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Alabama

Alabama does not recognize homeschooling as a separate legal option. Homeschoolers in Alabama must educate their children according to the provisions set forth in this legislation and therefore, most find "cover" or "umbrella" schools that will oversee their homeschooling programs and answer to the state.

• Compulsory Attendance Ages: between 7 and 16

• Required Days of Instruction: 175 days (public schools only).

• Required Subjects: None.

• Home School Statute: None.

• Teacher Qualifications: None, if the home school is operated as a ministry of a local
church. Certification is necessary if home school tries to qualify as "private school,"
§16-28-1(1)(a) or as a "private tutor," §16-28-5.

• Standardized Tests: Not required by statute

• Alternative Statutes Allowing for Home Schools:
Homeschoolers have two options:

Option 1: Church School Option. Home schools qualify as church "schools ... operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, and/or association of churches on a nonprofit basis which do not receive any state or federal funding." (§16-28-1(2). "Every child attending a church school is exempt from the requirements of this [compulsory attendance] section provided the child complies with the procedure in § 16-28-7 [parent or guardian reporting attendance in church school; see (a) below]." (§16-28-3).

A church could establish different church schools within each home. Also, under this option, some home schoolers enroll their children in an existing church school but teach them at home.

     a. "The enrollment and attendance of a child in a church school must be filed
          with the local public school superintendent by the parent … on a form
          provided by the superintendent ... which shall be countersigned by the
          administrator of the church school." (§16-28-7.) Only need to file this form
          once at initial enrollment in church school.
     b. The principal teacher of the church school must keep an attendance register
          for each day of the school year (§16-28-8).
     c. A church school must "offer grades K-12, or any combination thereof....
         " (§16-28-1(2)).
     d. If the local school district believes a family is not in compliance with the law,
          it must give the family 3 days' written notice (§16-28-16) prior to instituting
          criminal charges.

Option 2: Private Tutor Option. Under §16-28-5, the children in a home school
must be instructed by a competent private tutor. Under this statute:
     a. The teacher must be state certified.
   b. The certified teacher must teach "for at least three hours a day for 140 days
          each calendar year, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m."
     c. The tutor must file with the county superintendent, a statement describing
          subjects taught and period of instruction. The tutor must keep a register of
          the child's work showing daily hours of instruction and attendance and shall
          make such reports as the State Board of Education may require.

Reference: Click Here

Alabama State High School Graduation Requirements

English: 4 units - English 9, 10, 11, 12
Math: 4 units – to include 1 unit each of Algebra I and geometry
Social studies: 4 units
Science: 4 units – to include 1 unit each of biology and a physical science
P.E./Health units: 1 unit P.E. and .5 unit health
Arts: ½ unit - .5 unit "arts education"
Foreign language: 0
Electives units: 5.5
Other units: ½ unit in Computer Applications

TOTAL # units: 24

Other diploma options

Alabama High School Diploma and Alternate Adult High School Diploma. State offers two technical diplomas and honors/college prep diploma. State does not offer proficiency-based credit option.

Alternate diploma: Requires same units as std. but student must also pass GED, have failed one or more exit exam tests in fall of senior year, and have participated in the High Hopes Remediation Program.

Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.

A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.

Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in Alabama
Colleges in Alabama

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