Approved Home Study Programs
Louisiana Families may choose to educate their children independently from the public or nonpublic school system. Louisiana families typically provide this independent education through a Nonpublic School Not Seeking State Approval or a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Approved Home Study Program.
To comply with state attendance laws, parents who want to educate their children in an Approved Home Study Program must apply and be approved annually by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. A child enrolled in an Approved Home Study Program is considered in compliance with compulsory attendance laws.
Parents who enroll their child in an Approved Home Study Program are solely responsible for the items outlined below.
- Parents must submit the Home Study Application. In order to be approved, the assurance statement must be completed by the parent/legal guardian.
- Parents must select the curriculum to use to educate their child. The Department does not maintain a list of approved programs, curriculum, or strategies.
- Parents are responsible for all Approved Home Study Program related costs. State funding is not available for parents who have students in an Approved Home Study Program.
- Parents determine the grade level the child will be taught for the upcoming year. The LDOE does not make assumptions or judgments about the grade level provided by the parent. Retroactive changes to a student’s grade level are not allowed.
- The Home Study Program is responsible for creating and issuing diplomas. Home Study diplomas are not awarded by BESE or the Louisiana Department of Education. Therefore, a depiction, reproduction, or duplication of state seals or wording which implies from BESE or the Louisiana Department of Education is unauthorized.
Students in an Approved Home Study Program are not required to take state assessments. Students in an Approved Home Study Program may participate in interscholastic athletic activities.
A diploma received in an Approved Home Study program carries the same weight as a state issued diploma.
Please see the Home Study Guidelines for more information.
For additional home study resources such as curriculum choices, best practices for homeschooling and finding a homeschool community near you, visit homeschoollouisiana.org, homeschoolfreedom.com, nheri.org, and hslda.org.
Submit a HOME STUDY APPLICATION
Families apply for Home Study approval through a simple, user-friendly online application. This system will allow families to receive automatic e-mails once the LDOE receives and approves the application.
Families without internet access will still be able to submit a paper application. The paper application may be found in the
Home Study Guidelines.
Please email
homestudy@la.gov with questions about this process.
A similar process and system is also available for
Nonpublic Schools Not Seeking State Approval.