offers a free online learning-style assessment at cathyduffyreviews.com.
Local support groups are also a great place to talk through options with experienced families.
From: Get Started
Is there a course that walks new homeschoolers through everything?
Yes. Start Strong Louisiana, presented by Homeschool Louisiana and Homeschool University, is a 14-day online course with videos, articles, and panel discussions with veteran homeschoolers. Daily lessons cover Louisiana law, choosing curriculum, testing and recordkeeping, time management, homeschool civics, and more, plus bonus content such as sample transcripts and student planners.
Homeschool Louisiana members receive a discount on the course.
From: Homeschool University
Is homeschooling effective?
Homeschoolers typically score in the 65th to 85th percentile on standardized academic achievement tests. Counted together, Louisiana's homeschoolers would make up the largest school district in the state.
For more research, see the 2024 Homeschool Research Briefing and the Black Families and Homeschooling briefing (2020).
Registering with the state
Louisiana offers two ways to homeschool. Both require registering every year.
| Nonpublic school (not seeking state approval) | BESE-approved Home Study | |
|---|---|---|
| Often called | The "private school option" | Home Study Program |
| To register | Annual registration form stating your intent to homeschool | First year: a copy of the student's birth certificate |
| Each renewal | No additional documentation | One of: standardized test score, curriculum packet, or a teacher statement |
| TOPS eligible | No | Yes, when requirements are met |
| Local school activities | Not eligible | At the principal's discretion |
| Register online | Nonpublic registration | Home Study registration |
What's the difference between registering as Nonpublic and as Home Study?
Nonpublic (not seeking state approval): you complete an annual registration form stating your intent to homeschool. No other documentation is required. Students under this option are not eligible for TOPS scholarships or for participation in local school activities.
BESE-approved Home Study: students can become eligible for TOPS and may take part in local school activities at the principal's discretion. The first registration requires only a copy of the student's birth certificate. Each renewal requires one of three items: a standardized test score, a curriculum packet, or a teacher statement.
From: Get Started and Which Way to Register?
Does BESE approve my curriculum or give my child a diploma?
No. Under the Home Study option, BESE does not approve your curriculum or your student's transcript, and it does not issue a diploma. What BESE approves is that your curriculum is of equal quality to that offered in the public school system.
From: Get Started
Do I have to register again every year?
Yes. Whether you choose Nonpublic or Home Study, you must renew every year. Home Study families can use the Application Renewal for Home Study Program form.
From: Documents
My child is enrolled in a virtual charter school. Should I register as a homeschool?
No. LDOE considers students enrolled in a virtual charter school to be public school students who do their work at home. A homeschool student, by the state's definition, uses privately funded, parent-administered curricula.
From: Which Way to Register?
Withdrawing from school
How do I withdraw my child from their current school?
If your child attends a public or private school, you'll need to withdraw them. If you plan to start homeschooling after the school year ends, notify the school that your student will not be returning. Use the form that matches the school your child is leaving:
- Leaving a public school: Louisiana Notification of Enrollment in a Private School
- Leaving a private school: Louisiana Letter of Withdrawal
Fill out the form online, then email it to your child's former school or print it to mail or hand-deliver. LDOE also publishes guidance on student withdrawals.
From: Get Started and Documents
My child has never been enrolled in school. Do I need to withdraw them?
No. The withdrawal step only applies to children currently attending a public or private school.
From: Get Started
High school, TOPS & transcripts
Can homeschooled students qualify for a TOPS scholarship?
Yes, if they are registered in the BESE-approved Home Study Program. Your student must be registered under Home Study for at least the 11th and 12th grades. We strongly recommend registering for Home Study beginning in 9th grade, in case your student graduates early.
Students in the Nonpublic (not seeking state approval) option are not eligible for TOPS.
From: Which Way to Register? and Get Started
What does the law say about Home Study and TOPS?
Act 227 of 2015 sets the conditions. In summary:
- A parent or court-ordered custodian must certify that the student successfully completed a BESE-approved home study program at the twelfth-grade level.
- A student who previously attended a Louisiana public high school, or a BESE-approved nonpublic high school, must have started the approved home study program no later than the end of 10th grade.
Read the full text of Act 227.
From: Home Study and TOPS Law
Who creates my homeschooled teen's transcript?
You do. As the parent, you are responsible for your student's transcript, and it is just as official as one from a school. Colleges, employers, the military, scholarship committees, trade schools, and even auto insurers may ask for it, sometimes years after graduation.
Ways to make one:
- Design and print it yourself with HSLDA's free transcript templates.
- Use a transcript service or software.
- Enroll in an umbrella school, correspondence school, or oversight program that provides transcripts.
Start the transcript as soon as your student completes any high-school-level course, then add to it each year.
From: How to Make a Transcript
How does my homeschooled teen get a driver's permit or license?
Use the Certification of Required School Attendance form, available on our Documents page.
From: Documents
What paperwork does my homeschooled teen need to get a job?
You no longer need to go to your local school board. In the past, parents of a homeschooled minor (for example, a 16-year-old) took a form to the school board to be signed, but school boards no longer have any role in minor employment.
Instead, the employer should give you, the parent, a form to fill out. If this is the first time the employer has hired a minor under the new rule, they may not know about the change. They can get the form they need from the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Are there career-planning opportunities for older students?
Yes. Students registered for the Louisiana Homeschool Conference who are in 10th grade or older (through age 23) can take part in the free ASVAB Career Exploration Program at the conference. It helps students identify strengths, interests, and possible career paths for college, technical training, or the workforce.
Records & annual reporting
What records should I keep?
Under either option, keep records of attendance, curriculum, and progress in case you need them later. Because you are the administrator of your student's education, we strongly recommend well-documented progress reports, testing if you choose, and making sure your curriculum prepares your student for their plans after high school.
From: Get Started and Which Way to Register?
Do I have to send anything to the state each year?
Home Study: yes. Each year you send one of the following with your renewal: a core curriculum sample, standardized test scores, or a progress letter from a certified teacher.
Nonpublic (not seeking state approval): no annual records are sent. You only renew your registration.
From: Get Started
Special needs
Where can I find help homeschooling a child with special needs?
SPED Homeschool is a nonprofit that connects special-education homeschooling families with homeschool, curriculum, and therapy resources. It hosts a weekly live broadcast on its Facebook page on Tuesdays, 8–9 pm CST, with past episodes on YouTube and as a podcast.
Our Start Strong Louisiana course also covers struggling learners and children with special needs, and HSLDA offers tips for special-needs transcripts.
From: Special Education and Homeschool University
Support groups
How do I find a homeschool group near me?
Our Get Connected page lists affiliated support groups by parish, including East Baton Rouge, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Charles, St. James, and Tangipahoa. Classical Conversations also has a community search.
Local groups offer in-person support for parents and activities for students. Virtual groups offer ideas and friendships beyond your area.
From: Get Connected
How do I start a homeschool support group?
It doesn't take many families. Some groups begin with as few as four or five, often meeting at a park, the zoo, or a local church. Lack of experience shouldn't stop you; Homeschool Louisiana can help anyone forming a new group. Contact us for details.
From: About and Get Connected
How does a support group become a member of Homeschool Louisiana?
Ask us, and we'll send your group leader information and membership application forms. Group leaders are also invited to our annual Leadership Summit, a day of training on running meetings, casting vision, and growing your group's impact.
From: About and Leadership Summit
Membership
What membership levels are available, and what do they cost?
For the 2026/2027 year:
- Family Membership — $49.95
- Gold Membership — $99.95: everything in Family, plus a 30-minute homeschool coaching session with one of our experts.
From: Join
What do members receive?
- Homeschool Louisiana Teacher ID
- Discounts and early-bird registration for the Homeschool Conference and Capitol Day
- Homeschool Louisiana Civics Guide and Planner
- Homeschool Research Briefing
- Free trials or discounts from HSLDA, Office Depot, IEW, BJU Press, HomeWorks Consultants, Schoolhouse Teachers, Unbound, Portals Home Education, Classic Learning Test, and others
- Exclusive access to our 5-part How to Homeschool videos
- A discount on the Homeschool University course
Your membership also supports our work monitoring legislation that could affect your right to teach your children at home.
From: Family Membership and Join
How do I log in to my membership account?
Use the My Account page.
From: Join
Events
When and where is the next Louisiana Homeschool Conference?
The 2027 conference is Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13, 2027 at First Baptist Church, 401 W Morris Ave, Hammond, LA 70403.
It offers encouragement and vision for your homeschool, a vendor hall with conference-only deals, a youth program during sessions, fellowship with families from across the state, and a hot catered lunch. The vendor hall is open Friday from 5:00 to 7:30 pm and during the conference on Saturday.
How much does the conference cost, and what's the refund policy?
Family registration is $55 and covers a married couple or single parent, plus grandparents accompanying them. Members save $10. Refunds are available until March 9; email homeschoollouisiana@gmail.com.
Lunch is included for registered parents, children five and under, and students in the Children's or Youth Program. Lunch for grandparents is $8, and for children over five it's $5. Gluten-free rolls and cookies are available on request.
Can I bring my children to the conference?
Yes. Bring quiet activities like books or art supplies for them during sessions. Children must stay with a parent at all times unless they're enrolled in the Children's Program or Youth Program.
Can I watch sessions from last year's conference?
Yes. Recordings from the 2026 conference, including keynote sessions with Christy-Faith, are available for $20 from Alliance Recordings.
How can my business be a vendor at the conference?
Email homeschoollouisiana@gmail.com for vendor information.
What is Homeschool Day at the Capitol?
A day each May in Baton Rouge for homeschool families to see their state government up close. It includes a symposium on legislative and advocacy training, a Capitol tour, time to meet your legislators, a tour of the Old State Capitol, and a catered lunch. The 2026 event was held on May 13 at the Louisiana State Library and Capitol Building.
Questions? Email Jessie Leger at homeschoollouisiana@gmail.com.
About Homeschool Louisiana
What is Homeschool Louisiana?
A non-profit Christian ministry made up of local homeschool support groups and individual families from around the state. We've been helping families homeschool successfully since 1983. Our work falls into three areas:
- Protect: parental rights, liberty, policy, and legislation
- Promote: conferences, research, resources, and workshops
- Provide support: homeschool assistance, supporting families, training leaders, and building community
Is Homeschool Louisiana a school, co-op, or legal service?
How can I stay informed about legislation that affects homeschoolers?
We watch the state legislature, state agencies, and the news, and share updates through our blog, newsletter, and Facebook. Homeschool Day at the Capitol is also a chance to meet your legislators in person.
How can I support Homeschool Louisiana?
You can become a member or make a donation.
From: our home page
Still have a question?
Many questions are answered in our Facebook community. You can also reach us directly or use the contact form.
- homeschoollouisiana@gmail.com
- Phone
- (225) 725-5230
- 511 Turquoise Street
New Orleans, LA 70124
