How to Start Homeschooling in Arizona

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Arizona. The state treats it as an exemption from compulsory attendance under A.R.S. Section 15-802(B)(2).

Arizona law calls a homeschool "a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian, or other person who has custody of the child" (A.R.S. Section 15-101(4)). Your home is a type of school under Arizona law. You are using a right that is written into the code. You are not asking for an exception.

Arizona is one of the least regulated states for homeschooling. No teacher qualifications. No mandatory testing. No required hours or days. No annual reports. No curriculum review. Your only obligation is one affidavit and five basic subjects.

Arizona requires education for children ages 6 through 16. This comes from A.R.S. Section 15-802(A). The cutoff date is September 1 per A.R.S. Section 15-821. If your child turns 6 before September 1, the requirement starts that school year.

Kindergarten is not required. If your child is 4 or 5, you do not need to file anything. Take your time. Start when your family is ready.

Once your child turns 16, compulsory attendance ends. Your teenager can keep homeschooling. The state just no longer requires it.

Getting started takes less paperwork than most parents expect. You do not need anyone's permission. Here is how to begin homeschooling in Arizona, step by step:

Step 1: Write your Affidavit of Intent. This is a short document. Include your child's name and date of birth. Add the address where you will teach. Write a statement that you will cover reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science. Sign it. That is all.

Step 2: Send it to your county school superintendent. Not your school district. The county office. Arizona has 15 counties, each with its own superintendent. In Maricopa County (Phoenix area), file with the Maricopa County Education Service Agency. In Pima County (Tucson), file with the Pima County School Superintendent's office. For other counties, search "[your county] County School Superintendent Arizona." Most accept filings by mail, in person, or online.

Step 3: Start teaching. The 30-day filing window starts after you begin instruction. Not before. No fees. No approval process. The county has no authority to deny your filing.

Step 4: Withdraw from school (if enrolled). Send a written letter to the principal or registrar. Request academic and immunization records. Return school property. More details below.

Step 5 (optional): Apply for the ESA. Want state funding for curriculum and supplies? Apply at azed.gov/esa. This is separate from the affidavit. See the pathways section below.

The Affidavit of Intent is your one required document. Per A.R.S. Section 15-802(F), it must include:

• Your child's full name
• Date of birth
• Address where instruction will take place
• A statement that you will teach reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science
• Your signature as parent or guardian

There is no official state form. Some counties have their own form. Others accept a simple letter. No fees either way.

File it with your county school superintendent within 30 days of starting instruction. This is a one-time filing. You never renew it. If you have more than one child, you can list them all on one affidavit.

The county superintendent cannot deny it. They have no approval authority. Filing is a notice, not a request. After you file, nothing happens. No follow-up. No acknowledgment. Keep a copy for your records.

Here is something that trips up families. Some county offices send reminders that look like annual renewal notices. The law does not require renewal. One filing per child per county. The only time you file again is if you move to a different county.

Your filed affidavit may also come in handy later. The MVD may ask for a copy when your homeschooled teen applies for a driver's permit.

Arizona keeps the subject list short. Under A.R.S. Section 15-802(B)(2), you cover five subjects: reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science.

That is the full list. No required curriculum. No required textbooks. No lesson plans to turn in. Nobody reviews your materials. You choose how and what to teach.

One more thing to know. A.R.S. Section 15-745 says "all schools" must teach about the U.S. Constitution, the Arizona Constitution, and Arizona history. Whether this applies to homeschools is debated. The statute was aimed at public and private schools. Most organizations, including Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE), treat it as advisory. They suggest folding those topics into social studies. That is good practice, but there is no enforcement for homeschools.

Arizona gives you three ways to homeschool. You can also combine them.

Traditional Homeschooling (A.R.S. Section 15-802). File the Affidavit of Intent. Teach five subjects. No testing, reporting, or recordkeeping. No teacher qualifications. Self-funded. This is the most common path.

ESA Homeschooling (A.R.S. Sections 15-2401 through 15-2404). This path adds state money to the traditional approach. Arizona created the ESA in 2011 under SB 1553. It originally served only students with disabilities. Over the years it expanded to military families, foster children, and students on reservations.

In 2017, the legislature tried to open it to everyone. Voters rejected that through Proposition 305 in 2018. Then in 2022, HB 2853 passed universal expansion again. This time it held. Today every Arizona child is eligible.

You apply at azed.gov/esa. If approved, about $7,000 to $8,000 per year goes into a ClassWallet account. Funds arrive quarterly. You can buy through the ClassWallet marketplace, where purchases are automatically compliant. Or you buy outside the marketplace and submit receipts. Approved expenses include curriculum, tutoring, therapy, online courses, textbooks, educational technology, and test fees. Vacations, entertainment, and household expenses are not allowed. Misuse can mean repayment, removal from the program, or referral to the Attorney General.

As of early 2026, about 101,914 students use the ESA. Students with disabilities may receive $9,000 to $40,000 or more per year. ESA families who homeschool must also file the Affidavit of Intent. The ESA contract renews every year.

Private School Umbrella (A.R.S. Section 15-802(B)(1)). Some cover schools let families register as private school students. This is less common in Arizona since traditional requirements are already so light.

Homeschool students can also take classes part-time at their local public school under A.R.S. Section 15-816.01. They can play sports through the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) too.

A few things every family should know about how to homeschool in Arizona:

File with the right office. The most common mistake is sending the affidavit to your school district. It goes to the county school superintendent. Different office. Arizona has 15 counties. Find yours.

The affidavit is one-time. Some county offices send notices that look like renewal reminders. The law does not require annual renewal. One filing per child per county. Do not be confused by the mail.

ESA does not replace the affidavit. If you use the ESA and homeschool, you still file the Affidavit of Intent. Two processes. Two offices.

Online public school is not homeschooling. Programs like Arizona Virtual Academy are public schools. Students in them are not homeschoolers. They cannot receive ESA funds at the same time.

Keep records even though the law does not require it. Families who keep nothing face trouble later. College applications, re-enrollment, and proof of education all get harder. Save your filed affidavit, work samples, and course descriptions. Start building transcripts in high school. ASU, UA, and NAU want parent-issued transcripts and course descriptions from homeschool applicants.

Your child can play school sports. Under A.R.S. Section 15-816.01, homeschool students can join activities at their assigned public school. Sports and clubs are both available. AIA eligibility rules apply.

IEP services end when you leave public school. Your child's IEP does not follow them home. But Arizona's ESA was built for this. The program started in 2011 specifically for students with disabilities. Today families can receive $9,000 to $40,000 or more per year for private therapies, specialized tutoring, assistive technology, and other services. The state's AZ FIND program also requires districts to evaluate children who may have disabilities, even if homeschooled. Contact your local district or the Arizona Department of Education to request an evaluation.

Apply for the ESA early. The program has experienced application backlogs since universal expansion in 2022. Do not wait until the last minute. Apply well before you need the funds.

Plan for college from day one. Arizona does not issue a state homeschool diploma. You issue it yourself as the parent. That is fine. But start building your transcript early so you are ready when college applications arrive.