Homeschooling in Rhode Island: the law and how to start

Yes. Rhode Island's compulsory attendance law, § 16-19-1, allows a child to be educated through at-home instruction approved by the local school committee instead of attending public school. Enrolling in an approved private school is the other main alternative.

Approval is the key difference from many states. Under § 16-19-2, the school committee must approve at-home instruction that meets the law's requirements for instruction time, attendance records and subjects. If you disagree with the committee's decision, you can appeal to the Commissioner of Education (RIDE), which holds a hearing at no cost to the parties.

Because each of Rhode Island's districts applies the law through its own school committee policy, forms and expectations differ from town to town.

• Get your district's home instruction policy and forms. Contact the school committee (usually through the superintendent's office) in the town where your child lives.
• Write your at-home instruction plan. Show how you will provide instruction time substantially equal to the public schools, cover the required subjects and keep an attendance register. Some districts also ask for a list of materials and how you will assess progress; for example, Providence's policy asks for hours of instruction, subjects, materials and assessments for each child.
• Wait for approval before withdrawing. RIDE warns that if you remove your child from school and begin at-home instruction before the committee approves your plan, your child may be treated as truant under the compulsory attendance law.
• Appeal if needed. If your plan is refused, you can appeal the school committee's decision to RIDE.

Section 16-19-2 requires instruction in reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, the history of the United States, the history of Rhode Island and the principles of American government, taught in English to substantially the same extent as in the public schools.

The period of instruction must be substantially equal to that required in the public schools. The law does not give a separate homeschool day or hour count, so check what your school committee expects when you prepare your plan.

You must also keep an attendance register in the form used by public schools and return it as the law requires.

Rhode Island law does not name a specific standardized test or evaluation for homeschoolers. Instead, each school committee decides through its approval process what evidence of progress it wants to see, which might include standardized test results, a portfolio or a progress report.

Keep your attendance register, lesson plans and dated work samples organized. They help with re-approval each year, and with placement if your child returns to school.

The state does not issue diplomas to students in approved at-home instruction. Parents usually prepare their own transcript and diploma, and colleges set their own admission requirements for homeschooled applicants.

Keep a high school transcript with course titles, credits and grades from Grade 9 onward.

Textbooks. Under § 16-23-2, your local school committee must lend textbooks to homeschooled students free of charge. RIDE says this includes e-books used as textbooks in core classes.

Sports. Homeschooled students can take part in Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) activities if they meet the RIIL's homeschool eligibility rule. The conditions include the school agreeing to the request, the student being listed on the school's rolls and grades being reported to the school each quarter. A student who left school while ineligible for academic or disciplinary reasons stays ineligible for that period.

Classes and activities. Each school committee decides whether homeschooled students can join public school classes and other programs. RIDE encourages districts to allow participation when space is available.

Special education. Contact your district about evaluation and any services available to a homeschooled child with a disability.

In May 2026, bill H 8531 proposed letting school committees deny or defer approval of at-home instruction in some cases, such as when a family faces truancy or attendance charges. The House Education Committee held it for further study on May 19, 2026, so it did not become law, but similar proposals may return.

Rhode Island has statewide homeschool organizations and local co-ops that can help with district policies and finding activities. RIDE's Home Schooling page and FAQ are the official starting point.