Homeschooling in Rhode Island: what the law requires and who pays
R.I. Gen. Laws 16-19-1: attendance is not required when the child attends a course of at-home instruction approved by the school committee of the town where the child lives. We have not found an official source saying a Rhode Island program pays homeschooled students.
What Rhode Island’s law requires
- The law that allows it
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R.I. Gen. Laws 16-19-1: attendance is not required when the child attends a course of at-home instruction approved by the school committee of the town where the child lives.
“a course of at-home instruction approved by the school committee of the town where the child resides” Rhode Island General Laws 16-19-1 (attendance required)
- Telling the state or district
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Parents must get approval from the local school committee before starting home instruction.
“You will need school committee approval before you begin home instruction.” Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Frequently Asked Questions on Home Instruction (PDF)
Parents present their proposed home instruction program to the local school committee, and the plan must show the required subjects will be taught.
“You need to present your proposed home instruction program to your local school committee for approval.” Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Frequently Asked Questions on Home Instruction (PDF)
- What and how long to teach
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The law lists the subjects: reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, U.S. history, Rhode Island history and the principles of American government, taught in English to the same extent as in public schools.
“reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, the history of the United States, the history of Rhode Island, and the principles of American government shall be taught in the English language substantially to the same extent as these subjects are required to be taught in the public schools” Rhode Island General Laws 16-19-2 (approval of private schools and at-home instruction)
The period of attendance must be substantially equal to public school. The department notes that public school districts must currently provide at least 1,080 school hours a year.
“School districts in Rhode Island are currently required to provide a minimum of one thousand eighty (1,080) school hours during each school year.” Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Frequently Asked Questions on Home Instruction (PDF)
- Testing or evaluation
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No set test: the parent and the school committee agree on how the child's progress in the required subjects will be evaluated.
“The parent and the school committee should agree on a way of evaluating your child’s progress in all required subjects.” Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Frequently Asked Questions on Home Instruction (PDF)
- Records to keep
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Attendance registers must be kept and returned to the school committee and other school officials, like public school registers.
“registers are kept and returned to the school committee, the superintendent of schools, truant officers, and the department of elementary and secondary education in relation to the attendance of pupils” Rhode Island General Laws 16-19-2 (approval of private schools and at-home instruction)
- Who may teach
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No teaching certificate is required; the parent must show they can provide "thorough and efficient" instruction.
“No, you only have to show that you are able to provide “thorough and efficient” instruction.” Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Frequently Asked Questions on Home Instruction (PDF)
- Ages the law covers
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Compulsory attendance covers children who are 6 by September 1 (or enrolled in kindergarten) until they turn 18.
“Every child who has completed, or will have completed, six (6) years of life on or before September 1 of any school year, or is enrolled in kindergarten, and has not completed eighteen (18) years of life, shall regularly attend some public day school” Rhode Island General Laws 16-19-1 (attendance required)
State money for homeschoolers in Rhode Island
We have not found an official source saying a Rhode Island program pays homeschooled students.
Rhode Island RI scholarship tax credit: amount and how to apply Private schools in Rhode Island
Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Rhode Island next to every other state.
Questions parents ask
Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Rhode Island?
Parents must get approval from the local school committee before starting home instruction. Parents present their proposed home instruction program to the local school committee, and the plan must show the required subjects will be taught.
Do homeschoolers in Rhode Island have to take tests?
No set test: the parent and the school committee agree on how the child's progress in the required subjects will be evaluated.
Can a homeschooler in Rhode Island get state money?
We have not found an official source saying a Rhode Island program pays homeschooled students.
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.
Homeschool law in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming