How Do I Begin Homeschooling My Child (in North Carolina)?
Updated: Aug 20, 2022
Are you thinking about homeschooling or have already decided that homeschooling is right for you and your family? If so, you’re probably wondering what the process looks like for enrollment as well as the legal requirements. Here is a glimpse into the homeschooling enrollment process for residents of North Carolina.
If your child is between the ages of 7 and 16 years old and living in the state of North Carolina, they are required to be enrolled in some type of school.
Are you eligible for homeschooling your child in North Carolina?
To be eligible for homeschooling your child in the state of North Carolina, a parent or caregiver must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Has your child already been enrolled in a public or private school?
If you're needing to withdraw your child from a public or private school in North Carolina to begin homeschooling, you will first need to file a Notice of Intent to Operate a Home School and receive approval from the North Carolina DNPE. Once this paperwork has been completed and approved, you will then be able to take it to your child's current school and acquire the appropriate paperwork there to formally withdraw them from the establishment.
Regarding children below the age of 7, please refer to the FAQ responses on the North Carolina Department of Administration's website.
What do I have to do when homeschooling my kid in North Carolina?
North Carolina keeps it relatively simple compared to states with numerous options. If you're planning to homeschool your child in the Tar Heel State, you will be required to register as your own home school. Here are the things you'll need to do:
Ensure that you have a high school diploma or equivalent
File your Notice of Intent to Operate a Home School with the North Carolina DNPE (Department of Non-Public Education)
Keep attendance records as well as immunization records for your child
Have your child participate in annual standardized achievement testing
Determine whether your home school will operate under Part 1 or Part 2 of Article 39 of the NC General Statutes (pertaining to qualified nonpublic schools and religious schools)
Choose a curriculum
Have at least 185 days of instruction
You are also required to notify the North Carolina DNPE once you are no longer operating your home school.
When filing your Notice of Intent, you will be prompted to select a name for your home school. There are some rules for this, listed on the NCDOA website, so you will need to choose carefully. If your information is submitted without a name, your home school will simply be listed as your last name plus the word "School" added afterward.
Once your home school has been approved, you will not need to re-file or renew your notice annually.
And, as always, we cannot overstate the importance of recordkeeping pertaining to grades, attendance, lesson plans, and all other aspects of homeschooling your child in the event that your respective state entities were to request this information. You should have it well-documented, well-organized, and readily on hand.
More information:
For further details relating to North Carolina homeschooling laws, please refer to the North Carolina Department of Administration website's Home School Information page.
To file your Notice of Intent, please visit the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Education's website.
The DNPE has also created a very helpful online guidebook* for homeschooling families.
(*Guidebook link and file current as of 04/13/22.)
For more information about curriculum requirements for the state of North Carolina, click here.
For information on the state's standardized testing procedures and requirements, please click here.
For all other questions and concerns, the NCDOA's FAQ page thoroughly discusses numerous issues on the topics of academic records, diplomas, support groups, and more.