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Arizona is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the United States. Here is a guide to help you get started with homeschooling in Arizona.
In Arizona, a homeschool is defined as “a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person who has custody of the child, or nonpublic instruction provided in the child’s home” according to AZ statute 15-802. This is a somewhat vague definition that leaves the parent free to determine how, when, and where to obtain an education for their child.
According to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, Arizona’s homeschool laws are few compared to those of many other states.
According to Arizona law, you can start homeschooling at any time during the year by filing an Affidavit of Intent with the local county superintendent. You must file within 30 days of starting to homeschool.
Once you decide to homeschool, you will be faced with a number of decisions:
Which curriculum to use?
What educational method is best?
What resources do I need?
See the section below for some tips on what you need to homeschool in Arizona.
Get wisdom from veteran homeschool moms as well with this article on What I Wish I Knew Before Homeschooling.
There are two requirements for homeschooling in Arizona.
The affidavit must include:
You can find a downloadable copy of the affidavit here.
The teaching methods and curriculum used are entirely up to the parent’s discretion.
Parents may hold off homeschooling until their child is eight, and students must attend school until at least age 14, when they can graduate if they are gainfully employed or engaged in vocational training. The majority of students attend school between the ages of 6 and 16. There are no graduation requirements, but parents should adhere to the courses and credits required by public schools, particularly if the child is college-bound.
There is no requirement for
State statutes do not indicate any required number of days.
Arizona is one of the few states that provide state-funded Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA’s) that are available for educating children outside the public school setting. There are funds available from $6,500 and up, per year per student, depending on the student’s age.
Families who use the ESA funds do not technically fall under the definition of homeschoolers in the state of Arizona and, therefore, do not have to file an Affidavit of Intent. You do have to apply for the funds and submit to oversight by the AZ Department of Education.
Parents do not receive the money directly. The program is administered by ClassWallet. Funds are made available through ClassWallet, and once you place an order with an approved curriculum company, the curriculum company is paid by ClassWallet.
You can find the list of frequently asked questions about the Arizona ESA law here.
There is no umbrella school or other official educational facility with which you need to enroll your child to homeschool him in Arizona. Once you file the Affidavit of Intent with your county superintendent, you are free to homeschool your child. If you choose to use an online program, charter school, or private school you will follow their specific guidelines for enrollment.
After withdrawing your child from school, you have 30 days to file an Affidavit of Intent to homeschool with the county superintendent.
Arizona is a low-regulation state. To comply with the homeschooling laws in Arizona, you simply need to fill out the Affidavit of Intent and file it with your local superintendent.
After you file your Affidavit of Intent, your next step is to choose your curriculum and teaching methods.
Curriculum. The state does not provide curricula or require any specific curriculum. You can choose the best materials for your child’s learning style, provided you teach the five required subjects listed above. Your options range from literature-based unit studies to textbook/workbook curriculums that provide all you need for every subject. Here are some tips from seasoned homeschool moms on what they wish they knew before homeschooling.
Choose an educational method. This is where homeschooling shines. As a parent, you know your child best. You can create a learning environment optimized to fit your lifestyle and meet their unique learning needs. Educational methods range from all-in-one traditional textbook/workbook curriculums to unit studies to classical or even unschooling approaches. All About Learning Press is excited to offer an extensive library of free reading and spelling resources to help with language arts studies.
While not required, you may benefit from:
Workspace. Homeschooling can happen almost anywhere, anytime; however, some work lends itself to using a desk or table. It is helpful, but not required to have a space to do school work and store materials. Do what works best for your child’s needs and your family’s unique situation. Many children do not do well sitting at a desk for long periods and would thrive if allowed to lounge on a couch to do their work. Other children require more structure, a desk or tabletop, and plenty of quiet. Try different options until you find the perfect setup. There are endless ways to create cozy reading nooks for your children!
Records. While not required, keeping some records and work samples may be beneficial. You can use a simple 3-ring notebook to store sample lesson plans, some of your child’s best work, attendance sheets, grades, and test scores. Additionally:
Check out more “Organizational Tools I Couldn’t Homeschool Without.”
A method of evaluation. Although testing is not required, many parents find it helpful to use an assessment method to track their child’s progress. It could be formal tests, oral evaluations, essays, and reports, or creating capstone projects at the end of a unit of study.
All About Reading and All About Spelling include a customizable review system that makes it easy to track what your student has mastered and what needs ongoing practice. You can find more information on customizable review here: 5 Ways to Customize Reading and Spelling Instruction
As an alternative to the state-regulated ESA funds, any parent can set up a Coverdell ESA funded with your pre-tax dollars and used for educational expenses. You can learn more about Coverdell ESA’s from the IRS here.
In Arizona, any parent can teach their child without teaching credentials or a college degree. It is very common for parents to feel unprepared to teach. With a program like All About Reading, parents have an open-and-go curriculum with all the materials and planning provided so they can teach in the most effective way possible in only 20 minutes a day.
Arizona law is vague on the issue of homeschooling a child that is not your own. You may homeschool “any child in your custody,” which could be interpreted to mean any child who comes into your home, even temporarily, for the purpose of instruction. The parent must be the one who files the Affidavit of Intent, but there is no law specifically forbidding the use of outside teachers or tutors.
We recommend reviewing the HSLDA’s Arizona Homeschooling website for additional information, news, and assistance.
Disclaimers:
AALP does not dispense legal advice. Parents are encouraged to review the homeschooling laws for themselves to ensure they are in full compliance.
All information is accurate based on legal statutes as of January 2025.
Sources
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https://afhe.org Arizona Families for Home Education
HSLDA.org Homeschool Legal Defense Association
https://www.azed.gov/ Arizona Department of Education
