Alabama has no homeschool statute of its own. Families teach at home as part of a church school or with a certified private tutor, and the church school route asks very little of the parent: one enrollment form, countersigned by the church school.
Verified against primary sources November 2026. Laws change; sources are linked at the bottom of this page.
Every child from 6 to 17 must attend a public school, private school, or church school, or be taught by a certified private tutor. Most homeschool families enroll in a church school, a school run as a ministry of a church or group of churches that may teach through home programs. The parent files the child's enrollment and attendance with the local public school superintendent on the superintendent's form, countersigned by the church school administrator. The state sets no testing, subjects, hours, or days for church school students. The private tutor route is stricter: an Alabama teaching certificate, at least 3 hours a day for 140 days, and filings with the superintendent.
Your child enrolls in a church school, operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, or association of churches with no state or federal funding. Church schools may teach through home programs, so you teach at home under the church school. The state does not license or regulate church schools.
Your child is taught by a person who holds a teaching certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education. A parent who holds a certificate can be the tutor. This route has the most duties.
Alabama's definition of a private school, one run by a nongovernmental entity, also includes home programs. It is not a homeschool route in itself: the school's principal teacher carries the reporting duties, not the parent.
Every child between 6 and 17 must attend a public school, private school, or church school, or be taught by a competent private tutor, for the entire school term each year. The parent of a six-year-old may wait a year by notifying the local board of education in writing that the child will not be enrolled until age seven.
Alabama has no separate home education law. A church school offers instruction in any grades from preschool through 12, on-site or through home programs, and is operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, or association of churches that receives no state or federal funding. A private tutor holds a certificate from the State Superintendent of Education.
The parent files the child's enrollment and attendance with the local public school superintendent on a form the superintendent or the superintendent's agent provides. The church school administrator countersigns it, and the parent returns it to the superintendent. At enrollment, the parent also directs the church school to notify the superintendent if the child stops attending. The statute sets no date for the form.
The principal teacher of each church school keeps an attendance register showing the school's enrollment and every absence of a half day or more. Church schools are excused from the other reports the state and local superintendents may require.
The tutor holds a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education, teaches the branches of study required in public schools in English, for at least 3 hours a day and 140 days each calendar year between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Before instruction begins, the tutor files a statement with the county or city superintendent showing the children, the subjects, and the period of instruction, keeps a daily register of hours and attendance, and makes reports the State Board of Education requires.
At the end of the fifth day after the public schools open, the tutor reports the names and addresses of enrolled children of compulsory age to the county or city superintendent, on forms the State Superintendent prescribes. After that, the tutor reports at least weekly any child who enrolls or is absent without excuse.
Nonpublic schools, including church schools, and home-schooled students are not subject to licensure or regulation by the state or any local government, including the State Department of Education. They must still follow the school attendance chapter.
A parent of a child required to attend a church school must explain any absence without the teacher's permission as soon as practical. Failing to keep a child in school or with a tutor is a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $100 and up to 90 days of hard labor for the county.
| Before you start (church school) | Enroll with a church school and file the superintendent's enrollment form, countersigned by the church school administrator. The statute sets no date. |
| Before instruction begins (private tutor) | The tutor files a statement with the county or city superintendent: the children, the subjects, and the period of instruction. |
| End of the fifth day after public schools open (private tutor) | The tutor reports the names and addresses of enrolled children to the superintendent on the State Superintendent's forms, then reports unexcused absences at least weekly. |
| During the year | The church school or tutor keeps the attendance register. Explain any unexcused absence as soon as practical. |
| If your child leaves the church school | The church school notifies the superintendent, under the consent you gave at enrollment. |
Yes. Alabama law gives parents the right to choose the type of education for their child, including home-based education, and says home-schooled students are not subject to licensure or regulation by the state. To meet the attendance law, home students are enrolled in a church school or taught by a certified private tutor.
A school that offers instruction in any grades from preschool through 12, on-site or through home programs, and is operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, or association of churches that receives no state or federal funding. Many such schools enroll families who teach at home.
The parent files the child's enrollment and attendance with the local public school superintendent, on a form the superintendent provides. The church school administrator countersigns it, and the parent returns it. At enrollment, the parent also gives the church school consent to notify the superintendent if the child stops attending.
Not for church school students. The law sets no test, subject list, or day count for them. The private tutor route is different: the tutor teaches at least 3 hours a day for 140 days each calendar year, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Only if you use the private tutor route, which requires a certificate issued by the State Superintendent of Education. The church school route has no parent qualification in the statute.
No. Alabama law bars public two-year and four-year colleges from denying admission to an otherwise qualified student, in whole or in part, because the student was home schooled or attended a church or other nonpublic school.
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Make a free parent accountReference information reviewed August 2026 against primary sources (statutes, NCAA and Common App published requirements). This is general information, not legal advice; requirements change, so verify anything load-bearing for your family against your state's current law.