How to Start Homeschooling in Indiana

Yes. Homeschooling is completely legal in Indiana. The law is firmly on your side, and it has been for a very long time.

IC 20-33-2-4 requires children of compulsory age to attend school. IC 20-33-2-6 exempts children receiving instruction "equivalent to that given in the public schools." Your homeschool operates under this exemption as a non-accredited, non-public school. You are not asking permission. You are exercising a right that Indiana courts have upheld since 1904.

State v. Peterman established that a parent teaching at home satisfies compulsory attendance. The court held that "equivalent" means equivalent in kind — the same general subjects — not identical methods, materials, or organization. In 1985, a federal court reinforced this in Mazanec v. North Judson-San Pierre School Corp., ruling Indiana's equivalency standard constitutionally sound. No government entity approves your curriculum, reviews your methods, or evaluates your child's progress. You teach, and the state stays out of the way.

Indiana's compulsory education ages are 7 through 18 under IC 20-33-2-4. That upper age of 18 is higher than many states, so keep it in mind. Your child must be in some form of education until they turn 18, graduate, or earn an equivalency certificate — whichever comes first.

Children under 7 are not subject to compulsory attendance. There is no mandatory kindergarten in Indiana. If your child is 5 or 6, you have no legal obligation to provide formal instruction yet. Many families use this time to explore different approaches and discover what fits before anything is required.

Starting to homeschool in Indiana is genuinely simple. Here is exactly what to do:

Step 1: Withdraw your child from school (if enrolled). Write a letter to the school principal. Include four things: (1) your name and contact information, (2) your child's name, date of birth, and current grade, (3) the effective date of withdrawal, and (4) this sentence: "My child is being withdrawn to attend a non-accredited, non-public school providing instruction equivalent to that given in the public schools, as provided under IC 20-33-2-6." Send it by certified mail or email with read receipt. Keep a copy. There is no waiting period — you can begin homeschooling the same day. If your child has never been enrolled in school, skip this step.

Step 2: File the voluntary IDOE enrollment form (strongly recommended). Go to in.gov/doe/students/homeschool-information/ and complete the Homeschool Registration Form. This form is not legally required — the IDOE itself says so on its website. But filing is strongly recommended because it creates a record of your homeschool and prevents truancy questions. The form asks for your homeschool name and address, your children's names and ages, the instructing parent's name, and an attestation about equivalent instruction. It takes a few minutes. File it and move on with peace of mind.

Step 3: Pick your curriculum. You have real freedom here. Indiana requires instruction in core subjects equivalent to public schools, but every other decision is yours. No state-approved curriculum list. No submission to anyone. No requirement to follow Indiana Academic Standards. Use whatever works — commercial, religious, secular, self-designed, or a mix. You know your child best.

Step 4: Teach for 180 days. Plan for 180 instructional days per year under IC 20-30-2-3. No hourly requirements. No prescribed calendar. You set the schedule. You are ready.

Indiana law requires instruction "equivalent to that given in the public schools" under IC 20-33-2-6. All instruction must be in English under IC 20-33-2-4. Cover these core subjects:

• English and language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar, composition, literature)
• Mathematics
• Social studies (U.S. history, government, civics, geography, economics)
• Science (biological and physical sciences)

You have real freedom in how you cover these. The Peterman court made clear that "equivalent" means equivalent in kind — you teach the same general subjects — not equivalent in method or materials. You do not need state-approved textbooks. You do not need to follow Indiana Academic Standards. You do not need to cover subjects in any particular sequence or depth. The standard is whether your child is receiving genuine instruction in core academic areas. Most homeschool curricula cover these subjects naturally.

Plan for 180 days of instruction per year, matching the public school requirement under IC 20-30-2-3. That is the only time requirement. No minimum hours per day. Indiana law does not define what counts as a "day" of instruction for non-public schools.

Build your own calendar. Start when you want. Take breaks when they make sense. Year-round, traditional, four-day weeks — all fine. As long as you reach 180 days of real instruction, you are meeting the requirement. Keeping a simple calendar or attendance log is not legally required but makes it easy to demonstrate compliance if anyone ever asks.

Indiana has two pathways for non-public education, but most homeschool families only need to know about one.

Pathway 1: Non-Accredited Non-Public School. This is the standard homeschool pathway. No teacher certification. No testing. No curriculum approval. No mandatory reporting. Maximum flexibility with minimal oversight. The vast majority of Indiana homeschoolers use this pathway. If you are reading this guide, this is almost certainly the one for you.

Pathway 2: Accredited Non-Public School (IC 20-19-2). This pathway requires certified teachers, formal accreditation, and greater oversight. It is designed for private schools, not individual homeschool families. The main advantage: accredited school students may qualify for Indiana's Choice Scholarship voucher program under IC 20-51-1. But the teacher certification requirement makes this impractical for most families.

Keep records from day one. Indiana has no recordkeeping mandate, but future-you will be grateful. Start keeping these four things: (1) an attendance log showing 180 days, (2) a list of subjects and curriculum used each year, (3) samples of your child's work, and (4) copies of your withdrawal letter and voluntary enrollment form. These records matter for college applications, re-enrollment in public school, military service, employment, and moving to another state. Start early and update yearly.

Your child can play public school sports. This is a real advantage that many states do not offer. IC 20-33-2-28.7 gives homeschooled students the right to participate in IHSAA-sanctioned sports at their local public school. Your child must meet the same eligibility rules as enrolled students: residency, age, academic progress, conduct, and IHSAA requirements like a physical exam. Call the school's athletic director and say: "My child is homeschooled and I would like information about participating in sports under IC 20-33-2-28.7." Access to non-athletic extracurricular activities varies by school corporation — ask about those too.

Dual enrollment is available. Your child can take individual courses at public schools or community colleges. Ivy Tech and some four-year universities offer concurrent enrollment for homeschoolers. Call Ivy Tech admissions and ask: "What is the enrollment process for homeschooled students?" Policies vary by institution, so reach out directly.

You issue the diploma and transcript. Indiana does not grant diplomas or transcripts to homeschooled students. You act as the school administrator. Create a transcript with course titles, credits, grades, and GPA. Start building it by 9th grade — do not wait until senior year. Indiana colleges — including Indiana University, Purdue, and Ball State — accept homeschool applicants with parent-prepared transcripts and standardized test scores.

The ESA program helps families with special needs. The Indiana Education Scholarship Account under IC 20-51.4 provides up to $20,000 for students with disabilities and up to $8,000 for siblings. Funds cover curriculum, tutoring, educational therapy, and testing fees through the ClassWallet platform. Apply between March 1 and September 1, with a priority window from March 1 through April 15. Visit in.gov/tos/inesa/ to start the application. Your district also has a Child Find obligation under IC 20-35 to evaluate your child for disabilities if you request it. Call your district's special education office and say: "I would like to request a Child Find evaluation for my homeschooled child."

The Choice Scholarship voucher does not cover homeschools. Indiana's voucher program under IC 20-51-1 is one of the largest nationally, but it applies only to accredited private schools. Homeschools operating as non-accredited, non-public schools are not eligible.

Connect with other Indiana homeschoolers. The Indiana Association of Home Educators (IAHE) at iahe.net is one of the state's established homeschool organizations. Local co-ops and support groups across Indiana offer group classes, field trips, and community. You do not have to figure this out alone.