How to Homeschool in Alabama

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While Alabama may not recognize homeschooling as a separate form of education, there are ways for you to teach your child from home. This article will help clear things up and make starting your homeschooling experience easier. In this article you will find the following:

An overview of Alabama homeschool laws
An introduction to homeschool groups in Alabama
A description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started

* This page does not contain legal advice and is not an endorsement of any homeschool groups listed. (see disclaimer)

Alabama Homeschool Laws

The state of Alabama gives you three options for teaching your child at home. Each option has its own set of laws that you must abide by; you should choose the one that best fits your family's needs.

Option 1: Church School
A church school is a ministry of a church or church group with classes held either on site or at home. The church school option has the following requirements:

You must file a form provided by your local public school superintendent stating that your child will be attending the church school. You file this form only once.
The church school principal must keep attendance records.

You will find a list of list of Alabama church schools at this webpage. (A link at that site also explains how to start your own church school.)

Option 2: Private School
Through this option, your child can learn at home through an existing private school home program, or you can register your home as a private school. The private school option has the following requirements:

Private schools must register annually by October 10 with the Alabama Department of Education and provide information such as number of students and instructors and course of study.
By the fifth day of the private school's operation, you will need to provide the State Superintendent of Education a list of the names and addresses of all children attending your private school.
You must keep an attendance record and immunization records for all students in your school.
You must teach physical education.

Option 3: Private Tutor
Your final option is to have your child be instructed by a private tutor. This option has the following requirements:

The tutor must be a state-certified teacher.
The tutor must provide instruction in English for at least 3 hours a day and at least 140 days per year in subject areas similar to those taught in public schools.
The tutor will need to file a statement with the child's name, subjects taught, and period of instruction with the superintendent and must keep a record of students' attendance and subjects taught.

Homeschool Groups in Alabama

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in Alabama to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

Christian Home Education Fellowship of Alabama (CHEF)

https://www.homeschool-life.com/al/chefofalabama/

This statewide Christian group helps Alabama families understand how to educate their child at home. The group hosts an annual homeschooling conference, and CHEF members can access user forums and directories at the group's website.

Alabama Hope Academy

http://alabamahopeacademy.weebly.com/

Alabama Hope Academy is not a support group but is an established church cover school that allows Alabama families to teach their children from home. Although it is a Christian school, Alabama Hope Academy welcomes all families and has no religion requirements. This site is a good place to start if you are interested in exploring the church school option for your family.

Greater Joy Homeschool Support Group

http://www.greaterjoyhomeschoolsupportgroup.weebly.com

This Christian support group serves the Northern Alabama region. The group sponsors field trips, parties, and community projects for its members. It is a great way to meet other Christian homeschooling families who can share experiences with you and help you through any troubles you have while homeschooling.

Mobile Secular Homeschoolers

https://www.facebook.com/groups/112213655486787/

This inclusive support group provides social and education opportunities for homeschooling families in and around Mobile. You must have a Facebook account to join this group.

Oak Leaf Academy

https://www.academyathome.org

Oak Leaf Academy is a legal, statewide cover school for the state of Alabama. We are a Christian school, however we do not require families to sign a statement of faith. We offer diplomas and transcripts, academic guidance counseling, online co-op, and local clubs, events, and activities.

If you would like to recommend a new link or let us know about a problem with an existing link, please contact us

NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for Alabama

Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Alabama. All of the Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The Alabama legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

Hands-on activities,
Differentiated options, and
Independent projects.

Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Beyond the Page for your child.

Choose an age level to continue:

Age 4-5

Age 5-7

Age 6-8

Age 7-9

Age 8-10

Age 9-11

Age 10-12

Age 11-13

Age 12-14

Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.