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Arizona · Light-touch
Arizona asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.
VerifiedMarch 2026
Written from Arizona's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.
Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
Arizona asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: File an affidavit of intent with your County School Superintendent within 30 days of when your child begins homeschool. It is not required again unless homeschool instruction ends and then starts again, in which case you file a new one within 30 days. This is a one-time filing — you will not repeat it each year. It goes to County School Superintendent (affidavit of intent filing, ARS 15-802); Arizona Department of Education.
Cover the subjects the state names
Arizona names 5 subject areas to teach. How you teach them, in what order, and with which materials is entirely up to you.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Arizona does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.
No testing or assessment
Arizona does not require a standardized test or an evaluator's review. Plenty of families still keep a folder of work through the year — not because the state asks, but because it makes a transcript or a college application far easier to put together later.
Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
Run by Arizona Department of Education · payments through ClassWallet
Base awards are typically about $7,000–$8,000 per student. Students with disabilities receive substantially more.
How you get it: You spend through ClassWallet — a built-in marketplace, direct payment to a vendor, reimbursement, or a program debit card.
Eligibility and application dates are set by the program. Check the program's official page before you apply.
Is homeschooling legal in Arizona?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Arizona. Arizona is considered one of the easiest states for homeschoolers — minimal regulation, no notice required, and maximum family freedom.
Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Arizona?
Yes. Arizona requires families to file a Notice of Intent by File an affidavit of intent with your County School Superintendent within 30 days of when your child begins homeschool. It is not required again unless homeschool instruction ends and then starts again, in which case you file a new one within 30 days.. This is a one-time filing when you begin homeschooling.
How many instruction days are required in Arizona?
Arizona does not mandate a minimum amount of instruction time.
What subjects are required by law in Arizona?
Arizona requires instruction in the following subjects: Reading, Grammar, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science.
Does Arizona require annual assessment for homeschoolers?
No. Arizona does not require formal annual assessment. Families may voluntarily track progress for college application purposes.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Arizona?
No. Arizona does not require parents to hold a teaching certificate or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.
Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Arizona?
Arizona has a law on this. ARS 15-802.01 allows homeschooled students residing within a public school's attendance zone to try out for and participate in interscholastic activities in the same manner as enrolled students. The person providing the primary instruction must submit written verification of whether the student is receiving a passing grade in each course or subject and whether the student is maintaining satisfactory progress toward advancement or promotion. A homeschooled child who was previously enrolled in a public, private or charter school is ineligible for the remainder of the school year in which the child was enrolled.
Arizona requires an affidavit of intent filed with the County School Superintendent within 30 days of when homeschool begins; it is not required again unless instruction ends and resumes (ARS 15-802). Instruction must include reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. ARS 15-745 says the testing article does not require testing of children instructed in a homeschool. Homeschooled children may try out for interscholastic activities at the public school in their attendance area (ARS 15-802.01).
The free tools below work whether or not you ever pay us a penny; each tile says what it needs. Use what helps with Arizona's requirements and ignore the rest.
Last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with County School Superintendent (affidavit of intent filing, ARS 15-802); Arizona Department of Education. This is information for families, not legal advice.