How to Homeschool in Arizona (2026 Guide)

The short version

Arizona is a light-touch homeschool state. You file a one-time notarized affidavit of intent with your county school superintendent, teach five core subjects, and you’re operating within the law. There are no state-mandated testing requirements, no portfolio submissions, and no annual renewal. Once the affidavit is on file, the state largely leaves you alone.

Arizona also offers one of the broadest school choice programs in the country: the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA). As of the 2024–25 school year, more than 87,000 students were enrolled statewide. ESA students receive an average of roughly $9,900 per year in state funds — delivered through a spending account — to use on curriculum, tutoring, private school tuition, online programs, and more. Importantly, ESA students are not classified as homeschoolers under state law and do not file the affidavit of intent. The two pathways are separate; this guide covers both.

Legal basis

Arizona’s homeschool law is found primarily in A.R.S. § 15-802, which governs compulsory school attendance and defines “homeschool” as “a nonpublic school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person who has custody of the child or nonpublic instruction provided in the child’s home.” The statute sets the age range, required subjects, and the affidavit process.

The prohibition on mandatory testing for homeschoolers is codified separately in A.R.S. § 15-745, which states plainly that nothing in Arizona’s testing article “shall be construed to require the testing of children who are instructed in a homeschool program while they are receiving homeschool instruction.”

The Empowerment Scholarship Account program is governed by A.R.S. § 15-2402 and related sections. The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) administers the ESA program. ADE does not maintain a dedicated homeschool guidance page separate from the ESA portal; county school superintendent offices are the point of contact for the affidavit process.

Primary state resource: Arizona Department of Education — Empowerment Scholarship Accounts

Governing statute: A.R.S. § 15-802

Notice of intent

Arizona requires a notarized affidavit of intent filed with the county school superintendent in the county where you reside.

What to include (per A.R.S. § 15-802(B)(2) and § 15-828):

• Child’s full legal name (must match the birth certificate exactly)
• Child’s date of birth
• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of the person or persons with legal custody of the child
• Proof of the child’s identity — typically a certified copy of the birth certificate; alternatively, a baptismal certificate, a Social Security number application, or original school registration records accompanied by a signed affidavit explaining why the birth certificate is unavailable

Timing: The affidavit must be filed within 30 days of beginning home instruction. Under A.R.S. § 15-802(C), the affidavit is not required again unless you stop homeschooling and later resume.

If you stop: You must notify the county school superintendent within 30 days of terminating home instruction. If you resume at any point, a new affidavit of intent must be filed within 30 days of resuming.

Where to file: Each county has its own superintendent’s office. Maricopa County families can file online through the Homeschool Connect app. Families in other counties should contact their county school superintendent directly. A search for “[your county] county school superintendent homeschool” will find the right office.

Age note: Children must be between 6 and 16 years old for the compulsory attendance requirement to apply (A.R.S. § 15-802(A)). If your child has not yet turned 8 by September 1 of the school year, you may file the affidavit while noting that you do not intend to begin instruction until the child reaches age 8 (A.R.S. § 15-802(B)(3)).

Required subjects

Under A.R.S. § 15-802(A), home instruction must cover at least the following subjects:

• Reading
• Grammar
• Mathematics
• Social studies
• Science

Arizona does not mandate a specific curriculum, a minimum number of school days, or set daily hour requirements. You choose your own materials and schedule. The state’s Arizona College and Career Ready Standards outline what public schools teach and are available as a voluntary reference point, but home schools are not required to follow them.

Testing

Arizona does not require homeschool students to take any standardized test while they are receiving home instruction. A.R.S. § 15-745 explicitly prohibits construing the state’s testing laws to require testing of children in a homeschool program.

The one testing context that does arise is re-enrollment: if your child later enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school, the district may test the student to determine appropriate grade placement (A.R.S. § 15-745(B)). This is a placement tool, not a pass-fail exam, and it happens at the time of enrollment into a traditional school — not while you are actively homeschooling.

Record keeping

Arizona law does not require homeschooling parents to maintain records for the government or submit documentation to any state agency. There is no portfolio requirement, no attendance log that must be filed, and no annual reporting.

Keeping informal records for your own purposes is still practical. If your child later enrolls in a public school, most districts conduct their own placement assessment, and having a portfolio of work samples, a curriculum list, or an attendance log can ease that transition. Records also support college applications, dual enrollment requests, and documenting educational history. The state simply does not mandate any of this.

Scholarship programs for homeschool families

Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)

Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program is one of the most expansive education choice programs in the United States. Since 2022, the program has been open to virtually any Arizona K–12 student — not just students with disabilities or those attending low-rated schools. As of spring 2025, over 87,000 students were enrolled.

How it works: The ESA is a spending account funded at approximately 90 percent of the per-pupil state funding the student would have generated in their resident public school. The funds are deposited quarterly and accessed through the ClassWallet platform. Families use the account to pay for approved educational expenses directly.

Funding amounts (FY 2024 data, per ADE quarterly report):

Measure	Amount
Average annual ESA award	approximately $9,900
Median annual ESA award	approximately $7,400
Range (varies by district, grade, disability status)	$4,626 – $44,666

The wide range reflects funding variables including the student’s resident school district, grade level, disability status, English language learner status, and whether the student qualifies for additional support weights under state formula.

Eligibility: Under A.R.S. § 15-2401, a “universal student” is any Arizona resident who is eligible to enroll in a public school. The 2025–26 handbook confirms: “A kindergarten through 12th-grade student who lives in Arizona and is eligible to attend a public school” qualifies under universal eligibility. Students qualifying for disability-specific ESA categories may receive substantially higher funding.

For K–12 universal applicants (grades 1–12), the student must have been enrolled full-time in an Arizona public school for at least 45 days in the current or immediately prior school year before applying. Entering kindergarteners and students in several other eligibility categories are exempt from this requirement. Students previously enrolled in the ESA program are also exempt.

What ESA funds can pay for (per A.R.S. § 15-2402(B)(4) and ADE handbook):

• Tuition and required textbooks at a qualified private or parochial school
• Curricula and supplementary materials
• Tutoring or teaching services from an accredited provider
• Tuition and fees for a nonpublic online learning program
• Fees for standardized tests, AP exams, and college admissions exams
• Tuition and fees at eligible postsecondary institutions
• Individual public school classes and extracurricular programs
• For students with a qualifying disability: educational therapies, licensed paraprofessionals, assistive technology, and related evaluations

Funds roll over from year to year and can accumulate for future education expenses, including postsecondary costs.

What ESA requires of parents: By signing the ESA contract with ADE, you agree to use a portion of funds to provide instruction in at least reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science. You also agree that your child will not be simultaneously enrolled in a public school or charter school.

How to apply: Applications are submitted through the ADE ESA portal at azed.gov/esa. ADE processes complete applications within 30 days. Funding begins in the quarter in which the ESA contract is signed. For questions, ADE’s ESA service center is available at 602-364-1969.

Withdrawing from public school

If your child is currently enrolled in a public, charter, or private school, you will need to withdraw them before beginning your home education program.

For public and charter school students: Contact the school in writing to notify them that you are withdrawing your child to homeschool. The school is not in a position to refuse a withdrawal request — compulsory attendance law provides for the homeschool pathway, and your decision to withdraw is yours to make. Request copies of your child’s records, including transcripts and any special education documents, at the time of withdrawal.

After withdrawing, file your notarized affidavit of intent with the county school superintendent within 30 days of beginning home instruction.

Returning to public school: If your child later re-enrolls in a public school, contact your county superintendent’s office to inactivate your homeschool affidavit within 30 days (A.R.S. § 15-802(C)). Grade placement upon re-enrollment is at the school district’s discretion and typically includes a placement assessment and parental input. Arizona law (A.R.S. § 15-701.01) requires state and government entities to recognize homeschool diplomas and transcripts in the same manner as diplomas from other lawful schooling options described in A.R.S. § 15-802.

Interscholastic activities

Arizona allows homeschool students to try out for interscholastic activities at the public school in whose attendance area they reside, under the same eligibility rules that apply to enrolled students (A.R.S. § 15-802.01). The student’s home instructor must submit written verification of academic standing and good behavior. A student who withdraws from a public school mid-year is ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities for the remainder of that school year.

Support and community

Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE) (afhe.org) is the primary statewide advocacy and support organization for Arizona homeschoolers, operating since 1983. AFHE hosts an annual statewide convention, monitors legislation that could affect homeschool families, maintains a searchable directory of local support groups across all counties, and provides resources for families at every stage. Their support group directory lists groups across Maricopa, Pima, Yavapai, Coconino, Cochise, and other counties, organized by county and by emphasis (inclusive secular groups, faith-based groups, and co-ops with varying structures). County school superintendent offices — including Maricopa (schoolsup.org) and Pima (schools.pima.gov) — also maintain homeschool information pages with local registration guidance.