Guest Author - Meg Grooms

Homeschooling in Alabama

All the information in this article was verified as accurate upon writing. It is your responsibility as a homeschooling parent to check your state law at least once a year and to ensure you are doing everything necessary to follow it. The best way to protect your family is to know your law better than the school officials!

Alabama is considered to be a LOW regulation state. Homeschooling families in Alabama have two option(s) available to legally educate their children at home.

Option #1 - Establish or enroll in a "church school", file an enrollment form and attendance reports with local school officials (note that there is no minimum days of school per year requirement), keep attendance records and file with the superintendent of the "church school"

Option #2 - Hire a private tutor and school for 140 days per year, for 3 hours per day between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Studies must include reading, spelling, writing, math, English, geography, US history, science, health, physical education, and Alabama history. Tutor must have teacher certification. You must keep track of the child's attendance and days/time of instruction and file with the education superintendent. File an annual notice of intent to home education through the use of a tutor.

For more information contact the Alabama Department of Education at http://www.alsde.edu/html/home.asp

A good way to stay informed is to join a state or local homeschooling support and lobbying group. Check out the following:

Home Educators of Alabama Round Table
http://alabamahomeschooling.com/
If you are homeschooling or considering it, this is the place to be! The HEART list is privately owned
and operated and has been providing information and encouragement to families since 1997.
comments@alabamahomeschooling.com

Christian Fellowship Academy
256-747-1704 (anytime except Sunday)
Jaime Clapp, admin@christianfellowshipacademy.org
http://www.ChristianFellowshipAcademy.org
135 County Road 972 Cullman, AL. 35057
Sponsoring church: Christian Fellowship
Enrollment area: Statewide
Statement of Faith: None required (please remember we are a ministry for Christian families)
HSLDA membership: Not Required
General description: A ministry to inform & encourage Christian families to educate children from a Christian worldview and for fellowship with like minded families.
Requirements: Report attendance once a year. At least 180 days of Attendance.
Fees: $100.00 per family for the first year / $75.00 per family for returning members
Additional Info: A yahoo group was started by the administrator of Christian Fellowship Academy that is open to anyone in our cover school.


New to Homeschooling?
Take a look at my ebook
Homeschooling With Confidence: A Plain English Guide to Homeschooling in the United States