How to Homeschool in Idaho (2026 Guide)
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At a Glance
The short version
Idaho is one of the most parent-friendly states in the country for homeschooling. There is no registration with the state, no notice of intent to file, no mandated testing, and no records to submit to any government agency. The Idaho Department of Education states plainly that it does not regulate or monitor home school education. Your one substantive legal obligation is to teach your child subjects commonly taught in Idaho public schools for the same number of days that public schools are in session. Beyond that, curriculum choices, schedules, and methods are yours to make. Idaho also passed the Parental Choice Tax Credit in 2025, which can offset some homeschool-related expenses — with important limitations described below.
Legal basis
Idaho’s homeschool framework is built on a straightforward compulsory attendance statute. Idaho Code § 33-202 requires that any parent or guardian of a child who has reached age seven but not yet age sixteen must cause that child to be instructed in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools of Idaho. The law offers three lawful paths to satisfy this requirement: private instruction at the direction of the parent or guardian, enrollment in a public or charter school, or enrollment in a private or parochial school.
Home instruction at a parent’s direction — what most families call homeschooling — satisfies the private instruction option. This reading is confirmed in Idaho Admin. Code r. 08.02.03.118, which states that any student not attending a public or private school may, as an alternative, receive educational instruction in a home school setting at the direction of the student’s parent or guardian, and that such a student is required to receive instruction in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools of Idaho.
The Idaho Department of Education reinforces this with its own published guidance: “Since Idaho does not regulate or monitor homeschool education, it is up to the parent/guardian to select the curriculum they wish to use. There is no registration or sign up procedure required and the state of Idaho does not have a set curriculum to be followed for homeschool education.”
Primary DOE resource: Idaho Department of Education — Homeschool
Notice of intent
Idaho does not require any notice to begin homeschooling. You do not file anything with the Idaho Department of Education, your local school district, or any other agency before you start. There is no annual renewal, no letter of intent, and no registration form.
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, you will need to formally withdraw them by contacting the school. This is a practical step to remove your child from the school’s enrollment records — it is not a legal filing with the state, and it does not require the school’s permission. The decision to homeschool belongs to you as the parent.
Required subjects
Idaho Code § 33-202 requires instruction in “subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools of the state of Idaho.” The statute does not enumerate a specific list, set minimum course hours, or mandate a particular number of instruction days beyond requiring a period equal to that in which public schools are in session.
In practice, most families interpret this as covering core academic areas such as language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science — the subjects central to any K–12 public school program. The state provides no official list of required subjects for home instructors, and no agency reviews your curriculum for compliance.
What this means for your planning:
- You choose your own curriculum, materials, and instructional methods
- You set your own daily and weekly schedule, as long as your overall school year is comparable in length to the local public school year
- There are no required courses, no graduation requirements set by the state for homeschoolers, and no approved curriculum list
Testing
Idaho does not require homeschooled students to take standardized tests or submit any assessment results to any state or local agency. Testing is entirely at the family’s discretion.
Some families choose to use nationally normed assessments for their own planning and to monitor progress. If your child plans to participate in public school activities that have academic eligibility requirements (see the section on public school participation below), a portfolio or standardized test result may be needed for that specific purpose — but that is distinct from any state mandate.
Records
Idaho law imposes no record-keeping requirements on homeschooling families. You are not required to maintain attendance logs, keep a portfolio of student work, document your curriculum, or submit any materials to the state or school district.
Keeping your own records is nonetheless a practical habit worth building. Good records can support:
- College applications and admissions: Transcripts, course descriptions, and work samples help colleges evaluate homeschool applicants
- Dual enrollment: Community colleges and some universities ask for documentation of prior coursework
- Public school re-enrollment: If your child later returns to public school, districts typically conduct their own placement evaluation, but records of prior work can inform that process
- Military enlistment: The military uses a tiered system for homeschool graduates; documentation strengthens an applicant’s standing
None of this is mandated by the state. It is simply what families who have navigated these transitions find useful.
Participation in public school programs
Idaho Code § 33-203 gives home-instructed students the right to participate in public school programs — including extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletics — without enrolling in academic classes. A participating student must live within the school’s attendance boundaries and meet the same behavior, performance, and responsibility standards as enrolled students.
For activities that carry academic eligibility requirements, a homeschool student must demonstrate grade-level proficiency through either a portfolio of work or a nationally normed standardized test showing average or above-average performance. A qualifying portfolio or test result covers the current school year and the following school year. Contact your local district for details on how to initiate participation.
The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit
Idaho enacted the Parental Choice Tax Credit through House Bill 93 (signed February 27, 2025, retroactive to January 1, 2025), codified at Idaho Code § 63-3029N. The program is administered by the Idaho State Tax Commission and provides nearly $50 million in state funds annually.
The credit is available to full-time Idaho residents for qualifying expenses related to nonpublic K–12 education. Here is what homeschool families need to know:
| Detail | Amount or Requirement |
|---|---|
| Credit amount per student | Up to $5,000 |
| Credit amount (student with qualifying disability) | Up to $7,500 |
| Application period (annual) | January 15 – March 15 |
| Award notification | By April 15 |
| Advance payment eligibility | Income at or below 300% of federal poverty level |
| Administering agency | Idaho State Tax Commission |
| Program website | myschoolchoice.idaho.gov |
What homeschool families can use it for:
The credit can cover qualifying expenses paid to a nonpublic school or for nonpublic academic instruction, including:
- Curriculum or textbooks covering at minimum the four core subjects (English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies)
- Tutoring for the four core subjects
- Nationally standardized assessments and preparatory courses
- Transportation to and from a qualifying nonpublic instruction setting
A critical limitation for home-instructing parents: Per Idaho Code § 63-3029N and the Idaho State Tax Commission’s published guidance, fees or compensation for instruction that a parent personally provides do not qualify as a reimbursable expense. The credit covers curriculum materials and third-party costs — not the parent’s own time as teacher.
How to apply: You must file a 2024 Idaho Form 40 individual income tax return, register for a Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) account, and submit an application through TAP during the January 15 – March 15 window. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis; priority goes to families whose modified adjusted gross income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level. Approval is not guaranteed.
Advance payment: Families at or below the 300% income threshold may apply for a one-time advance payment — funds paid upfront before you incur expenses. This is a one-time benefit per student across their entire K–12 career. Recipients must later reconcile actual receipts with the amount received.
Note on the Empowering Parents program: A prior Idaho microgrant program called Empowering Parents was eliminated by the 2025 Legislature through Senate Bill 1142 and is no longer accepting applications. Families who received grants in 2023–2025 have three years from the grant date to spend remaining funds through the ClassWallet platform.
Withdrawing from public school
To begin homeschooling, contact your child’s current school and notify them in writing that you are withdrawing your child to homeschool. Schools are required to process the withdrawal. You do not need the school’s approval or permission to make this decision.
Once withdrawn, your child has no ongoing relationship with the public school system unless you choose to access specific programs (such as extracurriculars or part-time enrollment) under Idaho Code § 33-203. No annual notice, renewal, or check-in is required.
Returning to public school: If your child later enrolls or re-enrolls in a public school, the district will typically conduct its own placement evaluation. Home school graduates who apply to Idaho public colleges and universities are subject to the same general admissions standards as public school graduates.
Support and community
Idaho’s statewide homeschool organization is Homeschool Idaho (formerly two separate organizations — the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators and Christian Homeschoolers of Idaho State — which merged in 2018). Homeschool Idaho is a volunteer-led 501(c)3 that advocates for parent-led, parent-funded homeschooling.
- Homeschool Idaho — homeschoolidaho.org — statewide advocacy, legal information, and community connections
- East Idaho Home Educators (EIHE) — eihe.org — regional organization hosting annual conferences for eastern Idaho families
Local co-ops, support groups, and regional networks are active throughout the state. The Idaho Department of Education’s homeschool FAQ page at sde.idaho.gov also offers a starting point for common questions about the state’s approach.