NOTE:  Before reading the following, it is recommended that you read the
State of North Carolina Home School Information Packet.

Adding another student:  As long as the home school is currently registered with DNPE; operating in compliance with the state home school laws; and, the student to be added lives in that household, DNPE does not need to be notified of the addition.  Student attendance, enrollment and academic records are to be kept and maintained by the home school -- not by DNPE.

Co-ops:  See "Professional Educators' Role in Home Schools" and also "Is there a distinction between support group activities & academic instruction."

Does DNPE keep and maintain student names?  No.  Each non-public school (including all home schools) keeps and maintains such information.

May a student also be enrolled part-time in either a local conventional school or college?  For students who are at least age 16, yes.  For students who are of compulsory attendance age (at least age 7, but not yet age 16), it is permissible only for subjects other than language arts, math, science and social studies or for educational activities -- provided the local conventional school (public or non-public) or college officials allow such part-time arrangements.  College level courses (not high school), however, may be taken part-time in any subject at local colleges (either community or four year, degree-granting colleges/universities).  North Carolina law defines a home school by from whom the student receives his/her academic instruction -- not by where it takes place.  Therefore, from whom the student receives the academic instruction plays a very key role in determining whether the parent/guardian is satisfying North Carolina's compulsory attendance law.  The legal definition is found in G.S. 115C-563(a) of the North Carolina General Statutes.  Note that the legal definition lists only three sources of academic instruction -- parent, legal guardian and any other member of the household in which the child resides.  The instructor must hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.  The law does allow, however, for two household schools -- educational settings in which children from both households can legally receive academic instruction together from a parent/legal guardian (or other adult) living in either household.  There is no provision in the statute allowing a child to receive academic instruction exclusively from anyone else who does not live in the same household as the child, except in a two household school arrangement.  Academic instruction subjects would traditionally include the core curriculum subjects of language arts, math, science and social studies.  Also, see the "Professional Educators' Role in Home Schools."

May students age 18 or older be enrolled in a North Carolina home school?  No.  The North Carolina home school laws apply only to home schools enrolling students who are at least age 7 but not yet age16 (not yet age 18 only if a 16 or 17 year old student wishes to obtain/retain a North Carolina driver's permit/license).  Also, see "Registration, School -- Required for 16/17 Year Olds"; "Tests, Nationally Standardized Achievement -- Needed for 16/17 Year Olds"; and, "Diplomas for Home School Students."

May the school be considered legally "open" or "active" when there are currently no students attending?  No.  The law requires that the school operate "on a regular schedule" for at least nine calendar months each year.  The school cannot legally operate without at least one student of North Carolina compulsory attendance age enrolled at all times during that nine month period.  During that nine month period, whenever all students in the household are enrolled full-time in a conventional school (public or non-public) or college, the home school would automatically be considered legally closed by the parent/guardian for failure to comply with the operating "on a regular schedule" statutory requirement -- until a Notice of Intent to re-open the school is later received by DNPE.  Also, see "Registration, School -- Re-Opening A Home School" and "Termination, School."

Student withdrawals:  When a student withdraws from your home school, do not notify DNPE if the student lived under your roof and there is at least one or more students still living with you and currently enrolled in the home school.  If there are no remaining students, you would then report to DNPE that the school is no longer operating on a regular schedule as required by law.  If the student withdrawal was from the second household in a two household arrangement, it is suggested that the student withdrawal be reported directly to local public school authorities -- not to DNPE.

Who "signs off" for my 16 or 17 year old to take some academic courses part-time at my local community college?  The chief administrator of the home school, not a local public school official or a DNPE official.  Also, see "May a student also be enrolled part-time in either a local conventional school or college" above.
 

FAQ Page

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