Arizona · Light-touch

Homeschooling in Arizona

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

Notice of intentFile every yearFile notarized Affidavit of Intent with County School Superintendent within 30 days of beginning homeschool. Annual re-filing required.

Yearly assessmentNot required

Instruction timeNo minimum set

RecordsYour choice

How to start homeschooling in Arizona

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 notarized Affidavit of Intent with County School Superintendent within 30 days of beginning homeschool. Annual re-filing required. You will do this again at the start of every school year. This notice has to be notarized before you send it. It goes to County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools.
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.

Source: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools — afhe.org. Checked March 2026.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools
When it is due: File notarized Affidavit of Intent with County School Superintendent within 30 days of beginning homeschool. Annual re-filing required.
How often: Every school year
Notarized?: Yes — have the notice notarized before you send it
Official form: www.azleg.gov/ars/15/00802.htm
Ongoing reporting: None

Source: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools — afhe.org. Checked March 2026.

Testing, portfolios and reviews

No yearly assessment

Arizonadoes 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.

Source: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools — afhe.org. Checked March 2026.

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects: ReadingGrammarMathematicsSocial StudiesScience
Instruction time: Arizona sets no minimum number of days or hours.
Who may teach: No teaching certificate, degree, or credential is required of you.
Keeping records: No retention period is set. Keeping a simple folder is still worth doing.
Legal routes: Homeschool under ARS 15-802 — file notarized affidavit with County School Superintendent within 30 days of starting (renewed annually), teach 5 required subjects, no testing or reporting required
Private school enrollment (ARS 15-802(B)(1)) — enroll child in private school including one-student private schools
Certified tutor exemption (ARS 15-802(B)(2)) — instruction by a certificated teacher for minimum required hours
Umbrella / cover schools: Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE) and various private school satellite programs (PSPs) are available. PSP enrollment can simplify record-keeping and diploma issuance.

Source: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools — afhe.org. Checked March 2026.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Public school sports: ARS 15-802.01 (Tim Tebow law) 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. Academic progress verification (passing grades equivalent to 2.0 GPA) required from the homeschool instructor. Mid-year transfers from public school create a one-year waiting period.
Dual enrollment: Arizona homeschool students may take dual enrollment courses at community colleges. No formal state mechanism requires school sponsorship — students enroll directly through community college admissions processes.
Diplomas: Arizona does not issue state diplomas to homeschoolers. Families self-issue or use accredited programs. AFHE and private school satellite programs provide transcript templates.
College admissions: Arizona public universities (ASU, UA, NAU) accept homeschool applicants. SAT/ACT scores and parent-prepared transcripts are standard. Portfolio or interview may supplement applications.
Support for additional needs: FAPE entitlement ends upon withdrawal. Arizona districts must conduct Child Find evaluations upon request but are not required to provide services to homeschooled students.

Source: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools — afhe.org. Checked March 2026.

Money your family can claim in Arizona

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.

Source: www.azed.gov/esa. Checked July 25, 2026. Eligibility and application dates are set by the program — the official page is always the last word.

Questions parents ask about Arizona

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 notarized Affidavit of Intent with County School Superintendent within 30 days of beginning homeschool. Annual re-filing required.. This notice must be renewed annually.

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?

Yes. Arizona has a law (sometimes called a "Tim Tebow" law) allowing homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. ARS 15-802.01 (Tim Tebow law) 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. Academic progress verification (passing grades equivalent to 2.0 GPA) required from the homeschool instructor. Mid-year transfers from public school create a one-year waiting period.

Source: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools — afhe.org. Checked March 2026.

Worth knowing about Arizona

Arizona requires only an annual notarized affidavit filed with the County School Superintendent within 30 days of starting (ARS 15-802). Five subjects must be taught but no testing, reporting, or hours are mandated. Tim Tebow law (ARS 15-802.01) provides strong sports access. Low regulatory burden overall.

Source: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools — afhe.org. Checked March 2026.

Who to ask in Arizona

Regulator: County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools
Official site: afhe.org
Forms: www.azleg.gov/ars/15/00802.htm

Free tools for your first year

Everything below works whether or not you ever pay us a penny. Use what helps with Arizona's requirements and ignore the rest.

Transcript builderBuild a clean high-school transcript with GPA and credits, ready to send to a college.Paperwork generatorFill in your details and get the letter or affidavit your state expects, already worded for it.Printable worksheetsPrint practice pages by grade and subject for the days a screen is the wrong answer.Instruction day logTick off days as you go so the count is already done when your state asks for it.State fundingSee whether your state puts education money in your hands, and how to claim it.Starting guideThe whole first year in five steps, written for someone who has never done this before.

Other states

Alabama Alaska Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho All 51 →

This page was written from Arizona's published rules and last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with County School Superintendent (affidavit filing); Arizona Department of Education has no oversight role for homeschools. This is information for families, not legal advice.

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