|  | | Alaska requires all children from age 7 to 16 to attend school and provides a variety of educational approaches ranging from government funded and controlled to privately funded without any government control. Alaska residents enjoy the liberty of choosing the educational approach that best meets their individual needs. Alaska is one the easiest states in the nation for homeschooling. Alaska homeschool law SB 134 was passed and signed into law on September 2, 1997 allowing children to be homeschooled by a parent or guardian. Homeschooling parents are required to establish and operate a homeschool but beyond that, there are no requirements. Alaska offers the following five educational approaches: | | -
Establish and operate a homeschool. This option gives parents total liberty without any requirements regarding attendance, subjects, teacher qualifications, school board notification, recordkeeping, or testing. The downside of going with this option is the absence of any government funding. However, parents are content with providing their own funding in order to avoid any government control. -
Use a private tutor. Attendance is required 180 days per year. Subjects similar to those taught in Alaska's public schools must be covered and the tutor must be teacher certified. There are no requirements regarding school board notification, recordkeeping, or testing under this option. -
Enroll your child in a full-time correspondence program approved by the Alaska department of education. Correspondence programs receive government funding and are therefore subject to government oversight and control. Attendance is required for 180 days per year and the subjects covered must be similar to subjects taught in public schools. No teacher qualifications, school board notifications, recordkeeping, or testing requirements are specified for this option. -
Request school board approval to provide an equal alternate educational experience. This option also receives government funding and government oversight. The child is required to attend 180 days of schooling per year and must study subjects similar to those offered in the public schools. No requirements exist for teacher qualifications, school board notification, recordkeeping, or testing. -
Qualify as a religious or private school. Under this option, the student must attend school for 180 days per year. There are no required subjects; however standardized testing, which is to be administered in the 4th, 6th, and 8th grades, must cover English, grammar, reading, spelling, and math. Records must be kept and maintained on monthly attendance, immunizations, course studies, standardized testing, academic achievement, and physical exams. There are no requirements regarding teacher qualifications. In order to qualify, the following forms must be completed by the stated dates and submitted to the appropriate parties: -
A "Private School Enrollment Reporting Form" must be filed with the local superintendent by the first day of public school. -
A "Private and Denominational Schools Enrollment Report" must be filed with the state department of education by October 15 each year. -
A "School Calendar" must be filed with the state department of education by October 15 each year. Support groups are available to provide Alaska residents with more information about the pros and cons of each option. Find a homeschool group in Alaska Visit the Alaska State Board of Education Note: This is a brief summary of Alaska homeschool law and is presented for informative purposes only and not as legal advice. |
