It's really important to consult trusted sources when researching North Carolina law. Unfortunately, there's quite a bit of misinformation circulating online. 

This is my personal interpretation of the statute and does not constitute legal advice. It's informed by my over 25 years of experience serving homeschool families and my 11 years as a public school teacher prior to that.

North Carolina law defines a "home school" as a nonpublic school educating children from a maximum of two families or households. The parents or legal guardians within these households determine the curriculum, provide the teaching, and select any supplementary educational materials.

You have two options for classifying your homeschool in North Carolina: as a qualified nonpublic school or as a private religious school. However, the operational requirements for a homeschool are identical for both classifications and are detailed below. By having the same requirements, the law avoids the appearance of favoring one type of homeschool over another. This can help ensure that all homeschooling families are treated equally under the law, regardless of their chosen classification.

To operate a homeschool in North Carolina, you must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). This is a notification that you are establishing a homeschool and will comply with state laws. You are not requesting permission but informing the state of your intent.

Here are the key points regarding the NOI:

✔️  Timing based on age: If any of your children you plan to homeschool will turn 7 before June 1st of the current year, you may submit your NOI APPROXIMATELY 5 days before that child's 7th birthday. Fir students older that 7, just submit whwn you decide to homeschool. The reason for this is that in NC compulsory (simply meaning required) attendance is age 7 to 16

COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW (NCGS § 115C-378) ==> In North Carolina, the law requires children between the ages of 7 and 16 to receive regular education. Homeschooling is a recognized and respected way to meet this legal requirement. By following these guidelines, you can confidently and legally homeschool your children in North Carolina, fulfilling the state's compulsory attendance requirements. While North Carolina's compulsory attendance law ends at 16, it is strongly recommended that homeschool parents continue to provide education and issue a high school diploma upon completion of a high school curriculum, regardless of whether the student is older than 16 at that point. This provides the student with better opportunities and formal recognition of their secondary education.

 ✔️ One NOI per school: You only need to submit one NOI for your entire homeschool, regardless of how many children you are homeschooling.

NO NOI's ACCEPTED  MAY OR JUNE 

 ✔️ No May/June submissions: The DNPE does not accept NOIs during the months of May and June.

REMEMBER NO SCHOOLS CAN BE OPEN MAY AND JUNE. 

 ✔️ Summer-only schools: If your homeschool will only operate during the summer, you do not need to submit an NOI.

 ✔️  Instructor qualifications: Individuals providing academic instruction must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.

 ✔️ One-time submission: You only need to submit the NOI once when you initially open your homeschool.

YOU DO NOT DO THIS EVERY YEAR AS YOUR SCHOOL IS OPEN UNTIL YOU CLOSE IT.

 ✔️ Required information: Your NOI must include the name and address of your homeschool, as well as the name of the homeschool's owner and chief administrator. 

You NEVER have to provide the names of the students in your school. There is a place for you to update your enrollment numbers in the portal.

 ✔️  Submission method: You can submit your NOI through the DNPE's website where there is a portal to create your login.

 DNPE’s WEBSITE

✔️  Operational requirement: Your homeschool must operate on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months each year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.

Details & Notes

1. ATTENDANCE

You can download a homeschool attendance form from the DNPE’s website, although the use of this form is not mandatory.

2.  IMMUNIZATION

I am not a judge, nor does this constitute legal advive but rather my personal interpretation of the statute ==> Immunization records can be obtained from your child’s health care provider. If you have a religious reason for not wanting your children immunized, write a letter explaining your objection, sign it and put it in your homeschool records. If there is a medical reason for not immunizing one or more of your children, you may need to get a waiver from from a licensed physician for each child that is waived.    Information about medical and religious exemptions from immunizations is available on the website of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

3. TESTING = THIS IS WHERE I CAN HELP

North Carolina law requires annual standardized testing in English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics for your homeschooled child. Nationally normed tests like the Woodcock Johnson meet this requirement. Keep test scores available for one year for potential inspection by the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE), though they have no right to enter your home or inspect other records. 

North Carolina law requires keeping these scores for a year. Looking ahead, however, having a cumulative record kept indefinitely can be a really useful tool. It can help track progress for future academic planning and even provide context if your child pursues advanced studies or needs to demonstrate their academic history later on.

The test you are required to administer in NC are normed referenced. They are not EOG's, EOC's or NC Competency Test, as these are criterion referenced and do not meet the legal definition in NC for homeschoolers.  The Woodcock Johnson meets these qualifications but there are other good tests as well.

Closing your School 

When you stop homeschooling in North Carolina or if you move out of the state you must notify the DNPE that your home school has closed. You can close your home school after logging in to the DNPE’s website in the portal here.

UPDATE YOUR HOMESCHOOL ACCOUNT 

Each year you may update your information or add siblings to your school in the portal. See image below for all the things you can do in the portal.

This data is crucial for demonstrating homeschool accountability and the viability of home education to North Carolina legislators.

 It is also used to determine the budget for things like Driver's Education for homeschoolers. 

LOG INTO YOUR HOMESCHOOL ACCOUNT  HERE TO UPDATE ALL THE INFORMATION IN THE IMAGE BELOW

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