Homeschooling in Arizona

Compulsory Attendance Ages

Arizona requires school attendance for children ages 6 through 16 under A.R.S. 15-802. If your child is under 6 or has turned 16, there is no legal obligation to provide formal instruction, though many families do anyway.

Filing an Affidavit of Intent

To legally homeschool in Arizona, you must file an Affidavit of Intent with the county school superintendent in the county where you live. This is your official notification to the state that you are homeschooling. Here is what you need to know:

• Deadline: File within 30 days of beginning homeschool instruction.
• Required Information: The affidavit must include the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the persons who currently have custody of the child.
• One-time filing: You file once when you begin homeschooling. You do not need to refile annually unless your address or county changes.
• Termination notice: If you stop homeschooling, you must notify the county superintendent within 30 days.
• Penalty: Failure to file the affidavit is classified as a petty offense under Arizona law.

Required Subjects

Arizona is one of the states that does mandate certain subjects. Under A.R.S. 15-802, you must provide instruction in:

• Reading
• Grammar
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science

However, the state does not prescribe specific curricula, textbooks, or teaching methods. You have complete freedom in how you teach these subjects and what additional subjects you include.

Teacher Qualifications

Arizona imposes no teacher qualifications on homeschooling parents. You do not need a teaching certificate, college degree, or any specific educational background to homeschool your children.

Attendance and Scheduling

Arizona law does not specify a minimum number of school days or hours for homeschooled students. You are free to set your own schedule, year-round or traditional, as long as you are providing instruction in the required subjects.

Withdrawing from Public School

If your child is currently in a public or private school, file the Affidavit of Intent with your county superintendent and then notify the school of your child's withdrawal. Keep copies of all paperwork. Note that students who were previously enrolled in school are ineligible for interscholastic activities for the remainder of the school year in which they were enrolled.

Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)

Arizona offers one of the most generous homeschool funding programs in the nation through the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA), established under A.R.S. 15-2401 et seq. Since 2022, the program has been open to all Arizona K-12 students -- universal eligibility, no income limits.

• Average Award: Approximately $7,000-$8,000 per student for the 2025-2026 school year, funded at 90% of the state's per-pupil base funding.
• Students with Disabilities: May qualify for higher funding amounts based on documented needs.
• Eligible Expenses: Private school tuition, curriculum, textbooks, educational supplies, tutoring, educational therapies, online courses, and more.
• Important Note: ESA students are not classified as homeschool students under Arizona law. If you accept ESA funds, you do not need to file a homeschool affidavit, but you are subject to ESA program rules instead.

529 Plan Withdrawals

Starting in 2026, federal law allows up to $20,000 per year in withdrawals from 529 education savings accounts for qualified K-12 expenses, including books, tutoring, SAT/ACT fees, and curriculum materials. Arizona's own 529 plan offers state tax deductions for contributions.

Federal Coverdell ESA

All families may contribute up to $2,000 per year per child to a federal Coverdell Education Savings Account. Funds grow tax-free and can be used for K-12 educational expenses.

Federal Scholarship Tax Credit

The federal tax credit program enacted in 2025 provides a dollar-for-dollar credit of up to $1,700 for donations to certified scholarship-granting organizations, which can then fund K-12 scholarships for students.