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Withdrawing from school to homeschool in Alabama

How to take your child out of school to homeschool in Alabama, step by step: what to file first, what to tell the school, and a letter to print.

This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page. Laws change, and Alabama's own statute and education department are the final word. The links below go straight to them.

Deadlines, forms and amounts checked on against the sources linked on this page.

Step by step

  1. Before your child's last day, do what Alabama asks of a new homeschool. 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)
  2. Tell the school. We did not find a Alabama rule on how to tell the school. A short dated letter, with a copy kept, gives you a record of the day your child left.
  3. Ask for your child's records (report cards, test results, any evaluations or plans) so you know where your child stands. Good practice, not a legal step.
  4. If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan, ask the district before you leave what, if anything, it offers homeschooled students, and get a copy of the plan. Good practice, not a legal step.
  5. Keep copies of everything you send and anything you get back, with the dates. Good practice, not a legal step.
  6. Start your records on day one. 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)

What Alabama's law or education agency says about leaving school

If a child stops attending the church school, the parent directs the school (agreed at enrollment) to tell the local public school superintendent that the child is no longer enrolled.Source: Code of Alabama 16-28-7 Report of enrollment (legislature)

A letter to the school

Fill this in and print it. It tells the school your child is leaving to be taught at home and asks for the records. It is not the state's notice.

For example a copy of your notice, or the acknowledgement the state sent you.

Nothing you type here is saved or sent.

Your letter

________________

To: ________________

I am withdrawing ________________ from your school. My child will be educated at home under the law of Alabama.

Please send me a copy of my child's school records.

Thank you.

SignatureDate
Keep a copy with the date you handed it in or mailed it.

Where this comes from

Checked on October 29, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and forms change; confirm a date with your school district or the state agency before you rely on it. For legal advice, ask a lawyer licensed in Alabama; homeschool legal-help organizations and your state's homeschool groups can also point you to help. Something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.