Children must attend school or comply with the homeschool laws starting in the school year in which they turn 6 before September 1. They must remain in school until they turn 16 or complete the 10th grade. However, any child who has not reached 8 years of age by September 1 of the school year can be exempted from the compulsory attendance law if his or her parent files an affidavit with the county superintendent of schools stating that the child will not begin home instruction before turning 8.

HSLDA believes that a parent-issued diploma and transcript should be sufficient to demonstrate that a child has completed a secondary education. However, even if your child is beyond compulsory school attendance age, there may be situations where you would want to continue to follow the requirements of a home education option recognized under Arizona law until your child graduates from high school (filing a home education notice, keeping attendance and other records, etc.).

These records may be requested in some situations, such as obtaining a driver's license if your child is a minor, enlisting in the military, applying to colleges, or demonstrating eligibility for Social Security benefits. If you are a member of HSLDA and would like additional details, please contact us.