Rhode Island · Detailed rules

Homeschooling in Rhode Island

Rhode Island 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 yearSubmit letter of intent to local superintendent BEFORE beginning home instruction; school committee approval required. Annual renewal required at the start of each school year.

Yearly assessmentYes, each year

Instruction time180 days / 1,080 hours a year

RecordsYour choice

How to start homeschooling in Rhode Island

Written from Rhode Island'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
Rhode Island asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: Submit letter of intent to local superintendent BEFORE beginning home instruction; school committee approval required. Annual renewal required at the start of each school year. You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Local School Committee / Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) — Commissioner handles appeals.
Cover the subjects the state names
Rhode Island names 11 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. Rhode Island does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.
Plan the yearly assessment early
Rhode Island asks for an assessment each year. You can choose from: Periodic testing in required subjects at intervals agreed upon by parent and school committee; Progress reports reviewed by the school committee; Portfolio of student work reviewed by the school committee; Evaluation method mutually agreed upon between parent and local school committee. Deciding in the autumn which route you will take saves a scramble in the spring.

Source: Local School Committee / Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) — Commissioner handles appeals — www.ride.ri.gov/students-families/education-programs/home-schooling. Checked March 2026.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: Local School Committee / Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) — Commissioner handles appeals
When it is due: Submit letter of intent to local superintendent BEFORE beginning home instruction; school committee approval required. Annual renewal required at the start of each school year.
How often: Every school year
Notarized?: No
Official form: www.ride.ri.gov/students-families/education-programs/home-schooling
Ongoing reporting: Yes, once a year
Permit: A permit or registration is required before instruction begins.

Testing, portfolios and reviews

Assessment: Required each year
Ways to meet it: Periodic testing in required subjects at intervals agreed upon by parent and school committee
Progress reports reviewed by the school committee
Portfolio of student work reviewed by the school committee
Evaluation method mutually agreed upon between parent and local school committee
Named tests: Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10)CAT/5 (California Achievement Test)Terra NovaRICAS (Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System) — voluntaryAny standardized test mutually agreed upon with the school committee
Portfolio: Not required

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects: ReadingWritingGeographyArithmeticHistory of the United StatesHistory of Rhode IslandPrinciples of American governmentCivicsHealthPhysical education(All instruction in core subjects must occur in English)
Instruction time: 180 days / 1,080 hours a year
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: Single pathway: Submit letter of intent to local superintendent; obtain school committee approval before beginning instruction. Provide 1,080 hours of instruction annually (approximately 180 days × 6 hours). Maintain mandatory attendance register and make it available to the school committee at year end. Assessment method negotiated with school committee. Denied applications may be appealed to the RIDE Commissioner.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Public school sports: Homeschooled students may participate in Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) athletics if: the student is listed on the school's rolls and certified to RIDE; academic grades are recorded on official school records quarterly; prior academic/disciplinary ineligibility periods are honored; the school approves the request; and all RIIL regulations are followed. School committees retain discretion; participation is on a space-available basis.
Diplomas: Rhode Island public schools do not issue diplomas to students not enrolled in public school. Homeschoolers may earn diplomas through accredited programs. GED testing is available from age 16 with a documented alternative learning plan (required for ages 16–17 seeking GED). Comprehensive records should be maintained for college applications.
College admissions: Rhode Island colleges (Brown University, URI, RISD, Providence College, CCRI) have experience with homeschool applicants. SAT/ACT scores recommended. Parent-prepared transcripts with course descriptions and portfolio samples are standard. Accredited program participation strengthens applications.
Support for additional needs: Homeschooled students in Rhode Island do not retain FAPE rights after withdrawal from public school. Districts must perform Child Find evaluations upon request. Services are not mandated for students educated at home. Families may appeal to the RIDE Commissioner if they believe services are being wrongly withheld.

Money your family can claim in Rhode Island

No program on file yet

We do not have a verified Rhode Island education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking Local School Committee / Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) — Commissioner handles appeals directly.

See the states where funding is confirmed →

Questions parents ask about Rhode Island

Is homeschooling legal in Rhode Island?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Rhode Island. Rhode Island has stricter homeschool regulations than most states. Koydo's compliance tracking tools are especially valuable here to avoid missing deadlines.

Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Rhode Island?

Yes. Rhode Island requires families to file a Notice of Intent by Submit letter of intent to local superintendent BEFORE beginning home instruction; school committee approval required. Annual renewal required at the start of each school year.. This notice must be renewed annually.

How many instruction days are required in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island requires 180 days / 1,080 hours a year.

What subjects are required by law in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island requires instruction in the following subjects: Reading, Writing, Geography, Arithmetic, History of the United States, History of Rhode Island, Principles of American government, Civics, Health, Physical education, (All instruction in core subjects must occur in English).

Does Rhode Island require annual assessment for homeschoolers?

Yes. Rhode Island requires annual assessment. Accepted methods include: Periodic testing in required subjects at intervals agreed upon by parent and school committee, Progress reports reviewed by the school committee, Portfolio of student work reviewed by the school committee, Evaluation method mutually agreed upon between parent and local school committee.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Rhode Island?

No. Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?

Yes. Rhode Island has a law (sometimes called a "Tim Tebow" law) allowing homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. Homeschooled students may participate in Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) athletics if: the student is listed on the school's rolls and certified to RIDE; academic grades are recorded on official school records quarterly; prior academic/disciplinary ineligibility periods are honored; the school approves the request; and all RIIL regulations are followed. School committees retain discretion; participation is on a space-available basis.

Worth knowing about Rhode Island

Rhode Island is strict due to the school committee approval requirement and mandatory 1,080 instruction hours annually. Districts vary considerably: some are cooperative; others impose demanding oversight. The RIDE Commissioner at 401-222-8979 hears appeals of unreasonable school committee requirements. Textbook loans from the State Approved list are available. Compulsory attendance ages: 6–18.

Who to ask in Rhode Island

Regulator: Local School Committee / Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) — Commissioner handles appeals
Official site: www.ride.ri.gov/students-families/education-programs/home-schooling
Phone: 401-222-8979
Forms: www.ride.ri.gov/students-families/education-programs/home-schooling

Free tools for your first year

Everything below works whether or not you ever pay us a penny. Use what helps with Rhode Island'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 Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii All 51 →

This page was written from Rhode Island's published rules and last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Local School Committee / Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) — Commissioner handles appeals. This is information for families, not legal advice.

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