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Arizona homeschool law

Notice, days or hours, subjects, testing and records, in plain words, with the source for each.

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

Checked on against the sources linked on this page.

What to file in Arizona

File
An affidavit of intent, once. Not again unless homeschooling stops and restarts. §
To
County school superintendent. §
By
Within 30 days of starting; tell them within 30 days if homeschooling ends. §
Keep
No record-keeping rule found. The affidavit is the paperwork the law names. §
Test
None required. A child who later enrolls in school is tested for grade level. §
Starting this year
  • Within 30 days of starting: File an affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent. You do not file again unless homeschooling stops and starts again.
Leaving a school mid-year

If a child stops being homeschooled, the person with custody must tell the county school superintendent within 30 days. If homeschooling starts again, a new affidavit of intent is due within 30 days. A child moving into school from homeschool is tested to decide grade level.

Open your attendance recordWrite the letterStart the Tap Clock, if you want to

Checked . § = source: Arizona Revised Statutes 15-802 School instruction; exceptions (legislature); Arizona Revised Statutes 15-745 Homeschooled children; testing (legislature). Information, not legal advice.

Quick answers

Notice
One-time noticeFile an affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent within 30 days of the child starting homeschool. It states the child's name, date of birth, the address of the school, and the names, phone numbers and addresses of the people with custody. You do not file again unless homeschooling stops and starts again. If homeschooling ends, tell the county school superintendent within 30 days. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Arizona Revised Statutes 15-802 School instruction; exceptions (legislature)
Days or hours
No number givenThe homeschool law sets no number of days or hours. (A private school, a different route, must give instruction for at least the same number of days and hours each year as a public school.) Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Arizona Revised Statutes 15-802 School instruction; exceptions (legislature)
Subjects
Instruction in at least the subjects of reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Arizona Revised Statutes 15-802 School instruction; exceptions (legislature)
Testing or evaluation
No testing requiredThe law does not require testing of children taught in a homeschool program. A child who later enrolls in kindergarten or grades one through twelve after homeschooling is tested to find the right grade level. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Arizona Revised Statutes 15-745 Homeschooled children; testing (legislature)
Records
We found no record-keeping rule for homeschools in the school instruction and homeschool testing statutes. The paperwork the law names is the affidavit of intent. A homeschooled child who tries out for a public school's interscholastic activities needs written verification from the person teaching about passing grades and satisfactory progress. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Arizona Revised Statutes 15-802 School instruction; exceptions (legislature)
Who must attend school
Every child between the ages of six and sixteen must attend a school and be taught at least reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science (A.R.S. 15-802). The person with custody picks a public, private or charter school, a homeschool, or signs an Arizona empowerment scholarship account contract. Source: Arizona Revised Statutes 15-802 School instruction; exceptions (legislature)
Education savings accounts and vouchers
A program exists, and taking the money changes your homeschool statusArizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (run by the Department of Education) is open to all students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, and the Department says the money follows the student to whichever education the parents choose, including education at home. Signing the ESA contract is its own option in the attendance law, separate from the homeschool affidavit: the parent agrees to teach at least reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science and not to enroll the child in a district or charter school. Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA). What taking the money changes, in full. Source: Arizona Department of Education: Empowerment Scholarship Account, Arizona Department of Education: ESA eligibility requirements, Arizona Revised Statutes 15-2402 Empowerment scholarship accounts (legislature), Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee: FY 2027 Appropriations Report, Department of Education (PDF), Arizona Revised Statutes 15-2401.01 (ESA eligibility), Arizona Revised Statutes 15-2403 (ESA administration)

What to do first

  1. Read Arizona's own pages, linked under each row below, so you know what applies to your situation.
  2. Notice: Within 30 days of the child starting homeschool; not required again unless instruction stops and restarts To: County school superintendent.
  3. If your child is in school now: If a child stops being homeschooled, the person with custody must tell the county school superintendent within 30 days. If homeschooling starts again, a new affidavit of intent is due within 30 days. A child moving into school from homeschool is tested to decide grade level.
  4. Plan the year around the days or hours and the subjects below.
  5. Start your records on day one: a simple attendance log, a list of books read and a work sample or two for each subject.

Other legal routes in Arizona

  • Private school. File the same affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent. A private school is a nonpublic institution, other than the child's home, that gives academic instruction for at least the same number of days and hours each year as a public school.
  • Public or charter school. Enroll the child and make sure they attend for the full time school is in session.
  • Arizona empowerment scholarship account. Sign a contract to take part in an Arizona empowerment scholarship account instead of choosing a school or homeschool (see the funding summary).

Records to keep

We found no record-keeping rule for homeschools in the school instruction and homeschool testing statutes. The paperwork the law names is the affidavit of intent. A homeschooled child who tries out for a public school's interscholastic activities needs written verification from the person teaching about passing grades and satisfactory progress. Whatever the law asks, many families also keep a simple attendance log, a list of books read and a few work samples for each subject; they cost nothing and help if you move or return to school.

Good to know

  • Sports: a homeschooled child living in a public school's attendance area must be allowed to try out for that school's interscholastic activities the same way an enrolled pupil does, under the school's rules. A child homeschooled after being enrolled in a school is ineligible for the rest of that school year (A.R.S. 15-802.01).
  • A parent who does not file the affidavit of intent for a homeschool commits a petty offense (A.R.S. 15-802(E)).
  • If a child has not reached eight years of age by September 1 and the person with custody does not want to begin home instruction until the child is eight, the person files an affidavit of intent saying so (A.R.S. 15-802(B)(3)).
  • A homeschool is defined as a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person with custody of the child, or nonpublic instruction provided in the child's home (A.R.S. 15-802(G)).

Where this comes from

Checked on October 27, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page, and confirm with your school district or the department before you rely on a date. Something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.