Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Alabama?

Yes. Notice goes to Local (county or city) public school superintendent. Deadline: Church school: when the child first enrolls (one-time form). Private school and private tutor: enrollment report by the end of the 5th day after public school opens, then weekly reports of new enrollees and unexcused absences; tutors also file a statement of students, subjects and schedule before instruction begins. It renews one-time.

Homeschooling in Alabama

What the law requires, what you file and when, and what to keep — with the statute behind each rule.

notice only 10 sources Verified 12 October 2026

What Alabama requires

Notify: Local (county or city) public school superintendent — Church school: when the child first enrolls (one-time form). Private school and private tutor: enrollment report by the end of the 5th day after public school opens, then weekly reports of new enrollees and unexcused absences; tutors also file a statement of students, subjects and schedule before instruction begins. (one-time)
Testing or evaluation: Not required.
Subjects set by the state: No subject list.
Teaching time: 3 hours, 140 days — in detail
Compulsory school age: 6 through 17 — in detail
Records: Attendance register for every school day (church and private schools).

Confidence in this record: medium. The facts below come from the sources listed, but at least one could not be confirmed against a primary source.

Taking your child out of school in Alabama

First move: Enroll the child in a church school (or set up/enroll in a private school), then file the church school enrollment form, countersigned by the church school administrator, with the local superintendent (or the private school's enrollment report).

Many families also send the current school a written withdrawal notice. Avoid gaps in attendance so the child is not counted truant.

The legal routes

3 routes exist in Alabama. They carry different duties, and families often do not know the alternatives to the obvious one.

Church school (cover school): Enroll the child in a church school operated as a ministry of a church, group of churches, denomination or association of churches; instruction may happen at home. This is the route most Alabama homeschoolers use.
Private school (including a home-based private school): Operate the home as a nongovernmental private school or enroll in one. The school must report enrolled students and unexcused absences to the local superintendent and keep attendance.
Private tutor: Instruction by a tutor holding an Alabama teaching certificate, at least 3 hours a day for 140 days a year between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., in English, covering public-school subjects.

The notice, and who receives it

Goes to: Local (county or city) public school superintendent
Deadline: Church school: when the child first enrolls (one-time form). Private school and private tutor: enrollment report by the end of the 5th day after public school opens, then weekly reports of new enrollees and unexcused absences; tutors also file a statement of students, subjects and schedule before instruction begins.
Renews: one-time
Form: Church school enrollment form (supplied by the local superintendent and countersigned by the church school administrator); no single statewide form found

No official state form was found online for this route; the body above supplies it, or a letter serves.

Compulsory school age

6 through 17; a parent may delay entry to age 7 by written notice to the local board of education

Teaching time

Church and private school: none set by state (set by the school). Private tutor: 3 hours/day, 140 days per calendar year, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Who may teach

Church and private school: none set by the state (set by the school). Private tutor: Alabama teaching certificate required.

Testing and evaluation

No state testing or evaluation requirement under any option.

Records to keep

Attendance register for every school day (church and private schools). Private tutors keep a daily register of hours and attendance.

Private schools (not church schools) need immunization certificates or exemptions on file.

High school, diplomas and transcripts

The church school or private school (or parent as its administrator) issues the diploma and transcript; the state does not issue diplomas to homeschoolers. State law (2014) bars public colleges from denying admission based on attendance at a nonpublic school.

Public school classes, sports and activities

No statute guarantees access. Since 2016 the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) allows homeschool students to try out for sports at their zoned public school, with academic eligibility tests each semester (grades 7-12); local systems may add requirements.

Funding: education savings accounts, vouchers and tax credits

CHOOSE Act education savings accounts (Act 2024-21): $2,000 per homeschool student (max $4,000 per family) or $7,000 for private school; 2026-27 had an income cap (300% of poverty level) and applications closed March 31, 2026; from 2027-28 eligibility is open to all Alabama families regardless of income.

What changed recently

CHOOSE Act ESAs began in 2025-26 ($2,000 per homeschool student, $4,000 family cap). The income cap is removed starting with the 2027-28 application (opens January 2027).

What we could not confirm

Could not fetch the current text of Ala. Code § 16-28-1 (church/private school definitions) or § 16-28-5 directly; relied on the state DOE page, U.S.

ED summary and secondary sources. Exact CHOOSE Act rules for homeschool participants (any testing or registration conditions) not confirmed from the statute. No official statewide church school enrollment form URL found.

Listed because a legal summary that hides its gaps is harder to trust than one that names them. How these pages are checked.

Statutes and sources

Statute and regulation

Ala. Code § 16-28-1
Ala. Code § 16-28-3
Ala. Code § 16-28-5
Ala. Code § 16-28-7
Ala. Code § 16-28-8
Ala. Code § 16-28-16
Ala. Code § 16-1-11
Act 2014-245 (SB 38)
Act 2024-21 (CHOOSE Act)