How to Homeschool Legally in Idaho (2025 Update)

Are you thinking about making the switch to homeschooling? You’re not alone — the Gem State is a popular state for home education. Homeschooling laws in Idaho allow plenty of customization for both students and parents.

Whether you’ve homeschooled before, or you’re wondering how to get started, we’ll cover everything you need to know about homeschooling in Idaho.

Homeschooling in Idaho at a Glance

Idaho – The Gem State

Required Age	7-16
Standardized Testing	Not required
Subjects	Language arts, math, science, social studies
Time Requirements	None
Graduation Requirements	Determined by parent
Special Requirements	None
Financial Resources Available	No

Parent Qualifications

The State of Idaho does not outline any qualifications for parents who wish to homeschool. You are allowed to homeschool your own children, as well as someone else’s, without proof of qualification.

Notice of Intent

Idaho homeschool families are not required to send a Notice of Intent. If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, you do need to notify the school in person or in writing prior to withdrawing them. This is also an important step to prevent any truancy issues in the future.

Attendance

Parents in Idaho are not required to teach for a certain amount of days or hours. Instead, parents have total freedom to teach whenever and however long they need to. 

Homeschool Curriculum

Idaho law states that homeschool education must be in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools. However, there is no specific list of these subjects. A good starting point would be: 

1. Language Arts
2. Math
3. Science
4. Social studies

These broad subjects typically contain many more focused topics. For example, language arts typically include reading, writing and spelling. For more information about general academic topics covered in each grade, you can check out the Idaho Content Standards from the Department of Education and explore skills by subject. 

Idaho homeschooling laws do not require the use of a specific curriculum or approach. Families have the flexibility to choose the program of study that works best for them and their children. You can find a customizable homeschool curriculum online or create your own. 

Testing

Idaho homeschool laws do not require students to participate in standardized testing. However, we do strongly recommend that high school students take either the SAT or ACT, especially if they are planning to apply for college. Most colleges and universities require these scores during the application process.

Record Keeping

Idaho state law doesn’t require you to keep any records, although it is still a good idea to do so. A homeschool portfolio is a great way to keep important items safe and organized. Materials to put in a portfolio can include: 

• Attendance records
• Test scores
• List of courses taken
• Correspondence from the superintendent
• Some of your child’s best work

We recommend keeping between 2-3 years’ worth of material in your portfolio, especially if your student is in high school. Detailed record keeping from grades 9-12 is essential to create a high school transcript. 

Graduation Requirements

Homeschooling parents are responsible for determining when their student is ready to graduate. Parents can design the homeschool diploma requirements around their child’s career aspirations to prepare them for college or for the workforce. Parents will also need to provide their student with a high school diploma.

Financial Resources

Unfortunately, there are no financial resources available at this time.

Other Tips & Resources

For more information about homeschooling in Idaho, check out: 

• Homeschool Idaho
• Your Idaho for co-ops and homeschool groups by area

If you’re wondering whether Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team! They’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have.