Homeschooling in Arizona: Guidance for Getting Started

Homeschooling is not strictly regulated in Arizona, so for most families, it’s an easy state to homeschool in. To see statistics about homeschooling in Arizona and discover how popular it is, see this official Home School Data Dashboard from the Maricopa County School.

Arizona does not stipulate any minimum number of days of instruction. Neither does the state have  homeschooling hour requirements. 

No, parents do not have to be certified as teachers or hold any other type of certification to homeschool their own children.

Arizona does not outline any parent qualifications to homeschool your own children.

Any parent or guardian can opt to homeschool in Arizona as long as they file the correct paperwork.

You are obligated to file a letter of intent for homeschooling in Arizona. This is formally called an Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool. It must be notarized and  include the following information:

• child’s name
• child’s date of birth
• family address
• parent’s name
• parent’s telephone number

Along with the Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool, also submit proof of the child’s identity and age—typically a birth certificate. This important document will be returned to you once the school district makes a copy for their own records.

Submit both the Affidavit of Intent and the proof of birth to the superintendent of your county’s district within 30 days of beginning to homeschool (or of the date when your child turns 6 years old). You may do this via mail or in person. 

This rule holds whether you are homeschooling for the first time with a 6-year old or if you’re switching from public school to homeschooling in Arizona. The form has to be submitted only once unless your county of residence changes. 

Here’s an example form from the Maricopa County School Superintendent. Check to see if your county has a specific form they want you to use or if you can use a more general template.

Yes, unschooling is legal in Arizona. Unschooling is a style of teaching that is very student-led, letting the child set the pace and often the topics and materials as well. As long as you are fulfilling your obligation to teach reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science, you are free to choose whatever methods or resources you like.

In Arizona, home school is defined as “a school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person who has custody of the child or instruction provided in the child's home." Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §15—802F.1.

This definition does not rule out being hired to instruct someone else’s child in the child’s home, under the supervision of the legal guardian. So while it’s a bit unusual, it seems that you could possibly homeschool someone else’s child in Arizona. Since the parent files the paperwork with the school district, the parent is ultimately responsible for the instruction, but there’s no prohibition against hiring out some of the teaching.

Since the Arizona homeschool requirements are so minimal, your needs are the same as any other homeschooler in the nation. 

• You’ll want to make sure you have the right mindset.
• You’ll need a place for your books and resources. It doesn't have to be fancy. A single bookshelf or an emptied china cabinet is adequate. 
• You’ll want spots for learning—probably a comfortable spot for family reading time and a table for pencil and paper work. Your kitchen table and living room couch can do double duty here as homeschool areas. You don’t need a dedicated homeschool room.
• You’ll need basic school supplies, of course.
• A schedule or routine will make your days easier to manage, especially if you have very young children.

Arizona homeschooling requirements are relatively lax. By way of proof, there is nothing required for homeschooling in Arizona—no attendance records, no lists of curriculum, and no annual assessments. There are no standardized testing or other reporting requirements for homeschoolers.

The only homeschooling requirements in Arizona are to file the affidavit with your district and provide instruction in five subject areas:

reading

grammar

math

social studies

science

Of course, to protect yourself, it’s a good idea to keep records in case there ever were a question about your actions. While these are optional, we suggest keeping notes about:

• what days you had school lessons
• what you learned week by week
• a list of curriculum and resources
• any field trips you took
• any extra-curricular activities and co-ops
• samples of student work

To help you organize your records, use the Sonlight planner. It has pages for the most common records that homeschoolers keep.

Your homeschool records don’t have to be extremely detailed or formal, but a paper trail that clearly indicates you have a plan and are following a dedicated program of study for your children will go a long way to clearing up any possible confusion about your suitability as a homeschool parent.

Plus, you’ll appreciate having records for your own benefit! It’s incredibly rewarding to look back and see all you covered with your child and see growth from the beginning of a school year to the end.

Technically no. As an Arizona homeschooler, you aren’t required to have a curriculum. The filing of your affidavit of intent to homeschool implies that you will provide instruction in the five required areas, but aside from committing to do so, there are no other stipulations about your teaching and no reporting required to prove that you’ve done it.

But you’re homeschooling to provide your child with an excellent education, right? So you want the absolute best materials and ones that will make life easy for you. That’s why using a curriculum is a wise choice. Download the free printable curriculum comparison checklist to help you narrow down your options.

No, in Arizona, homeschool laws do not mandate any testing for homeschooled students. Although not required, some homeschool parents find benefit in occasional testing. Watch the video below to see the possible advantages of standardized testing for homeschoolers even when it’s not required.

The Arizona Department of Education states, “Home Schooling is under the jurisdiction of each county. Please contact your county directly for more information.” To help you get started, here are links for the school districts in each of Arizona’s 15 counties. Where possible, we’ve linked directly to the district’s information about homeschooling. 

School District Websites for 15 Arizona Counties

1. Apache County, AZ
2. Cochise County, AZ
3. Coconino County, AZ*
4. Gila County, AZ
5. Graham County, AZ
6. Greenlee County, AZ*
7. La Paz County, AZ
8. Maricopa County, AZ
9. Mohave County, AZ
10. Navajo County, AZ
11. Pima County, AZ
12. Pinal County, AZ
13. Santa Cruz County, AZ*
14. Yavapai County, AZ
15. Yuma County, AZ

* Website does not include information specific to homeschooling. Use the contact information to begin your inquiry.

If you move to another AZ county, be sure to notify your previous county that you’ve moved and file a new Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool in your new county of residence.

Once you’ve filed your affidavit of intent to homeschool with your county, download this getting started checklist for more to-dos.

School is compulsory in Arizona for ages 6-16. 

However as a homeschooler, there is an option to delay formal schooling until the age of 8. To do so, simply indicate your desire to delay schooling until age 8 on your Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool.

Homeschooling kindergarten in Arizona is optional. You can skip kindergarten in Arizona since compulsory school age begins at 6. But those early years of homeschooling are so precious. Why skip them! To provide gentle instruction in the years prior to age six, use Sonlight’s three early years programs: 

You can homeschool in Arizona for one year only, or you can homeschool from kindergarten through high school graduation! The choice is up to your family. 

If you do decide to stop homeschooling and send your child back to public school, be sure to notify your county district in writing within 30 days of your decision. 

Students are eligible for approximately $7,000 per year on average to spend on homeschooling or private schools at their discretion but with approval from the Arizona Dept. of Education. Special education students may also qualify for additional funding each year. 

This new windfall of academic funding does complicate the Arizona definition of homeschooling though. By definition, a homeschooler in Arizona is fully responsible for all costs associated with educating at home. A student using an ESA does not file an Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool.

This means that the ESA school voucher system does not fall under the traditional mantle of what has legally been recognized as homeschooling. There are homeschool advocates who are wary of the additional state oversight that will accompany this generous public funding. 

Arizona parents will soon find themselves in the situation of California families who have two basic choices: 

1. homeschool independently without any state funding and maintain nearly full autonomy, or
2. accept a measure of state oversight while receiving state funding 

Many families may consider Arizona stipulations or limitations are well worth the hefty state funding. After all, homeschooling tends to top out at $2500 annually per child. The $7000 allowance will foster a bonanza of new co-op options and enrichment classes in the Copper State and surely make homeschooling an even more popular choice. 

With Arizona’s ESA program, many families are able to homeschool for free, using state funds instead of their own money.

For those who don’t opt to take state money, there are still a myriad of free homeschooling resources for Arizona families, namely via the Internet and public libraries. But a small warning … don’t try to homeschool at zero cost. Your children are worth the investment in their education! Absolutely stretch your dollars and be frugal with your book budget, but always realize that investing in your children’s education is priceless. 

Great books are worth buying and keeping in your home library so you can revisit them whenever you like. Science kits, hands-on crafts, and math manipulatives help the concepts stick so learning is effortless and enjoyable. Plus plenty of parents have realized firsthand the headache of a piece-meal, beg-and-borrow approach to homeschooling. Sure, you can DIY, but why? An open-and-go curriculum package that has everything you need erases the hunt for discounted used books and library holds.

Yes, families can apply for state funding via the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA).

Even with the abundant public funding, it’s godly to steward these resources with wisdom and frugality. So here are four tips for making the most of your state funds or your own personal homeschool budget:

1. Choose a curriculum that allows you to combine multiple children with one program. Making a program serve double duty for siblings close in age not only conserves your budget, it also saves you tremendous time and makes for treasured family memories as you learn together.
2. Make sure your curriculum is high-value. For example, Sonlight is a program that builds a cherished home library. Instead of tossing consumable workbooks at the end of the school year, Sonlight gives you a shelf of beloved books you’ll read again and again. When you look at those titles, you don’t just see school books, you remember your favorite characters, the exciting adventures you shared, and the meaningful discussions the stories inspired.
3. Spread your curriculum outlay over multiple months with no-interest, no-fee payment plans. 
4. Be sure you have a guarantee if the curriculum doesn’t work out.