Arizona has clear, concise homeschool laws, yet they are non-intrusive and allow for many years of independent homeschooling for well-adjusted, happy children and their families.

In Arizona you’ll need to write an affidavit of intent to homeschool within thirty days of the first day of homeschool, notarize it, and mail it, along with your child’s birth certificate, to your County School Superintendent. It is as simple as that. You won’t need to worry about contacting anyone again unless you decide to quit homeschooling. If you terminate your homeschool arrangement, simply contact your County School Superintendent again with notification that homeschool ended and your child will return to public school.

What’s required of Arizona homeschoolers? You’ll need to instruct your child in the basics: reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. Sounds like fun! I’m guessing that the state expects children to be educated in humanities and the arts and physical education naturally, without any specific requirements.

This is a lenient law – much more family-friendly than some states in which testing, curriculum lists, and other paperwork are required. As a homeschooler, one who loves independent homeschooling, I would not hesitate to move to Arizona. Homeschooling parents there are not worried about fulfilling paperwork requirements so much as they are concerned about and working toward an enriching, fulfilling homeschool experience for their children.

If you’re looking for a homeschool-friendly state to move to, I’d definitely put Arizona on the list of possibilities!

Here’s the basic Arizona homeschool law:

15-802. School instruction; exceptions; violations; classification; definitions
A. Every child between the ages of six and sixteen years shall attend a school and shall be provided instruction in at least the subjects of reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. The person who has custody of the child shall choose a public, private, charter or home school as defined in this section to provide instruction.
B. The parent or person who has custody shall do the following:
1. If the child will attend a public, private or charter school, enroll the child in and ensure that the child attends a public, private or charter school for the full time school is in session. If a child attends a school which is operated on a year-round basis the child shall regularly attend during school sessions that total not less than one hundred seventy-five school days or two hundred school days, as applicable, or the equivalent as approved by the superintendent of public instruction.
2. If the child will attend a private school or home school, file an affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent stating that the child is attending a regularly organized private school or is being provided with instruction in a home school. The affidavit of intent shall include:
(a) The child’s name.
(b) The child’s date of birth.
(c) The current address of the school the child is attending.
(d) The names, telephone numbers and addresses of the persons who currently have custody of the child.
3. If the child will attend home school, the child has not reached eight years of age by September 1 of the school year and the person who has custody of the child does not desire to begin home instruction until the child has reached eight years of age, file an affidavit of intent pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subsection stating that the person who has custody of the child does not desire to begin home school instruction.
C. An affidavit of intent shall be filed within thirty days from the time the child begins to attend a private school or home school and is not required thereafter unless the private school or the home school instruction is terminated and then resumed. The person who has custody of the child shall notify the county school superintendent within thirty days of the termination that the child is no longer being instructed at a private school or a home school. If the private school or home school instruction is resumed, the person who has custody of the child shall file another affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent within thirty days.
D. A person is excused from the duties prescribed by subsection A or B of this section if any of the following are shown to the satisfaction of the school principal or the school principal’s designee:
1. The child is in such physical or mental condition that instruction is inexpedient or impracticable.
2. The child has completed the high school course of study necessary for completion of grade ten as prescribed by the state board of education.
3. The child has presented reasons for nonattendance at a public school which are satisfactory to the school principal or the school principal’s designee. For purposes of this paragraph, the principal’s designee may be the school district governing board.
4. The child is over fourteen years of age and is, with the consent of the person who has custody of him, employed at some lawful wage earning occupation.
5. The child is enrolled in a work training, career education, career and technical education, vocational education or manual training program which meets the educational standards established and approved by the department of education.
6. The child was either:
(a) Suspended and not directed to participate in an alternative education program.
(b) Expelled from a public school as provided in article 3 of this chapter.
7. The child is enrolled in an education program provided by a state educational or other institution.
E. Unless otherwise exempted in this section or section 15-803, a parent of a child between six and sixteen years of age or a person who has custody of a child, who does not provide instruction in a home school and who fails to enroll or fails to ensure that the child attends a public, private or charter school pursuant to this section is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor. A parent who fails to comply with the duty to file an affidavit of intent to provide instruction in a home school is guilty of a petty offense.
F. For the purposes of this section:
1. “Home school” means 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.
2. “Private school” means a nonpublic institution, other than the child’s home, where academic instruction is provided for at least the same number of days and hours each year as a public school.

Source: Arizona Homeschooling Laws – general definitions and instructions for homeschooling children in the state of Arizona.

Here are links to other pertinent laws of interest to homeschool parents:
Title 15 – All Arizona education laws.
Testing Requirements – there are no testing requirements for homeschooled students, however if they go back to public school after homeschooling, they will be tested for grade placement purposes.
Interscholastic Activities – homeschooled children are generally welcome to participate – but there’s an exception. Children who were attending public school but left to be homeschooled are not eligible to participate for the remainder of the school year.
High School Equivalency Diploma – homeschooled students over age 16 can receive a high school equivalency diploma by passing a general educational development test.

Arizona Homeschool Organizations

I very much recommend that all homeschoolers join at least one state homeschool rights group. They can be an enormous help in case you with any situations that are difficult to endure. I once had a situation come up where I needed assistance, and my homeschool support group was there for me, and helped tremendously.

The two main homeschool organizations for Arizona are Home Education Network of Arizona (HENA) and Arizona Families For Home Education (AFHE). In a case like this, where there are two organizations for one state, I’d seriously consider joining both!

Both organizations provide a sample affidavit – one you can simply print out and fill in to get started on your Arizona homeschooling journey: (1) Affidavit of Intent to Home School or (2) Homeschool Affidavit of Intent. You see how helpful state homeschool organizations can be?

If you’re in Arizona and considering homeschooling, consider yourself fortunate. The laws there are absolutely as favorable as can be for homeschool families.