Homeschool Laws by State: Alabama
Alabama is actually a very easy state in which to homeschool. There are two ways in which one may legally homeschool:
1. The most popular is to be "covered" by a church school. (Ala. Code §16-28-3) These are generally referred to as "cover schools" but also "umbrella schools". A church school is a ministry run by a church within the state of Alabama, but it is not specified what kind of church — there are Muslim, Jewish and even at least one Pagan options available. Your cover school will file your paperwork with the local Board of Education for you. The only state requirement is a record of school days, but even that does not require a minimum number of days, just reporting of the days attended. Your cover school may require more than that. Do your research and find a cover school that fits for you. Fees for cover schools will range depending on how big they are and what activities they offer.
Please note: even if you are enrolled with an online charter school, if it is out-of-state, you must still be enrolled with a cover school within the state as well.
2. Use of a certified teacher. (Ala. Code §16-28-5) This can be yourself or a tutor. Use of this option requires that you have 140 days per year on the record, with a minimum of 3 hours per day between the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM. You will need to file with your local Board of Education yourself, and you will be subject to whatever requirements (such as curriculum approval, review, etc.) that they may deem necessary. Needless to say, this isn't a particularly popular option.
Children in Alabama must be in school between the ages of 7 and 16. If you choose to wait until your child is 7 before enrolling them in a cover school, most covers will want you to enroll them at the beginning of the school year in which they will turn 7. However, a few will allow you to wait until the child has had their actual birthday.
State homeschool association: CHEF of Alabama
Important Notice: HomeschoolHelpWeb.com and Consumer Help Web, Inc. are not offering legal advice and are not law firms. This information is not a substitute for legal advice of any kind and may not be current. Your use of any information provided on this page is at your own risk. This information as provided is a public service and not intended to replace legal or other counsel. Contact your local or state homeschool groups and make sure you fully understand the laws and all of your options to fulfill those laws. Please see our page on Finding Out How to Legally Homeschool in Your State for further information.
