Legal Resources

The state of Alabama does not have a “homeschool law.” All schooling in the state must fall under the categories of public, private, private tutor, or church school. Church schools are exempt from state control and the educational requirements governing public and private schools. In order for us to “legally” homeschool in this state we must be associated with a church school, be a certified teacher operating as a “Private Tutor”, or operate under the Private School option. There are a number of families who are operating independently from any of these options with an apparent legal footing to do so

Church schools are not required to have “certified teachers” nor is accreditation required. The parents serve as the church school teacher in their respective home school and must assume the responsibilities and tasks associated with their individual home school. In addition, the parents assume the duty of record custodian with support from the Way Home office as needed.

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a service that provides benefits to the homeschool community by providing legal representation at the national and state level. HSLDA, Southeast Law Institute, and Homeschool Legal Advantage (HLA) are organizations that provide legal services for homeschool families.

We recommend but do not require enrollment in HSLDA. They are a national and international reputable organization that has done a great service to homeschooling. They provide many resources that you may connect with that will support your homeschool journey.

On the state level there are many local resources which cannot all be listed. We encourage you to connect with Christian Home Educators Fellowship (CHEF) for the latest news affecting homeschooling in Alabama.