How To File a Letter of Intent to Homeschool

If you are ready to homeschool, and your child(ren) is currently enrolled in public education, you need to file a letter of intent to homeschool.

In This Article:

• What Is a Letter of Intent?
• Requirements To File a Letter of Intent
• Writing Your Letter of Intent
• Delivering Your Letter of Intent
• Now What?

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What Is a Letter of Intent?

A letter of intent is the official notice that you, the parent, sends to the department of education in your state.

This will inform them that you will be homeschooling your child and not sending them to an compulsory school (public education system).

This is the first step in filing for homeschool, beside planning on how you want to homeschool and your curriculum. See the article The difference between PSP and PSA and How To Homeschool Practically Free.

Make sure you are familiar with the term “homeschooling” before you begin this journey. There are lots of articles you can browse on site to help you get started homeschooling and to bring you the much needed homeschool parent encouragement. Start with the Homeschool 101 page.

So, what is Homeschooling?

The term “homeschooling,” refers to you the parent acting on your right to educate your own child, rather it is by private satellite school or by filing a PSA. This means you will educate them at home, with you being both teacher and administrator of your homeschool. Online public school, boarding schools, and private schools are not considered homeschools.

You can use whatever curriculum you want. That means if you homeschool and decided to use an online free or paid curriculum, you have that freedom, as long as YOU are still in charge of your homeschool and the decision maker.

When deciding to homeschool, you must remember that you are qualified to teach and educate your own child(ren). Regardless if you use a tutor or other facilitator.

Requirements To File a Letter of Intent

Every state has its own rules and regulations about what a parent must do to provide their child(ren) with a proper education and their state web site will usually list whether they require a letter of intent. If they don’t, they will have instructions for their requirements.  You can also see what your states rules are by visiting HSLDA’s Homeschool Laws by State page.

The Homeschool Letter of Intent is typically written and submitted by the parent or guardian of the child who is to be homeschooled. I provide a professional template for you here, just fill in the lines and deliver!

Writing Your Letter of Intent

The information that’s included in your letter of intent are:

• The number of kids your kids that you will be homeschooling already enrolled and that you want to pull out.
• Your kids’ full names, date of birth, and their ages.
• Address or PSP of the homeschool.
• A statement indicating your intent to homeschool your kids
• The homeschool details, such as effective dates, duration, subjects taught
• The name of the tutor or homeschool teacher, even if it is you.

You do not have to give details about any curriculum you are using unless required by the state, or details of a portfolio if you live in a state where it’s not required. If you would like to have this template as an interactive form, where you just input your information and print, visit our shop. All you need is any pdf reader/editor.

Here is a sample template you can copy unto your own document and change around (or view pdf).

{Date}

{Department Name}

{State Name}

{Recipient’s Address}

{State, City, Zip Code}

Re: Intent to Homeschool

Dear {Mr./Mrs./Ms. Last Name},

I am writing to notify you that I intend to enroll my {child/children}, in homeschool for the {period} school year. This will apply to the {name of child}, {child’s date of birth}, {child’s current grade}, who will be homeschooled by {facilitator/your name} at {homeschooling address}.

The start of our homeschool will commence on {effective start date}.

The following subjects will be covered {list the subjects you will cover} the curriculum will be {describe the curriculum if required}.

I agree to maintain a portfolio of materials that demonstrate proper educational instruction provided to {list your child(ren) *only if required by your state}.

If you have any questions, I am available at {contact information}.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

{Your Name}

{Your Signature}

Delivering Your Letter of Intent

Never email any document this important, unless you are sending a copy of the original. It is advised that you personally deliver your letter of intent, but if you can’t the best thing to do is have it sent by certified mail. This protects you from unexpected situations. Especially if they say you never sent anything and call truancy, or that they never received anything in the mail. Keep copies of all receipts and letters from the district and be sure to have legal support.

Don’t forget to request your students records, this article shows you how.

Now What?

Now that you have filed your letter of Intent, what now? Now you pull your child from the public school and begin homeschooling. Need more inspiration, please visit our Homeschool 101 page for all the inspiration you need. If you are in California, and would like more assistance or guidance during your first year of homeschooling or longer, consider joining California Homeschool Academy PSP, our very own Private Satellite School.

We hope this article has helped you.

Randomnestfamily Staff

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