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Withdrawing from school to homeschool in New Mexico

How to take your child out of school to homeschool in New Mexico, 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 New Mexico'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 New Mexico asks of a new homeschool. Within 30 days of starting: Register the home school with the Public Education Department, online or on paper. The state's form: Notification of a Home School (online or paper, Public Education Department).Source: NM Public Education Department: Home Schooling FAQs
  2. Tell the school. We did not find a New Mexico 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 law requires the home school operator to keep records of student disease immunization or a waiver of that requirement, and to affirm that the person teaching has at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Other records are not a legal requirement, but the department encourages thorough records, portfolios and a record of notifications in case the student transfers to a school or goes on to college.Source: NM Public Education Department: Home Schooling

What New Mexico's law or education agency says about leaving school

The online home school system lets a parent disenroll a student when the student graduates, the family moves to another state, or the student transfers to a public or private school.Source: NM Public Education Department: Home Schooling FAQs

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 New Mexico.

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 New Mexico; 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.