As a result of COVID-19, homeschooling is on the rise. For some, this is a short-term arrangement, and others have discovered that homeschooling is perfect for their family. In case you don’t know, homeschooling is simply the practice of educating your kids from home. Some families choose to collaborate through homeschooling cooperatives and extracurricular leagues to enrich the home school experience.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia. When exploring the homeschooling route, please be aware that the laws and policies that govern homeschooling differ by state. If you wonder if homeschooling is a good fit for your family, you probably have questions about how to begin the process and what resources are available. Because of this, we created a series entitled, How to Start Homeschooling. In each installment, we will discuss homeschooling rules and resources for each state. In today’s installment, we will discuss homeschooling in Alaska.

What you need to know:

• Alaska Homeschool Law doesn’t require you to inform the school district you are homeschooling.
• If your kid already attends an Alaska public school, you will need to submit a withdrawal form to the school district.
• The teacher does not need to meet particular requirements.
• There are no particular academic subjects you must instruct.
• You do not have to keep cumulative records of your child’s academic performance.
• Independent homeschoolers do not have to let their kids participate in standardized testing.
• If you decide to go back to a public school, a portfolio of assessments and assignments will be used for placement.

Resources

Alaska has a funding assistance program entitled the Alaska Homeschool Allotment to help make homeschooling more affordable for families.

You should check out the Home School Legal Defense Association – Alaska and the Alaska Private and Home Educators Association.