Louisiana offers two homeschool pathways: the state-approved “home study program” administered by the Department of Education, or operating as a nonpublic school not seeking state approval. The home study path is the most common and provides a state-issued completion letter recognized for in-state programs.
Legal framework
Home study programs are governed by Louisiana Revised Statutes §17:236.1; nonpublic schools not seeking approval operate under §17:236. The Louisiana Department of Education's Home Study page publishes current applications and rules.
Notification & registration
Home study families file an initial application with the Louisiana Department of Education within 15 days of starting, then renew annually. Renewal includes evidence that the program is at least equivalent to that of public schools, such as standardized test scores or a teacher-administered assessment.
Recordkeeping
The state requires evidence of academic progress at renewal. Families maintain attendance records, work samples, and a high school transcript on their own.
Graduation requirements
Louisiana does not prescribe specific high school graduation requirements for home study students. The parent determines completion. Aligning the transcript with the Louisiana TOPS Core or public-school diploma requirements is a useful reference, especially for TOPS scholarship eligibility.
Who issues the diploma
The parent operating the home study program issues the diploma in the name of the family's program. The state issues a completion letter on request that some in-state programs accept as evidence of high school completion.
College & military recognition
Louisiana public colleges and universities, including the LSU and UL systems, admit home study graduates routinely. The TOPS scholarship has specific provisions for home-study graduates; review the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance for current rules. Homeschool graduates qualify for Tier 1 military enlistment under current DoD policy.
Official source
For current statutory text, forms, and procedural updates, the authoritative source is the Louisiana Department of Education - Home Study. Homeschool laws change, so confirm specific requirements directly with the state before relying on them.