Homeschooling in North Carolina

Legal Framework

North Carolina's homeschool law is found in General Statutes 115C-548 through 115C-565, under the Article titled "Non-Public Education." The state has a single primary pathway for homeschooling with moderate regulation. You file a Notice of Intent with the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE), maintain a high school diploma or GED, teach on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months per year, administer an annual standardized test, and keep records available for inspection.

A recent amendment to G.S. 115C-563(a) expanded the definition of a home school, allowing parents to hire tutors, have children participate in co-ops and group instruction settings, and receive instruction from outside experts like apprenticeship mentors or subject specialists. This gives North Carolina homeschool families significantly more flexibility in how they deliver instruction.

Step-by-Step Process

1. File a Notice of Intent. Before you begin homeschooling, submit a Notice of Intent to operate a home school to the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). You can file online at the DNPE website. Include the name and address of the school, the name of the school's chief administrator, and a statement confirming you hold at least a high school diploma or GED.
2. Meet instructor qualifications. Under G.S. 115C-564, the chief administrator of the home school must hold at least a high school diploma or GED.
3. Provide regular instruction. Teach on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, for at least nine calendar months of the year (G.S. 115C-548).
4. Administer annual standardized testing. Each year, administer (or have administered) a nationally normed standardized achievement test measuring reading, spelling, grammar, and mathematics for each enrolled student (G.S. 115C-549, 557, 564).
5. Maintain records. Keep immunization records, attendance records, standardized test results, and any other records required by law. These must be available for inspection by a DNPE official when requested (G.S. 115C-553, 549).
6. Close properly if you stop homeschooling. If you stop homeschooling (all children graduate or enroll in another school), you must close your home school by notifying the DNPE within 30 days.

Required Subjects

Here is one of the nice things about homeschooling in North Carolina: there are no state-mandated subjects. The law does not specify what you must teach. Your standardized test must cover reading, spelling, grammar, and mathematics, which means you will naturally include those subjects, but beyond that, you have complete curricular freedom. You choose the textbooks, the schedule, and the approach.

Record-Keeping

Keep your Notice of Intent on file, attendance records, immunization records (or valid exemptions), and the results of each year's standardized test. The DNPE has the right to request these records for inspection, but they do not routinely audit homeschools. Store these records at your home school address and keep them for the duration of your child's homeschool enrollment.

State Funding and Financial Resources

North Carolina has one of the more robust school choice landscapes in the Southeast, with several programs that may benefit homeschool families.

ESA+ Program (Education Student Accounts)

North Carolina's ESA+ program provides scholarship funds for children with disabilities. This is one of the few direct state funding sources available to NC homeschool families.

• Base award: $9,000 per year
• Enhanced award: Up to $17,000 per year for students with certain designated disabilities
• Funds can be used for homeschool-related expenses including tutoring, educational technology, speech therapy, and other allowable services
• Administered by the NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA)
• The 2025-26 priority application period runs from February 6 to March 6, 2025

Contact NCSEAA at 855-330-3955 for application assistance.

Opportunity Scholarship

North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship is one of the largest school choice programs in the country, but it is available only for private school tuition -- it cannot be used for homeschooling expenses.

Federal 529 Plan Expansion (2026)

Starting in 2026, families can withdraw up to $20,000 per student per year tax-free from 529 accounts for K-12 expenses, including homeschool curriculum, test fees, tutoring, and educational therapies. Verify North Carolina's conformity with expanded federal definitions before claiming state tax benefits.

Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit

The federal Education Freedom Tax Credit allows taxpayers to receive a credit of up to $1,700 for contributions to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations beginning January 1, 2027. North Carolina is among the states that have opted into this program.