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Arkansas compliance

AI-paraphrased summaries of Arkansas education law. Every section links back to the official state source. Not legal advice.

Regulation level Low
Legal status Legal
Compulsory ages 5 – 18

ARS-15-2401 — ARS-15-2401

This Arizona statute defines key terms related to education, including who qualifies as a "qualified student" for programs like the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA). For homeschooling families, it clarifies eligibility criteria for accessing state funds or programs, such as having a child with a disability, attending a low-performing school, or meeting specific enrollment or prior attendance requirements. If your family meets one of these criteria, you may be eligible for additional educational resources, providing flexibility and support for your homeschooling journey.

For families: Congratulations on starting your homeschooling journey! In Arizona, the law requires parents to create an annual education plan for students who meet specific eligibility criteria, such as those with disabilities or other qualifying circumstances. This plan helps ensure your child’s educational needs are met and reviewed each year. While it may seem like a lot, the process is manageable, and there are resources available to support you every step of the way. You’ve got this, and we’re here to help!

Key requirements

  • Develop an initial individualized evaluation and subsequent annual reviews for qualified students to determine ongoing annual eligibility until the age of 22.
  • Approve curriculum as a course of study for content areas or grade levels, including supplemental materials, through the Department of Education.
  • Ensure qualified schools are nongovernmental primary or secondary schools or preschools for pupils with disabilities located in Arizona or within two miles of the state border for students residing on Indian reservations.
  • Ensure qualified schools do not discriminate based on race, color, or national origin.
  • Confirm qualified students meet one of the following criteria: identified as having a disability under Section 504, identified as a child with a disability under state law, eligible for school district services under Section 15-763, attending a D or F grade school, a previous scholarship recipient, a child of active-duty or deceased armed forces members, a ward or former ward of the juvenile court, a sibling of an Arizona empowerment scholarship account recipient, residing within an Indian reservation, or a child of a legally blind or deaf parent.
  • Confirm qualified students meet one of the following additional requirements: attended a governmental school for at least 45 days, previously participated in an empowerment scholarship account, received a scholarship under Section 43-1505, attended a nonpublic school for pupils with disabilities approved by the Department of Education, or are eligible to enroll in kindergarten or preschool programs for children with disabilities.
  • Ensure kindergarten students enrolled in Arizona online instruction receive 100 hours of logged instruction.
  • Ensure first through third grade students enrolled in Arizona online instruction receive 200 hours of logged instruction.
  • Ensure fourth through sixth grade students enrolled in Arizona online instruction receive 250 hours of logged instruction.
  • Ensure seventh and eighth grade students enrolled in Arizona online instruction receive 275 hours of logged instruction.
  • Ensure high school students enrolled in Arizona online instruction receive 250 hours of logged instruction.

Common mistakes

  • Failing to submit an annual education plan: Families often overlook the requirement to develop and submit an initial individualized evaluation and subsequent annual reviews for qualified students, as outlined in the statute.
  • Misunderstanding curriculum requirements: Parents sometimes fail to ensure that the curriculum includes all required content areas or grade levels, as approved by the Arizona Department of Education.
  • Neglecting eligibility criteria for qualified students: Families may incorrectly assume their child qualifies as a 'qualified student' without verifying specific eligibility criteria, such as disability identification or attendance requirements.
  • Improper documentation of online instruction hours: Parents of students enrolled in Arizona online instruction may fail to log the required instructional hours for kindergarten through high school, leading to non-compliance.
  • Confusion about transitioning from public to homeschool: Families may not properly follow the process of transferring from a governmental primary or secondary school to homeschooling under the Arizona empowerment scholarship account program.

Last updated Aug 24, 2026 · Official source →

ARS-15-802 — ARS-15-802

This Arizona statute requires children aged 6 to 16 to receive instruction in core subjects, but parents have the option to choose public school, private school, charter school, or homeschool. For homeschooling families, it means you must file an *Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool* with your county school superintendent within 30 days of starting homeschooling, providing basic information about your child and your intent to homeschool. Once filed, you don’t need to submit the affidavit again unless you stop homeschooling and later resume, making compliance straightforward and manageable.

For families: Congratulations on starting your homeschooling journey! In Arizona, homeschooling is straightforward and manageable. To comply with the law, you'll need to file an affidavit of intent with your county school superintendent within 30 days of beginning homeschool instruction. This form includes basic details like your child's name, date of birth, and your contact information. Rest assured, once this is filed, you're set unless you stop and later resume homeschooling. You're doing a wonderful thing for your child, and this process is just a small step toward creating a personalized and enriching educational experience!

Key requirements

  • Provide instruction to every child between the ages of six and sixteen in at least reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science.
  • Choose one of the following educational options for the child: public school, private school, charter school, homeschool, or an empowerment scholarship account.
  • If the child attends a public, private, or charter school, enroll the child and ensure attendance for the full time school is in session.
  • Provide verifiable documentation of residency in Arizona for enrollment in public or charter schools.
  • If the child attends a private school or homeschool, file an affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent.
  • Include the following in the affidavit of intent: child's name, date of birth, current school address, and names, telephone numbers, and addresses of custodians.
  • If the child is under eight years old and the custodian does not wish to begin homeschooling, file an affidavit of intent stating this preference.
  • File the affidavit of intent within thirty days of starting private school or homeschool instruction.
  • Notify the county school superintendent within thirty days of terminating private school or homeschool instruction.
  • File a new affidavit of intent within thirty days if private school or homeschool instruction is resumed after termination.
  • Ensure the child attends school unless exempted due to physical/mental condition, completion of grade ten, satisfactory reasons for nonattendance, lawful employment over age fourteen, enrollment in an approved work or training program, suspension/expulsion, or enrollment in a state educational program.
  • If educating the child through an empowerment scholarship account, sign a contract pursuant to section 15-2402.
  • Parents who fail to enroll a child in school, provide homeschool instruction, or sign an empowerment scholarship account contract are guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.
  • Parents who fail to file an affidavit of intent to homeschool are guilty of a petty offense.

Common mistakes

  • Failing to file the affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent within 30 days of beginning homeschool instruction, as required by subsection B(2).
  • Not including all required information in the affidavit of intent, such as the child's name, date of birth, current address, and contact information for the custodial parent or guardian, as specified in subsection B(2)(a)-(d).
  • Neglecting to notify the county school superintendent within 30 days if homeschool instruction is terminated or resumed, as required by subsection C.
  • Misunderstanding the age requirements for starting homeschool instruction, particularly for children under eight years old, and failing to file the appropriate affidavit if delaying instruction until the child reaches eight, as outlined in subsection B(3).
  • Failing to provide instruction in the required subjects of reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science, as mandated by subsection A.

Last updated Aug 24, 2026 · Official source →

ARS-15-802-01 — ARS-15-802-01

This Arizona statute ensures that homeschooled children have the right to try out for sports and other interscholastic activities at their local public school, just like students who are enrolled there. Homeschooling families must provide written verification that their child is passing their courses and making progress, and the child must meet the same requirements (like age, behavior, and physical condition) as public school students. However, if a child switches from a public, private, or charter school to homeschooling during the school year, they cannot participate in these activities until the next school year. This law protects equal opportunities for homeschooled students while maintaining fairness for all participants.

For families: Great news! In Arizona, your homeschooled child has the opportunity to participate in interscholastic activities, like sports or clubs, at their local public school. To get started, you'll just need to provide a simple written verification confirming your child is passing their courses and making progress. The school will treat your child the same as enrolled students when it comes to eligibility, fees, and behavior expectations, so you can feel confident they’ll be included fairly. While there are a few details to keep in mind, like waiting until the next school year if your child recently left a school, this process is very manageable—and a wonderful way for your child to stay connected and thrive!

Key requirements

  • Allow homeschooled children residing within a public school's attendance area to try out for interscholastic activities at that public school.
  • Ensure registration, age eligibility requirements, fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition, qualifications, responsibilities, event schedules, standards of behavior, and performance policies for homeschooled students are consistent with those for enrolled students.
  • Require the individual providing primary instruction to submit written verification of the student's passing grades in each course or subject being taught.
  • Require the individual providing primary instruction to submit written verification of the student's satisfactory progress toward advancement or promotion.
  • Prohibit homeschooled children from participating in interscholastic activities for the remainder of the school year if they were previously enrolled in a public, private, or charter school during that school year.
  • Prohibit school districts from contracting with private entities supervising interscholastic activities if those entities prohibit homeschooled children from participating in interscholastic activities at public, private, or charter schools.

Common mistakes

  • Failing to submit written verification of passing grades and satisfactory progress for the homeschooled student as required by subsection A.
  • Attempting to participate in interscholastic activities during the same school year after withdrawing the child from a public, private, or charter school, which violates subsection B.
  • Misunderstanding or neglecting to comply with the public school’s policies on registration, fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition, or behavior standards, as outlined in subsection A.
  • Assuming that the school district or private entity supervising interscholastic activities will automatically allow participation without confirming compliance with eligibility requirements.
  • Not maintaining proper documentation of the homeschool curriculum and progress, which could lead to difficulties in verifying satisfactory progress and grades when requested by the school.

Last updated Aug 24, 2026 · Official source →

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