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Homeschooling in North Carolina: what the law requires and who pays

Under G.S. 115C-563, a home school is a nonpublic school made up of the children of no more than two families or households, where the parents or household members decide and provide the academic instruction. One state program pays toward a homeschooled student’s costs here, by its official source: ESA+ (Personal Education Student Accounts for students with disabilities).

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

What North Carolina’s law requires

The law that allows it

Under G.S. 115C-563, a home school is a nonpublic school made up of the children of no more than two families or households, where the parents or household members decide and provide the academic instruction.

“means a nonpublic school consisting of the children of not more than two families or households” N.C. General Statutes 115C-563, home school definition (Article 39, Part 3)

G.S. 115C-564 has a home school elect to operate under Part 1 or Part 2 of Article 39 and meet that Part's requirements.

“A home school shall make the election to operate under the qualifications of either Part 1 or Part 2 of this Article” N.C. General Statutes 115C-564, qualifications and requirements

Attendance at a complying school satisfies compulsory attendance if it runs on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months of the year (G.S. 115C-548).

“shall satisfy the requirements of compulsory school attendance so long as the school operates on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year” N.C. General Statutes 115C-548, attendance; health and safety

Telling the state or district

A new school sends the state a notice of intent to operate with the school's name and address and the name of its owner and chief administrator.

“shall send to a duly authorized representative of the State of North Carolina a notice of intent to operate, name and address of the school, and name of the school's owner and chief administrator” N.C. General Statutes 115C-552, new school notice

The Division of Non-Public Education asks for the Notice of Intent at least five business days before the home school begins.

“Submit your Notice of Intent at least five business days before you plan to begin your home school.” N.C. Division of Non-Public Education, How to Start a Home School in North Carolina

What and how long to teach

The division says instruction must run on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months a year, not counting holidays and vacations.

“Provide instruction on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months of the year, excluding holidays and vacations.” N.C. Division of Non-Public Education, How to Start a Home School in North Carolina

Testing or evaluation

G.S. 115C-564 makes the testing requirement annual for home schools.

“testing requirements in G.S. 115C-549 and G.S. 115C-557 shall be on an annual basis” N.C. General Statutes 115C-564, qualifications and requirements

The division says each student takes a nationally standardized achievement test every year that measures English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics.

“Have each student take a nationally standardized achievement test each academic year.” N.C. Division of Non-Public Education, How to Start a Home School in North Carolina

Records to keep

The division says a home school keeps immunization and annual attendance records for each student.

“Maintain annual attendance records for each student.” N.C. Division of Non-Public Education, How to Start a Home School in North Carolina

Test results are kept for at least one year and shown to the division if it asks.

“Keep standardized test results for at least one year and provide them to DNPE if requested.” N.C. Division of Non-Public Education, How to Start a Home School in North Carolina

Who may teach

The people giving academic instruction in a home school must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.

“The persons providing academic instruction in a home school shall hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.” N.C. General Statutes 115C-564, qualifications and requirements

Ages the law covers

Compulsory attendance covers children between 7 and 16.

“having charge or control of a child between the ages of seven and 16 years shall cause the child to attend school” N.C. General Statutes 115C-378, compulsory attendance

The state’s own page for families: N.C. Division of Non-Public Education, How to Start a Home School in North Carolina.

State money for homeschoolers in North Carolina

ESA+ (Personal Education Student Accounts for students with disabilities)

For ESA+, the law counts a school meeting Part 1, 2 or 3 of Article 39 as a nonpublic school, and Part 3 is the home school part. Eligible students must be children with a disability. (N.C. General Statutes 115C-591, ESA+ (personal education student accounts) definitions)

ESA+ money may pay for curricula, among other listed expenses, but may not pay tuition and fees for a Part 3 (home) school. (N.C. General Statutes 115C-595, ESA+ qualifying expenses)

Programs that do not pay homeschoolers

North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship. For the Opportunity Scholarship, a nonpublic school is one meeting Part 1 or Part 2 of Article 39, which leaves out Part 3 home schools. (N.C. General Statutes 115C-562.1, Opportunity Scholarship definitions)

North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship: amount and how to apply Private schools in North Carolina

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

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in North Carolina?

A new school sends the state a notice of intent to operate with the school's name and address and the name of its owner and chief administrator. The Division of Non-Public Education asks for the Notice of Intent at least five business days before the home school begins.

Do homeschoolers in North Carolina have to take tests?

G.S. 115C-564 makes the testing requirement annual for home schools. The division says each student takes a nationally standardized achievement test every year that measures English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics.

Can a homeschooler in North Carolina get state money?

ESA+ (Personal Education Student Accounts for students with disabilities): For ESA+, the law counts a school meeting Part 1, 2 or 3 of Article 39 as a nonpublic school, and Part 3 is the home school part. Eligible students must be children with a disability. ESA+ money may pay for curricula, among other listed expenses, but may not pay tuition and fees for a Part 3 (home) school.

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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