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Arizona compliance

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

Regulation level Low
Legal status Legal
Compulsory ages 6 – 16

ARS-15-2401 — ARS-15-2401

This Arizona statute defines key terms related to education, including eligibility for programs like the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA). For homeschooling families, it explains who qualifies as a "qualified student" for certain educational benefits, such as children with disabilities, those in low-performing school districts, or those meeting specific criteria like military family status or prior ESA participation. If you're homeschooling, this statute helps clarify whether your child might qualify for additional educational resources or funding, providing reassurance that there are options to support your family's educational journey.

For families: In Arizona, homeschooling is supported and manageable with clear guidelines. Parents need to submit an affidavit of intent to homeschool to their county school superintendent and create an annual education plan for their child if they meet specific criteria, such as having a disability or other qualifying circumstances. The curriculum can be tailored to your child’s needs, using resources approved by the Arizona Department of Education or others you find suitable. Remember, you’re not alone—there are resources and support systems available to help you succeed in this journey!

Key requirements

  • Develop an initial individualized evaluation and annual reviews for qualified students to determine ongoing eligibility until age 22.
  • Use a course of study for content areas or grade levels, including supplemental materials approved by the Department of Education.
  • Ensure that a qualified school is a nongovernmental primary or secondary school or a preschool for pupils with disabilities located in Arizona or within two miles of the state border for students on Indian reservations.
  • Ensure that a qualified school does not discriminate based on race, color, or national origin.
  • Verify that a qualified student is a resident of Arizona.
  • Confirm that a qualified student meets at least one of the eligibility criteria outlined in the statute, such as having a disability, attending a low-performing school, being a child of a military parent, or meeting other specified conditions.
  • Verify that a qualified student (except for specified exemptions) meets attendance or enrollment requirements, such as attending a governmental school for at least 45 days or being eligible for kindergarten or preschool for children with disabilities.
  • Ensure that kindergarten students in Arizona online instruction receive 100 hours of logged instruction to be eligible.
  • Ensure that first through third grade students in Arizona online instruction receive 200 hours of logged instruction to be eligible.
  • Ensure that fourth through sixth grade students in Arizona online instruction receive 250 hours of logged instruction to be eligible.
  • Ensure that seventh and eighth grade students in Arizona online instruction receive 275 hours of logged instruction to be eligible.
  • Ensure that high school students in Arizona online instruction receive 250 hours of logged instruction to be eligible.
  • Verify that students who previously participated in an Arizona empowerment scholarship account remain eligible.
  • Confirm that students who received a scholarship under section 43-1505 and continue to attend a qualified school meet the prior attendance requirements.
  • Verify that students who were eligible for an Arizona scholarship for pupils with disabilities and attended a qualified school meet prior attendance requirements.
  • Confirm that students who attended a nonpublic school for pupils with disabilities in the prior year under an approved placement remain eligible.
  • Verify that students who have not previously attended a governmental school are eligible to enroll in kindergarten or a preschool program for children with disabilities.

Common mistakes

  • Failing to submit an annual education plan: Families often neglect to develop and submit the required individualized evaluation and annual reviews for their qualified student, which is necessary to maintain compliance and eligibility.
  • Misunderstanding curriculum requirements: Parents may use unapproved or incomplete curricula, not realizing it must align with the state's definition of a course of study and include any supplemental materials required or recommended by the department.
  • Neglecting to track online instruction hours: Families with students enrolled in Arizona online instruction frequently fail to log the required number of instructional hours for each grade level, which can jeopardize eligibility.
  • Confusion about eligibility criteria for qualified students: Parents often misunderstand the specific eligibility requirements, such as disability identification, prior attendance at a governmental school, or income qualifications, leading to noncompliance or ineligibility.
  • Failing to maintain records for audits or reviews: Families sometimes do not keep adequate documentation of their homeschooling activities, curriculum, and evaluations, which can result in issues during compliance checks or eligibility determinations.

Last updated Sep 23, 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 Sep 17, 2026 · Official source →

ARS-15-802-01 — ARS-15-802-01

This Arizona statute allows homeschooled children to participate in sports and other interscholastic activities at their local public school, as long as they meet the same requirements as enrolled students, such as age, fees, and behavior standards. The homeschooling parent or instructor must provide written confirmation that the student is passing their courses and making progress. 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.

For families: Great news! In Arizona, your homeschooled child can participate in interscholastic activities, like sports or clubs, at your local public school just like any enrolled student. To get started, you'll need to provide a simple written verification stating that your child is passing their courses and making satisfactory progress. The school will apply the same rules for eligibility, behavior, and performance to your child as they do for their enrolled students. It’s a wonderful way for your child to connect with peers and explore their interests, and the process is straightforward and manageable—you're doing great!

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 who were previously enrolled in a public, private, or charter school from participating in interscholastic activities for the remainder of the school year in which they were enrolled.
  • Prohibit school districts from contracting with private entities that supervise 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.
  • Misunderstanding the eligibility restriction for students who were previously enrolled in a public, private, or charter school during the same school year.
  • Not adhering to the public school’s policies on fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition, or behavior standards for interscholastic activities.
  • Assuming that homeschooled students can participate in interscholastic activities without residing within the attendance area of the public school.
  • Overlooking the requirement for the school district to ensure that private entities supervising interscholastic activities allow homeschooled students to participate.

Last updated Sep 26, 2026 · Official source →

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