Homeschool lawsArkansas
🇺🇸 Homeschool law
Homeschool requirements in Arkansas
Content last reviewed · Source: dese.ade.arkansas.gov · Not legal advice.
Here's how homeschool record-keeping generally works in Arkansas, and how FaithSchool keeps your hours, attendance, and portfolio organized so you can prove it when someone asks.
What this jurisdiction expects
Arkansas requires an annual Notice of Intent. Its base home-school regime has no general standardized-testing mandate after Act 832 of 2015, but optional EFA participation or interscholastic activities can trigger assessment or eligibility requirements.
We show the published HSLDA regulation tier here rather than specific hour, day or filing numbers, because those vary and change. Confirm the exact, current requirements with the official source below and HSLDA before you rely on them.
What to keep on file in Arkansas
Checked against the official Arkansas sources listed at the bottom of this page — these are the records those sources describe, not general habits. Rules change; the official regulator stays the arbiter.
- Arkansas requires a Notice of Intent to Home School every school year — the registration form legally required to home school; file it online or on paper with the DESE Home School Office.
- Keep your NOI confirmations on file: the Home School Office issues official verification letters of academic years and grade levels (for colleges and employers) only when an NOI was filed.
- If you file the NOI after August 15, note the 5-school-day waiting period that applies when a student leaves public school to home school.
- There is no general home-school testing mandate — Act 832 of 2015 repealed the testing provisions in Arkansas Code § 6-15-504.
- Optional programs can still add testing: Educational Freedom Account students in K-10 take a state exam or board-approved norm-referenced test, and families report names, assessments and results to DESE by June 30 (6 CAR § 35-112).
Keep your Arkansas attendance log in one place — free. Prefer paper? Print the free attendance log.
Primary source
Arkansas DESE requires a Notice of Intent each academic year. Act 832 of 2015 repealed the general home-school testing mandate; optional EFA participation or interscholastic activities may still require assessment or eligibility testing.
Open the official regulator →Arkansas Act 832 of 2015 — repeal of the general testing mandate →Arkansas EFA rules — assessment for participating students →Arkansas interscholastic rules — eligibility testing →Arkansas DESE — Home Schools: Support for Home School Parents →Arkansas Act 832 of 2015 — repeal of home-school testing provisions →Arkansas Administrative Rule 6 CAR § 35-112 — EFA program evaluation →This is general guidance, not legal advice. Verify your jurisdiction's homeschool requirements with the official regulator or HSLDA.
Review date = the day this page's Arkansas requirements were re-verified against the official sources listed above. Rules change; confirm with the official regulator before you rely on them.
Keep the year in one place
These tools and briefs sit next to the Arkansas law page, so your hours, attendance, and evidence pack stay connected.