How to Start Homeschooling in Arizona: The Complete Guide (2026)

Quick answer: To homeschool in Arizona, withdraw your child from school in writing (if they're enrolled). Then file a notarized Affidavit of Intent with your County School Superintendent within 30 days of starting, along with a certified birth certificate. Teach reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science. Arizona requires no testing, set hours, curriculum approval, or teaching certificate.

Arizona is one of the easiest states to homeschool in. You file one form one time, and the state never asks for test scores or portfolios. This guide answers the questions new families ask, in the order they usually come up.

Is Homeschooling Legal in Arizona?

Yes. Homeschooling is explicitly legal under A.R.S. §15-802. Arizona's compulsory attendance age is 6 to 16, so if your child is in that range, you either enroll them in a school or file a homeschool affidavit.

Step-by-Step: How to Start Homeschooling in Arizona

1. Choose your pathway: traditional homeschool (affidavit) or the ESA program. You can't do both for the same child at the same time.
2. Withdraw in writing if your child is enrolled in a public or charter school.
3. Get a certified birth certificate (or other approved proof of birth).
4. File a notarized Affidavit of Intent with your County School Superintendent within 30 days of starting.
5. Teach the five required subjects: reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science.
6. Keep simple records. The state doesn't ask for them, but you'll want them later.

Each step is explained below.

Step 1: Affidavit Homeschool or ESA?

This choice matters more than any curriculum decision.

Traditional homeschool (affidavit). You file the Affidavit of Intent and pay for your child's education yourself. The state requires the affidavit and the five subjects. That's all: no testing, reporting, or oversight.

ESA contract student. You sign a contract with the Arizona Department of Education's Empowerment Scholarship Account program. The state funds a ClassWallet account you can use for curriculum, tutors, tuition, and other approved expenses. In return, you spend only on allowable items, keep receipts, and file quarterly expense reports.

You can't be both. ESA students are a separate legal category, and the ESA contract requires you to end your homeschool affidavit. See Homeschool vs. ESA in Arizona for the full comparison.

Rule of thumb: If you want maximum freedom and don't need funding, file the affidavit. If you want help paying for curriculum, tutors, or a microschool, ESA is usually worth the paperwork.

Step 2: Withdraw From School (If Enrolled)

Notify the school in writing that you are withdrawing your child for home instruction. Email works; keep a copy. You don't need the school's approval.

If your child has never been enrolled, such as a child just starting kindergarten, you have nothing to withdraw from.

Sample withdrawal letter (copy and edit):

Dear [Principal's name],

Please accept this letter as notice that I am withdrawing my child, [Child's full name], grade [X], from [School name], effective [date]. We will be providing home instruction under A.R.S. §15-802 and will file an Affidavit of Intent with the [County] County School Superintendent.

Please send a copy of my child's records to me at the address below.

Sincerely, [Your name] [Address, phone, email]

Step 3: File the Affidavit of Intent

File a notarized Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool with your County School Superintendent within 30 days of starting home instruction. Each county has its own form and process, and many accept online filing.

Two details catch people off guard:

• You need a certified birth certificate. A photocopy or hospital keepsake certificate won't be accepted. If you don't have a certified copy, order one early.
• You only file once. The affidavit stays active until you end it, your child turns 16, or you move to another county. You don't renew it each year.

Our Affidavit Filing Guide covers forms and timing by county.

Step 4: What Does Arizona Actually Require?

The whole list:

• Teach five subjects: reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science.
• No testing: no standardized tests, evaluations, or portfolio reviews.
• No set hours or days: no minimum instruction time and no required calendar.
• No curriculum approval: you choose everything, including faith-based materials.
• No teacher qualifications: no certificate, degree, or background check for parents.

For more detail, read the Arizona Homeschool Laws guide.

How Families Cover the Five Subjects

• Reading: daily read-alouds and phonics for young children; literature and independent reading as they get older.
• Grammar: a short daily lesson, plus copywork, dictation, or writing assignments.
• Math: one consistent program. This is the subject where switching often hurts most.
• Social studies: history read-alouds, geography, timelines, and Arizona history.
• Science: nature study and simple experiments early; a structured course with labs by middle school.

How Many Hours a Day Does Homeschooling Take?

Arizona sets no minimum, and one-on-one teaching goes much faster than a classroom. Common ranges:

• Ages 5 to 7: about 1 to 2 hours of focused work, plus reading aloud and play.
• Ages 8 to 11: about 2 to 3 hours.
• Ages 12 to 14: about 3 to 4 hours, with more independent work.
• High school: about 4 to 6 hours, often including online or dual-enrollment classes.

These are typical patterns, not legal requirements. Your family can adjust them.

Can I Work Full-Time and Homeschool?

Many Arizona families do. Common approaches include open-and-go curriculum, teaching in the evenings or on weekends (Arizona has no required schedule), a part-time tutor, or a hybrid program where kids spend two or three days on a campus. ESA funding can help pay for those options.

Step 5: Choosing a Curriculum

New homeschoolers often spend too much on curriculum at the start. A simpler approach:

• Start small. For younger children, a solid math program, phonics, and lots of reading aloud is enough at first.
• Match it to your time. Busy parents often prefer open-and-go programs. Parents who enjoy teaching often like literature-based or classical programs.
• Try before you buy. Use samples, borrow from friends, and wait a few weeks before buying a full year.

Compare options in Best Christian Homeschool Curriculum and the curriculum comparison chart.

Step 6: Should You Apply for ESA?

If you want state funding, you can apply for an Empowerment Scholarship Account. Funds are deposited quarterly into ClassWallet. Award amounts vary by grade, and students with disabilities receive more. See ESA funding amounts for the current figures.

Before you apply, know two things:

1. Signing the ESA contract ends your affidavit.
2. ESA comes with rules: allowable expenses, receipts, and quarterly reports.

Next steps: ESA Application Guide and ESA Parent Handbook guide.

Homeschool High School, Transcripts, and Diplomas

Arizona sets no graduation requirements for homeschoolers. Parents decide when their student has finished high school and can issue a diploma. To prepare for college or work:

• Start a transcript in 9th grade. List each course, grade, and credit as you go.
• Check admission requirements early. Each college lists its required courses on its admissions site; plan your high school courses around them.
• Consider dual enrollment. Community college courses can count toward both high school and college credit. See our dual enrollment guide.

For more, read the homeschool transcript guide.

Common Mistakes New Arizona Homeschoolers Make

• Not withdrawing in writing. Without written notice, your child may be counted as absent.
• Missing the 30-day affidavit window, or filing without a certified birth certificate.
• Assuming you can use ESA and the affidavit together. You choose one.
• Buying a full boxed curriculum in week one.
• Trying to recreate a school day with 7 hours at a desk. That usually isn't needed.
• Skipping records in high school. Transcripts are much harder to rebuild later.

How Much Does Homeschooling Cost in Arizona?

Using library books and free resources can cost a few hundred dollars a year. Purchased curriculum and activities cost more. ESA can cover many of these costs. See the cost of homeschooling in Arizona and Do You Get Paid to Homeschool in Arizona?.

Finding Support

You don't have to do this alone. Co-ops, hybrid programs, and support groups are available across the state. Start with Christian homeschool groups in Arizona.

Your First Two Weeks

Week 1: Choose affidavit or ESA. Withdraw in writing if needed. Get the certified birth certificate and file the affidavit. Don't buy curriculum yet.

Week 2: Start reading aloud every day. Try one math program and one reading program. If your child is leaving a hard school situation, a few relaxed weeks are fine.

After that, build your plan one subject at a time.