Homeschooling in Louisiana
Louisiana runs on an application, not a notice. You apply to the Louisiana Department of Education within 15 days of starting your home study program, then renew by October 1 each year, or within 12 months of your approval, whichever is later. There is no parent credential, no required subject list, and no minimum number of days or hours. Your program has to offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to public schools at the same grade level, and each renewal shows that in one of three ways. Governed by Louisiana Revised Statutes §17:236.1.
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How to Homeschool in Louisiana (2026): The BESE Application, Renewal, and What the Law Requires
Louisiana asks for a BESE application within 15 days of starting, and a renewal by October 1 each year after that. No parent credential, no required subjects, no day count, and nothing goes to your parish superintendent. Here is how each piece works.
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LA GATOR and Homeschooling in Louisiana (2026): Why Home Study Families Are Not Eligible
Louisiana's LA GATOR Scholarship is a tiered education savings account, and a BESE-approved home study family cannot use it. State law bars participating in both at once. There is a home-based option inside GATOR, but taking it means giving up approved home study status. Here is the tradeoff in full.
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How to Withdraw Your Child From Public School in Louisiana (2026): Step by Step
Withdrawing your child from public school in Louisiana runs alongside registering your home study program with the state. The department suggests applying first, though your filing deadline attaches to the day your program starts. Louisiana offers two routes: BESE-approved home study or nonpublic school not seeking approval. Here is the exact sequence.
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How to Homeschool High School in Louisiana (2026): Diplomas, TOPS, and College
Homeschooling high school in Louisiana means you issue the diploma, and your student can still earn TOPS by completing eleventh and twelfth grade in an approved program and hitting the score. Here is how the diploma, transcript, TOPS scores, and dual enrollment work.
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