The Louisiana rules in plain English - notice, testing, records, and the dates families actually miss. Verified against the official sources below on 2026-10-18.
Before anything else: this is orientation, not legal advice. Requirements change and local offices have their own habits. The sources at the bottom are the authority - check them before you file.
Two paths. (1) Registered nonpublic school not seeking approval: register online annually with LDOE via the attendance submission form - no testing, but no TOPS eligibility. (2) BESE-approved home study: annual application with evidence of satisfactory progress.
Where it goes: Louisiana Dept of Education (online annual registration) or BESE home study application
Registered nonpublic path: no testing required. BESE home study path: annual renewal needs evidence of progress (test or evaluation).
Subjects: Sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to the public schools (BESE path); parent-set under the registered nonpublic path
Records: Registered path: annual online attendance submission is the compliance core.
[Your name]
[Address]
[Date]
Dear your local school authority,
I am writing to notify you of my intent to home educate for my child, [student name], grade [X], for the [20XX-XX] school year.
Included: the required information.
Respectfully,
[Your name] · [phone] · [email]
Want this handled? The Records Office drafts your Louisiana notice or filing every year, keeps the deadline calendar, and builds the transcript and course descriptions colleges expect. Founding families: $99/year.
VERIFIED 2026-10-18 AGAINST THE SOURCES ABOVE · HOMESCHOOL RECORDS OFFICE · YOU ARE THE SCHOOL OF RECORD · THIS GUIDE IS ORIENTATION, NOT LEGAL ADVICE