In Rhode Island, you must enroll your child in school if he or she is 6 years old on or before September 1. Your child must remain in school until he or she turns 18. If a child has been enrolled in school for kindergarten the child must continue going to school that academic year, even if he or she is not yet 6.
If your child graduates from your homeschool program prior to turning 18, and has been accepted into an accredited postsecondary education program, you can obtain a waiver for subsequent school years from the superintendent of your local public school district.
If your child is not yet 18 and has not been accepted into an accredited postsecondary education program, but is over the age of 16, you can obtain a waiver from the superintendent of your local public school district if the superintendent approves an “alternative learning plan for obtaining either a high school diploma or its equivalent.”
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 Rhode Island 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.
Please note: The information on this page has been reviewed by an attorney, but it should not be taken as legal advice specific to your individual situation.