Homeschooling in Hawaii: the law and how to start

Yes. Hawaii's compulsory attendance law allows exceptions approved under the Department of Education's rules, and Chapter 12 of Title 8, Hawaii Administrative Rules ("Compulsory Attendance Exceptions") sets out how homeschooling works. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) is the state agency, but day to day you deal with the principal of your child's designated public school and the complex area office.

Most families homeschool under Chapter 12 by filing a notice of intent and submitting annual progress reports. Enrolling in a private school is a separate option with its own rules.

• Prepare your notice of intent. Use HIDOE's Form 4140 (Exceptions to Compulsory Education) or write a letter that includes your child's name, address, phone number, date of birth and grade level, signed and dated by you.
• Send it to the principal of your child's designated home public school — the school your child would attend based on your address. If your child is currently enrolled in public school, this is the same step you use to withdraw them.
• You can begin homeschooling as soon as the notice is sent. The school acknowledges it by returning the signed Form 4140, or by marking your letter "acknowledged."
• No yearly re-filing. You only send a new notice if you move into another school's area or your child moves to a different school level (for example, elementary to middle school).

Hawaii's rules don't name required subjects or set a minimum number of days or hours. Your curriculum must be structured and based on educational objectives, and you are responsible for keeping a record of the planned curriculum.

A useful record includes your homeschool year's start and end dates, roughly how many hours a week you teach, the subjects covered, how you check mastery, and the books and materials you use. You don't routinely submit your curriculum, but keep the record in case the school or complex area asks for it.

Each year you submit an annual progress report to the principal. In most grades you can choose the format:

• results of a standardized achievement test;
• a written evaluation by a teacher certified in Hawaii;
• a written evaluation by you, the parent, describing progress in each subject with representative samples of your child's work;
• results from the state's own testing program.

Grades 3, 5, 8 and 10: your report must include standardized test results. HIDOE monitors homeschooled students' progress using these tests.

If the report shows inadequate progress, the rules call for the principal to meet with you and agree a plan for improvement. Keep copies of every report and test result you submit.

Homeschooled students don't receive a Hawaii public school diploma. You decide when your teen has finished high school and can issue your own diploma and transcript; keep course lists, grades and test results.

If you have followed Chapter 12, you can ask the principal of your child's designated high school for written acknowledgment that your child was homeschooled in compliance with the rules. Colleges, employers or the military may find this useful alongside your transcript.

Hawaii currently has no law giving homeschooled students a right to join public school athletics, and the state athletic association's rules generally require students to be enrolled at the school they represent.

2026 bills: SB 2793 proposed letting homeschooled high school students compete as unattached athletes in individual sports from 2026–27, and HB 1634 proposed broader access to public high school extracurricular activities. We could not confirm either became law; check HIDOE or your designated school before planning on it.

If you think your child may have a disability, contact your designated school or complex area. Under the federal IDEA, HIDOE must locate and evaluate children who may need special education, including homeschooled children; ask what services are available to them.

Homeschool support groups and co-ops operate on each of the major islands, and Hawaii's public libraries and cultural sites offer programs that suit homeschoolers.

Hawaii has no education savings account, voucher or tax credit program for homeschooling families.

For questions about your notice or progress reports, contact your child's designated school or complex area office.