LA

Medium regulation

Can you homeschool without a degree in Louisiana?

Many parents worry they are not “qualified enough” to homeschool. The legal question is simpler: what does Louisiana actually require of the parent or teacher?

Plain-English note: this is a parent guide, not legal advice. Use the official source links at the bottom of the page before a deadline or filing decision.

Teacher qualification rule

The captured sources do not state a teacher license requirement for parents. The DOE page says parents in a BESE-approved home study program have complete control and responsibility for educating their child.

Legal status

Homeschooling is legal in Louisiana. The captured sources describe two main ways to do it: a BESE-approved home study program or a nonpublic school not seeking state approval.

Curriculum freedom

Moderate overall. Parents choose the curriculum, and the DOE says it does not maintain a list of approved programs, but the home study option must offer a sustained curriculum of quality equal to public schools and at the same grade level.

What still matters if no degree is required

  1. 1Check Louisiana's notice rule: Yes. The required paperwork depends on which Louisiana option you choose.
  2. 2Calendar the deadline: For home study, apply within 15 days after beginning and renew annually by October 1 or 12 months after initial approval, whichever is later. For the nonpublic school option, notify the prior public school within 10 days of enrollment if applicable and file the annual attendance report around the 30th day of the school term, with the captured HSLDA resource saying no later than 30 days after the school year starts.
  3. 3Build around required subjects: For the home study option, a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to public schools, Subjects taught at the same grade level used in public schools, Declaration of Independence in elementary school for the home study option, The Federalist Papers in high school for the home study option
  4. 4Keep records that match the state summary: For home study renewals, keep enough records to show that you offered a sustained curriculum of quality. The captured source says the renewal packet can include subject outlines, a list of books and materials, work samples, standardized test results, third-party statements, and other evidence of program quality. For the nonpublic school option, keep copies of withdrawal notices when relevant and the annual attendance report.
  5. 5Plan for testing or evaluation if required: No routine statewide testing appears to be required just to homeschool. For the home study option, renewal requires evidence of progress, and one allowed way to show that is through LEAP, CAT, or another approved standardized test score, but the DOE page also says home study students are not required to take state assessments.
  6. 6Use official source links before making a filing or deadline decision.

Related homeschool guides for Louisiana

These internal links connect curriculum, schedule, special-needs, testing, and state-law pages so parents can move from a search question to the legal checklist without starting over.

Free printables

Download the homeschool starter kit

Print these before you start: a state startup checklist, letter-of-intent template, attendance tracker, and high-school transcript template.

View all downloads

These printables are general planning tools, not legal advice. Always verify the current rule on your state page and official source links before filing deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a teaching degree to homeschool in Louisiana?

The captured sources do not state a teacher license requirement for parents. The DOE page says parents in a BESE-approved home study program have complete control and responsibility for educating their child.

Do I need curriculum approval in Louisiana?

Moderate overall. Parents choose the curriculum, and the DOE says it does not maintain a list of approved programs, but the home study option must offer a sustained curriculum of quality equal to public schools and at the same grade level.

What should I do first?

Yes. The required paperwork depends on which Louisiana option you choose.

Start with the Louisiana legal checklist

This guide is useful only if it sits on top of the actual Louisiana homeschool requirements. Review the state law hub before buying curriculum, changing schools, or setting deadlines.

Louisiana homeschool requirements