Homeschool Facts

Hawaii homeschool education requirements are in accordance  with 2 seperate options. One option is to set up and establish  a homeschool, while the other option is to enroll into a Superintendant  approved program. Each option has it’s own requirements. The  compulsory age is “have arrived at the age of at least 6 years  and…not…at the age of 18 years by January 1 of any school  year”.

State Requirements

Option 1: The requirements is to establish and  operate a homeschool.

1. There are no qualifications, or attendance requirements
2. For subjects: be structured and based on educational objectives as well as the needs of the child, be cumulative and sequential, provide a range of up-to-date knowledge and needed skills, and take into account the interests, needs, and abilities of the child”
3. You must notify the local principal of the decision to homeschool your child. You must also notify them 5 days after ending the homeschool program. This is not required annually.
4. For testing: Administer standardized achievement test of parent’s choice in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10; submit annual report (of child’s progress) to local principal comprised of either: 1) standardized test results, or 2) written evaluation by certified teacher, or 3) written evaluation by parent

Option 2: Enroll in a Superintendant apporoved program

1. There are no notices or record keeping required
2. For subjects: Per the program
3. Attendance is such as the states requirements, normally 3 hours a day.
4. For testing: In accordance with state testing requirements
5. For qualification, you must have a college degree

State Forms

While there is not a state form, here is the method required:

§8-12-13 Notification of intent to home school

(a) The parent shall provide the local public school principal  with a notice of intent to home educate the child before initiating  home schooling. The purpose of notification is to allow the  department, upon request of the parent, to assist in the educational  efforts. The notice of intent may be submitted on a department  developed form (Form OIS-4140) or in a letter containing the  following items:

(1) Name, address, and telephone number of the child;

(2) Birthdate and grade level of the child; and

(3) Signature of the parent.

(b) The notice of intent shall be acknowledged by the principal  and the district superintendent. The notice of intent is for  recordkeeping purposes and to protect families from unfounded  accusations of educational neglect or truancy.

(c) If a child’s annual progress report has been submitted  as stated in §8-12-18(b), notification of intent to home  school need not be resubmitted annually, except in cases where  the child is transferring from one local public school to  another, for example, transition from sixth grade to an intermediate  school. Then the parents shall notify the principal of the  child’s new local public school.

(d) The parent(s) submitting a notice to home school a child  shall be responsible for the child’s total educational program  including athletics and other co-curricular activities. [Eff.
Nov. 07, 1991] (Auth: HRS §§296-12, 298-9) (Imp:  HRS §298-9)

State Resources

The website with all of the Hawaii Statutes can be found here

Hawaii Department of Education 

Dr. Herman M. Aizawa, Superintendent
of Education

#307

1390 Miller Street

Honolulu, HI 96813

(808) 586-3310

Bookmark Us