Alabama homeschool checklist for this year

Things to do, with their deadlines

• When your child starts

  On the church school route, file your child's enrollment and attendance with the local public school superintendent on the form the superintendent provides; the church school's administrator countersigns it and you return it. The law gives no date.

  Source: Code of Alabama 16-28-7 Report of enrollment (legislature)

All year

• All year

  The principal teacher of each church school keeps an attendance register showing enrollment and every absence of half a day or more on each school day of the year. Church schools are excused from the reports other schools and tutors must furnish to the superintendent.

  Source: Code of Alabama 16-28-8 Reports required (legislature)

If you stop homeschooling

• If your child stops attending the church school

  The church school tells the local public school superintendent that your child is no longer enrolled (you agree to this when you enroll).

  Source: Code of Alabama 16-28-7 Report of enrollment (legislature)

Good habits (not in the law)

• Keep a copy of everything you send, and of any acknowledgement you get back, with the date.

• Start simple records on day one: the days you teach, the books you read and a few samples of work in each subject. They help if you move, return to school or apply to college.