Alabama State Laws

Homeschoolers in the state of Alabama fall under Option 2, Instruction as a Private School. If you are homeschooling in the state of Alabama under Option 2, you will need to follow the steps below:

1. Register with your local district as your own private school by October 10th and be prepared to keep documentation of the number of pupils enrolled, number of instructors, attendance records, courses of study, the length of term, cost of tuition, etc.
2. By the end of the fifth day of the public school calendar, you need to submit forms prescribed by the State Superintendent of Education to the county superintendent of education. Contact your local school district or superintendent’s office to obtain copies of these forms.
3. Take attendance. All unexcused absences must be reported, so make sure you have your documentation ready to submit.
4. Make copies of immunization records. These are required pieces of documentation except in the case of stated religious or medical exemptions.
5. Keep records of Physical Education for each student enrolled in a private school. Be sure to maintain documentation of these hours throughout the year. Bridgeway Academy’s Physical Education/Activity log is a great resource to help you keep track of this Alabama homeschooling requirement.

Here you’ll find websites for any questions you may have about education in the state of Alabama.

• Alabama State Department of Education: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/
• U.S. Department of Education Selected State Resources: https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/al.html
• Alabama Education Association: https://myaea.org/
• Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX): https://alex.state.al.us/
• List of Alabama school districts: https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_school_districts_in_Alabama

Whether you already homeschool or are looking to do so, these homeschool programs and resources in Alabama are quite useful if you’re searching for support, co-ops, or answers to questions about homeschooling in your state.

• Homeschool Alabama: https://www.homeschoolalabama.org/
• Birmingham Homeschoolers Community: https://birminghamhomeschoolers.com/
• Elmore County Homeschool Organization (ECHO): https://www.onlineecho.com/
• Homeschooled Kids & Co.: https://www.homeschool-life.com/al/homeschooledkidsandco/
• Alabama SHINE Homeschool Group: https://www.facebook.com/alshinehomeschool/
• Baldwin County Homeschoolers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Baldwincountyhomeschoolers/
• Cullman Homeschool Co-op: https://www.facebook.com/groups/152028008538783/
• Wiregrass Homeschoolers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WiregrassHomeschoolers/
• South Alabama Homeschooling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthAlabamaHomeschooling/
• East Alabama Homeschooling Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/auburnhomeschoolcommunitydays/
• Freedom Homeschoolers Phenix City: https://www.facebook.com/groups/303219382791/
• Elmore County Christian Homeschool Organization (ECCHO): https://www.facebook.com/groups/elmorecochristianhomeschoolorg/
• SHE-BA Secular Homeschool Encouragement – Birmingham: https://www.facebook.com/groups/252282084806518/

One of the many benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility to explore! Here are some ideas for amazing–and educational–field trips around the great state of Alabama!

• Alabama Agricultural Museum: Dothan, AL
• Alabama Department of Archives and History: Montgomery, AL
• Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo: Gulf Shores, AL
• Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame: Marion, AL
• Battleship Memorial Park: Mobile, AL
• Berman Museum of World History: Anniston, AL
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens: Birmingham, AL
• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute: Birmingham, AL
• Birmingham Museum of Art: Birmingham, AL
• Birmingham Zoo: Birmingham, AL
• Children’s Hands-On Museum: Tuscaloosa, AL
• Cook’s Natural Science Museum: Decatur, AL
• Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium/Aquarium: Dauphin Island, AL
• DeSoto Caverns Park: Childersburg, AL
• EarlyWorks Children’s History Museum: Huntsville, AL
• Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center: Mobile, AL
• Harmony Park Safari: Huntsville, AL
• Helen Keller Birthplace: Tuscumbia, AL
• Historic Huntsville Depot and Museum: Huntsville, AL
• Imagination Place: Gadsden, AL
• McWane Science Center: Birmingham, AL
• Mobile Botanical Gardens: Mobile, AL
• Monroe County Heritage Museum: Monroeville, AL
• Montgomery Zoo-Mann Museum: Montgomery, AL
• Museum of Mobile: Mobile, AL
• Rickwood Caverns: Warrior, AL
• Russell Cave National Monument: Bridgeport, AL
• Sci-Quest: Huntsville, AL
• Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum: Montgomery, AL
• The Selma Children’s Museum: Selma, AL
• Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site: Tuskegee, AL
• U.S. Space & Rocket Center: Huntsville, AL