Moving into North Carolina

Welcome to North Carolina!

North Carolina is a great place to homeschool! If you are a homeschooler who is moving into NC, we hope to help you in your transition with this information.

Every state in the US has different laws about homeschooling. We have a great law.

In North Carolina, homeschools are governed by the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). We are the only state who has a division like this. Homeschoolers in NC do not report to the Division of Public Instruction in any way. Homeschools are legally non-public schools, and non-public schools are under the oversight of DNPE.

Simply Put

To comply with the NC homeschool law, you file a notice of intent to operate a homeschool with the NC Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE). The teacher will need to submit proof that he/she has a minimum of a high school diploma. You will need to name your school, and it is important to know that you can never change the name. After you open your school, you will need to keep attendance records showing that you schooled on a regular basis for a minimum of 9 months annually. Your students will need to take a nationally standardized achievement test every year. Immunzation records need to be kept up-to-date unless you have a waiver. You do not need to open a school until your oldest child turns seven.

NC Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)
1309 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1309
(919) 733-4276
Website: www.ncdnpe.org

About NC Homeschool Law

During the 1988 session North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE) convinced the North Carolina General Assembly to amend Article 39 of chapter 115C of the General Statutes to allow home instruction, under certain conditions, as a means of complying with compulsory school attendance requirements. While it was a good law and homeschooling flourished under it, NCHE saw room for improvement. The needed change was in the definition of “home school.” On March 5, 2013 NCHE had bills filed in both the NC House of Representatives and the Senate to make the change in the “home school” definition. The bill passed unanimously at every stage and was signed into law on May 30, 2013

Definitions:

Home school
means a nonpublic school consisting of the children of not more than two families or households, where the parents or legal guardians or members of either household determine the scope and sequence of academic instruction, provide academic instruction and determine additional sources of academic instruction.
Duly authorized representative of the state
The Director of The Division of Non-Public Education or his/her staff

Requirements:

  • Notify the Department of Administration, Division of Non-Public Education of your intent to operate a school and include your school name, and name of chief administrator.
  • Certify that the persons providing the academic instruction hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Maintain attendance records on each student.
  • Maintain immunization records on each student.
  • Operate on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year.
  • Administer a nationally standardized test, or other equivalent measurement, that measures achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and math, to every student each year, and maintain the results on file for one year, subject to inspection by a duly authorized representative of the State.
  • Notify the Department of Administration, Division of Non-Public Education, when closing your school.

Requirements Exclusive:

No school meeting these requirements shall be subject to any other provision of law relating to education except requirements of law respecting immunization.

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