Louisiana operates two distinct pathways for home education under La. R.S. 17:236.1. The BESE-Approved Home Study Program is administered by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and is the most popular option because it qualifies graduates for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship. The application process is straightforward and approval is routine for families meeting basic requirements.
Legal framework at a glance
Legal options: Two pathways — BESE-Approved Home Study Program (most common, qualifies for TOPS scholarship) or Nonpublic School Not Seeking State Approval.
Notification: BESE-Approved Home Study: submit initial application to the Louisiana Department of Education within 15 days of beginning instruction. Annual renewal due by October 1 (or within 12 months of initial approval, whichever is later)..
Instructional time: 180 days per year required under both pathways.
Required subjects: BESE-Approved program: 'sustained curriculum of a quality at least equal to that offered by public schools.' Recommended core subjects include English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies (including U.S. history, Louisiana history, civics, and geography)..
Testing and evaluation: No state-mandated standardized testing for general home study program participants. Required annually only for families who opt into the LA GATOR Scholarship program..
What Louisiana families need to know
BESE-Approved Home Study Program: file an initial application within 15 days of beginning home instruction. The application includes an assurance statement signed by the parent. Approval is routine, not discretionary — the LDOE does not review curriculum, conduct testing, or perform home visits. Annual renewal is due by October 1.
Nonpublic School Not Seeking State Approval: file an annual registration form with the LDOE. This option requires no further documentation but disqualifies students from the TOPS scholarship and from school district sports access.
TOPS scholarship eligibility: students who complete 11th and 12th grade in a BESE-Approved Home Study Program qualify for Louisiana's Taylor Opportunity Program for Students — one of the most valuable college scholarships in the country. Students must meet ACT score thresholds and submit documentation through LOSFA. Recent ACT 359 amendments updated score requirements; 9th and 10th grade documentation is also required.
LA GATOR Scholarship (NEW for 2025-2026): Louisiana's new ESA program (Act 1, 2024 Legislative Session) provides $5,243 per general student, $7,626 for families at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, and $15,253 for students with qualifying disabilities. IMPORTANT: Participation requires exiting the home study pathway, and recipients must take annual ELA and math assessments. Phase 1 prioritizes prior public school students and lower-income families; the program expands to universal eligibility by 2027-2028.
Public school sports access (La. R.S. 17:236.1): home study students may participate in interscholastic athletics at the public school they would otherwise attend. Schools cannot deny access based solely on homeschool status. Students must meet the same academic, age, and behavior standards as enrolled students.
Textbook checkout: BESE-approved home study families may borrow textbooks from the local public school district, subject to availability.
Compulsory attendance: ages 7 through 18 (children enrolled in kindergarten before age 7 are subject to compulsory attendance from that point).
Always verify current requirements with the Louisiana Department of Education before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.
Diploma recognition
Diplomas issued by BESE-Approved Home Study programs are explicitly recognized by all Louisiana public secondary educational institutions, state agencies, boards, and commissions. The BESE and LDOE do not award diplomas; the parent issues the diploma. Use of state seals or wording implying state issuance is unauthorized. Louisiana public universities (LSU, UL Lafayette, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, etc.) accept homeschool applicants with established processes.
Getting started in Louisiana
If you are new to homeschooling in Louisiana, here is the practical sequence to follow:
- Read the statute. Visit the Louisiana Department of Education website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
- Choose your legal pathway. Louisiana offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
- Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
- File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
- Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
- Connect with a local homeschool organization. Louisiana has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.
Louisiana homeschool organizations
The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for Louisiana homeschool families:
- Homeschool Louisiana — Statewide support network with regional small groups — homeschoollouisiana.org
- Christian Home Educators Fellowship of Louisiana (CHEF-LA) — Statewide Christian organization
- HSLDA Louisiana — Legal defense and member support
Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Louisiana homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.
Beyond the legal requirements
Meeting Louisiana's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:
Legal Compliance Dashboard
Attendance tracker, instructional day goal, and state selector to confirm your requirements any time.
Curriculum Finder Quiz
Five questions to match your family to the homeschool method most likely to fit — Classical, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, and more.
Building Your First Curriculum
How to assemble a full year of lessons for $200-400 without buying a boxed curriculum.
Transcript Builder
Weighted grades, GPA, and Carnegie Unit credit hour converter for building college-ready homeschool transcripts.