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Homeschooling in Arkansas: what the law requires and who pays

Arkansas Code 6-15-503, as quoted by the Arkansas Department of Education, says parents who want to provide a home school give written notice to their local superintendent. One state program pays toward a homeschooled student’s costs here, by its official source: Arkansas Education Freedom Account.

Quoted from official sources, read October 8, 2026. A law summary, not legal advice.

What Arkansas’s law requires

The law that allows it

Arkansas Code 6-15-503, as quoted by the Arkansas Department of Education, says parents who want to provide a home school give written notice to their local superintendent.

“parents or legal guardians desiring to provide a home school for their children shall give written notice to the superintendent of their local school district of their intent to provide a home school for their children.” Arkansas Department of Education, Commissioner's Memo COM-25-076, Homeschool updates (June 3, 2025)

Telling the state or district

Parents may file the Notice of Intent to Home School on a paper form or through the online portal.

“Parents or guardians may submit a paper form (attached to this memo) or use the online portal to submit a Notice of Intent to Home School form.” Arkansas Department of Education, Commissioner's Memo COM-25-076, Homeschool updates (June 3, 2025)

If a child is enrolled in school and it is after the August 15 deadline, the parent must wait five school days before the child can be withdrawn.

“If a child is enrolled in school and it is after the August 15 th deadline, a parent or guardian must wait five (5) school days before a child can be withdrawn from school.” Arkansas Department of Education, Commissioner's Memo COM-25-076, Homeschool updates (June 3, 2025)

The parent may ask the superintendent to waive the five-day wait.

“The parent or guardian must submit a request to the superintendent to waive the five (5) day wait period.” Arkansas Department of Education, Commissioner's Memo COM-25-076, Homeschool updates (June 3, 2025)

The department's June 2025 memo set June 1, 2025 as the new submission date for Notice of Intent forms.

“The new submission date for Notice of Intent forms will be June 1, 2025.” Arkansas Department of Education, Commissioner's Memo COM-25-076, Homeschool updates (June 3, 2025)

The Notice of Intent is due every school year: forms are accepted from June 1, and August 15 is the deadline for the coming school year.

“August 15 - Deadline for NOI form to be submitted for the upcoming school year.” Arkansas DESE, Home Schools: Notice of Intent

Testing or evaluation

Homeschooled students who do not take part in the Education Freedom Account program are not required to take standardized tests.

“Are non-EFA homeschooled students required to take standardized tests? No.” Arkansas DESE Home School Office, Frequently Asked Questions for Home School Parents (May 2026)

Who may teach

The department says there are no educational requirements for a parent or guardian who chooses to homeschool.

“For a parent or guardian who chooses to homeschool their child, there are no educational requirements for those who choose this option.” Arkansas Department of Education, Commissioner's Memo COM-25-076, Homeschool updates (June 3, 2025)

The state’s own page for families: Arkansas DESE, Home Schools: Notice of Intent.

State money for homeschoolers in Arkansas

Arkansas Education Freedom Account

The department's home school office says homeschool families can take part in the Education Freedom Account program. (Arkansas DESE Home School Office, Frequently Asked Questions for Home School Parents (May 2026))

A homeschooled child who takes part in the Education Freedom Account program is required to take a test. (Arkansas DESE Home School Office, Frequently Asked Questions for Home School Parents (May 2026))

Arkansas EFA: amount and how to apply Private schools in Arkansas

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Arkansas next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Arkansas?

Parents may file the Notice of Intent to Home School on a paper form or through the online portal. If a child is enrolled in school and it is after the August 15 deadline, the parent must wait five school days before the child can be withdrawn. The parent may ask the superintendent to waive the five-day wait. The department's June 2025 memo set June 1, 2025 as the new submission date for Notice of Intent forms. The Notice of Intent is due every school year: forms are accepted from June 1, and August 15 is the deadline for the coming school year.

Do homeschoolers in Arkansas have to take tests?

Homeschooled students who do not take part in the Education Freedom Account program are not required to take standardized tests.

Can a homeschooler in Arkansas get state money?

Arkansas Education Freedom Account: The department's home school office says homeschool families can take part in the Education Freedom Account program. A homeschooled child who takes part in the Education Freedom Account program is required to take a test.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

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