Homeschooling in New Mexico: the law and how to start

Yes. New Mexico law lists a home school as one of the ways a school-age child can meet the compulsory attendance requirement, alongside public school, private school and a state institution. In a home school, a parent or guardian runs a home study program that provides a basic academic education for their own child.

The Public Education Department (PED) keeps the home school notifications and enforces the requirements. If it finds a home school out of compliance, it can order the student to attend a public or private school.

Note that students enrolled in an online public school (virtual charter) are public school students, not home school students, even though they learn at home.

• Notify the PED within 30 days of establishing your home school. The quickest way is the online PED Home School System; you can also mail the paper Notification of a Home School form to the PED in Santa Fe.
• Keep your proof. Filing online produces a Home School – Parent Notification Report with a registration number unique to each child for that school year. Keep it, and share it with your child's previous school if they ask why your child has left.
• Withdraw from school. If your child is enrolled in a public or private school, let the school know in writing that you are withdrawing to home school, so your child is not recorded as absent.
• Renew every year. For each later year, notify the PED on or before August 1. The PED says its notification window opens on June 1.

Questions can go to the PED's home school contact, Info.HomeSchool@ped.nm.gov.

New Mexico requires home schools to teach reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science (Section 22-1-2 NMSA 1978).

You choose the curriculum and teaching approach. The PED does not approve home school curricula. Many families also include art, music, physical education and New Mexico history to round out the year.

New Mexico does not require home school students to take standardized tests or have an annual evaluation.

You must keep your child's immunization records, or an approved exemption (NM Health Form 454). Keep your yearly PED notification reports as well.

Although not required, it's helpful to keep attendance notes, a list of materials and samples of work. These make it much easier to produce a transcript or enroll your child in school later.

Home school students are not public school students, so the state does not issue them a public high school diploma. As the parent running the home school, you keep the records, prepare the transcript and decide when your child has completed high school.

A high school equivalency credential is another route some students take for jobs or programs that ask for one. If your teen plans to take college courses while in high school, ask the college directly about its admission rules for home school students.

Home school students can take part in New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) activities at the public school in the attendance zone where they live. Under state law and NMAA bylaws, a home school student may participate in up to three activities in a school year.

To be eligible, your child must be registered as a home school student with the PED, and you provide the school's athletic director with documentation of your child's home school coursework. Home school athletes must also meet the same practice, fee and other rules as other participants.

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), districts must find and evaluate children with disabilities who live in the district, including home school students. Contact your local district to ask about an evaluation and what services may be available.

New Mexico has statewide and regional homeschool organizations, local co-ops and park-day groups across the state. Public libraries and museums often run programs open to home school families. The PED's home schooling page links to its FAQ and contact details if you have questions about the notification process.