Indiana Homeschooling Laws
Homeschools in Indiana are classified as non-accredited private schools and are regulated by the statute on private schools. The law in Indiana mandates every child between 7 and 18 years to attend school. The requirements to homeschool in Indiana are few compared to other states. Parents must ensure they meet the following requirements to homeschool:
1. Give instruction in appropriate language
The instruction must be equivalent to that offered in public schools. There are no specific subjects the child must learn but it is advisable to have the same subjects taught in public school. The board of education in Indiana has no authority to establish equivalent instruction or authorize homeschooling programs.
2. Keeping records on attendance
The records show enrollment and attendance of students. These records are to be submitted to the superintendent of the state or of the district of the school upon request.
3. Give instruction for the number of days specified
The homeschool must run for the same amount of days as the public schools.
4. Submit information upon request
The state superintendent may need information on the number of students in the homeschool as well as the grades they are in.
Filling an online enrollment form by homeschoolers is voluntary. It is available on the department of education website.
This page has information on:
· Requirements to homeschool in Indiana
· Registering a Homeschool in Indiana
· Record keeping for homeschoolers in Indiana
· Requirements for graduation in Indiana
· Switching to a public school after homeschooling
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Indiana
Parents in Indiana who choose to homeschool must observe the following regulations:
1. Provide instruction for 180 days in a year
2. Maintain attendance records and submit them upon request
3. Give the instruction in English language
4. The instruction given should be equivalent to that offered in public schools
Registering for a Homeschool in Indiana
There is an enrollment form available on the department of education website that parents can fill and submit to the state giving information on their homeschools. It is a voluntary process; there is no law that requires the parents to fill the form. Withdrawing a child formally, by either sending a letter to the principal or reporting in person is considered important for it eliminates any truancy complications for students who were already enrolled in a public school.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Indiana
The law only requires records on attendance to be maintained. Additional information regarding homeschool and the progress made by the child should be added in the homeschool portfolio. Such information is beneficial when creating homeschool transcripts, returning to public or private school after homeschooling, applying to colleges, universities, and workplaces, as well as the military. Some of the things parents should include in the homeschool portfolio are:
· Details of subjects and courses covered every year
· A detailed high school transcript for students in 9th grade to 12th grade
· Each course taken and the written work submitted
· A record of the standardized tests taken, if any, and the results thereof
· Online Report cards or evaluation results administered by the parent or by the school
Lernsys Homeschooling provides transcripts and curriculum records which include course average grade/final grade, quizzes/tests grades, lessons and topics covered, among other things.Requirements for Graduation in Indiana
Homeschool graduation may be attained through the following paths:
· A parent awarding a diploma after covering the intended homeschool curriculum
· Taking an equivalency exam and reaching the pass score
· Having a diploma from an online/private school after completing the school’s courses
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Indiana.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Indiana |
The student must satisfy 1 of the 4 distinct paths |
Parents in Indiana have the liberty to determine if and when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. Institutions also give diplomas to students in private/online schools. |
| Testing requirements in Indiana | Since 2019, the students set to graduate must demonstrate mastery of ISTEP and grade 10 Language arts/English and math or have a justified exemption to that. |
There is no law in Indiana that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
|
Indiana high school transcripts |
The transcripts shall include data on attendance, immunization records, the scores on iSTEP, GPA and dual credit information. |
Parents in Indiana can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
|
High school course credits in Indiana |
Every pathway differs in the workload and coursework levels but they should all give 40 credit hours for a student to graduate. |
Parents decide when it is time for their student to graduate high school in Indiana. Many parents choose to specify or assign academic credits to the courses taken during the homeschooling period as this may aid during the transcript creation process. |
|
Eligibility for GED in Indiana |
Students who are 16 years and above may take the test which stands in for a high school diploma. |
Homeschoolers in Indiana are eligible if the meet the same criteria as public school students. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Download the transcript template
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Indiana
Each school in Indiana applies different guidelines for grade placement and enrollment of students. You will find that some schools in Indiana let you register your child for the grade you wish him/her to attend while others require information on the student’s progress and the curriculum used during homeschooling. Other schools in Indiana will have your child take an assessment test to determine the appropriate grade level your child belongs in. Lernsys Homeschooling provides transcripts and curriculum records which include course average grade/final grade, quizzes/tests grades, lessons and topics covered, among other things. Lernsys Homeschooling makes it easy to keep a summary of the curriculum used including grades, topics covered, quiz and test scores, teacher credentials, etc.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Indiana
Have other questions about homeschooling in Indiana? You may find the following pages helpful.
