A child must attend school beginning in the fall of the school year in which he or she turns 7. However, if the child is officially enrolled in a public school earlier than 7, he or she must continue to attend or be educated at home. If your child is not enrolled in public school prior to age 7 and if you intend to teach your children at home, you can wait to begin instruction until he or she turns 7.
Children must remain in school until they turn 18 or graduate. A child who turns 16 can withdraw from school if the child and his or her parents have an exit interview with the local public school principal.
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 Indiana 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.