Homeschool Letter of Intent

Updated: Nov 4, 2026

What Is a Homeschool Letter of Intent?

A homeschool letter of intent is a short, signed letter from a parent or guardian that tells a school official a child will be taught at home. The letter gives the office the basics: who the child is, where the family lives, who will do the teaching, and when home instruction starts.

It belongs to the wider family of letters of intent, and you can find related templates on our school letter of intent page.

Letter of intent, notice of intent, or affidavit?

The same basic paper goes by several names, including homeschool notice of intent, affidavit of intent, declaration of intent, and homeschool notification form, depending on where you live.

Arizona calls it an affidavit of intent (A.R.S. § 15-802). Wisconsin uses the PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction). New York City calls it a Letter of Intent (NYC Public Schools). Use the name your own office uses. The state table below links each source.

When families use one

Families usually write a homeschool letter of intent when they start home instruction, take a child out of a school, or move to a new school district. Whether you need one, and when, differs from place to place, so confirm it with your local office before you write.

Homeschool Letter of Intent Template

This homeschool letter of intent template is a fill-in layout: copy it, replace each bracket with your own details, and delete any line that does not fit your family.

Prefer a guided version? The builder at the top of this page asks simple questions and builds the letter for you. You can save your progress, finish on any device, and download and print it anytime.

Sample Letter of Intent to Homeschool

This sample letter of intent to homeschool shows a finished letter from a family starting home instruction. The names, addresses, and dates are made up, so replace them with your own before you use the letter.

Sample letter when you withdraw a child from school

A withdrawal letter adds two things to the sample above: the school the child is leaving and a request for the child’s school files. This sample is addressed to the school’s principal, and it is separate from any notice your state or district asks for, which can go to a different office. Under Minn. Stat. § 120A.24, when a parent withdraws a child from public school after age seven to provide instruction in a nonpublic school that is not accredited by a state-recognized accredited agency, the report goes to the superintendent of the district in which the child resides within 15 days.

In New York City, NYC Public Schools says that informing your child’s current school is recommended but not required.

What Goes in a Homeschool Letter of Intent

A homeschool letter of intent includes the child’s full name, date of birth, and address, plus the name of the person responsible for teaching the child that school year. Keep the letter to one page and include each of the following items:

• The date, plus your name, address, phone, and email
• The recipient’s name, title, and school district
• A clear statement that the child will learn at home
• Each child’s full legal name, birth date, and grade level
• The home address of each child
• The person who will do the teaching
• The school year or the start date
• Your signature and printed name

Official lists differ, so treat these items as a starting point and add whatever your office names, unless a statute limits what the office can ask. A Florida notice includes the full legal names, addresses, and birthdates of all enrolled children, under Fla. Stat. § 1002.41. Fla. Stat. § 1002.41 also says the district may not require any additional information or verification from the parent unless the student chooses to participate in a school district program or service. An Arizona affidavit of intent includes the child’s name and date of birth, the current address of the school the child attends, and the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of the persons with custody, under A.R.S. § 15-802. A Minnesota report adds the name of each instructor, the annual tests if required, and evidence of compliance with section 120A.22, subdivision 10, under Minn. Stat. § 120A.24.

How to Fill Out a Letter of Intent for Homeschool

To write a letter of intent for homeschool, gather your child’s full name and date of birth, your home address, and the name of the person who receives it, then add each block below in order. Each block adds one part of the letter, from the date at the top to the signatures at the bottom.

1. Date and recipient. Start with the date in the top left corner. Below it, write the recipient’s name and title, followed by the school district name and number.
2. Opening. Say why you are writing: your child or children will study at home instead of attending public or private school.
3. Information about each child. Give the full name, date of birth, and grade level of each child who will be taught at home.
4. Address. Add the street address of each student. If all your children live with you, one line covers them.
5. Teacher and subjects. Say clearly who will do the teaching. List the subjects only if your office asks for them.
6. Signatures. End with your signature, printed name, and contact details. If someone other than the parent or guardian teaches, add that person’s name and contact details too.
7. Final check. Compare the finished letter with your office’s instructions, then remove any bracket or line left over from the template.

How to Sign a Homeschool Letter of Intent

To sign a homeschool letter of intent, print the finished letter, sign it by hand above your printed name, and date it before you send it. Then scan or copy the signed page, so that you have the same version the office has.

Who signs differs by place. Fla. Stat. § 1002.41 calls for a notice signed by the parent. NYC Public Schools says only a parent or legal guardian may submit the Letter of Intent. When two parents share the teaching, both can sign so that the letter names each of them.

Does a homeschool letter of intent need a notary?

Ask the office that receives your homeschool letter of intent whether it wants a notary’s signature, and hold off on signing until you are with the notary if it does. Our notary form gives you an acknowledgment page to attach in that case.

Where to Send a Homeschool Letter of Intent

Send your homeschool letter of intent to the office your state or school district names, which is a different office from place to place. A Florida notice goes to the district school superintendent’s office under Fla. Stat. § 1002.41, and an Arizona affidavit of intent goes to the county school superintendent under A.R.S. § 15-802.

Who do I address the homeschool letter of intent to?

Address the homeschool letter of intent to the official your office names, usually a superintendent, and use that person’s name and title. If you are not sure of the name, you can usually find it in one of these places:

• The staff or contact page of the district website
• The main office, by phone or email
• The notice instructions on your state’s official website

How do I submit the letter?

Ask the office how it prefers to receive the letter, such as by mail, by email, or in person. Choose a way you can prove later, such as certified mail or an email with a read receipt, and write down the submission date.

Homeschool Letter of Intent by State

Homeschool letter of intent rules differ by state, and this table covers only the places listed in it, with the official source of each row. For any other state, ask your state department of education or your school district.

What to Do After You Send the Letter

After you send a homeschool letter of intent, keep a signed copy, write down the submission date, and store any reply you receive with your other homeschool documents, so you can find them quickly.

Some places ask for more paperwork after the letter. NYC Public Schools lists an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), quarterly progress reports, and an annual assessment alongside the Letter of Intent. Under Fla. Stat. § 1002.41, the parent maintains a portfolio of records and materials, files a copy of the evaluation annually with the district school superintendent’s office, and files a written notice of termination with the district school superintendent, along with the annual evaluation, within 30 days of termination. Under A.R.S. § 15-802, the person with custody notifies the county school superintendent within thirty days of the termination of homeschool instruction.

Tips for Writing a Strong Letter

A good homeschool letter of intent is short, polite, easy to file, and free of anything the office did not ask for. Use plain business language and the same spellings that appear on your child’s school records. These habits help the office read your letter once and file it without follow-up questions.

• Use your child’s full name and the date of birth shown on the birth certificate.
• Keep the tone formal and the message short.
• Check names, spellings, and dates twice before you sign.
• Skip explanations of why you chose homeschooling unless the office asks.
• Do not copy a form or wording meant for another state or district.
• Send the letter to the current office, and tell it when your address changes.
• Save a signed copy and the submission date with your other homeschool documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a letter of intent to homeschool in my state?

Whether you need a letter of intent to homeschool depends on your state and sometimes your school district, so confirm it with your state department of education or local district office. The state table on this page lists some places with their official sources.

What is a DOE letter of intent?

A DOE letter of intent usually means a homeschool letter of intent sent to a department of education, though the office that receives it differs by place. Check the name of the office before you address the letter, because a district or county official can be the right recipient instead.

What is homeschooling?

Homeschooling is a way to educate a child at home instead of at a public, private, or boarding school, usually with a parent or guardian as the teacher. Families choose it for many reasons, including religious or philosophical views and dissatisfaction with the local school.

Can I use a template for my homeschool letter of intent?

Yes, a template for a homeschool letter of intent gives you a clear layout, and you add your own details. Our online document builder walks you through each part with simple questions, and you can print and sign the finished letter.

What if my state has its own form?

If your state has its own homeschool form, ask the office that receives it whether it wants that form, your letter, or both. Look for the form on your state department of education website, then submit the same details you would put in the letter.

Do I have to send a homeschool letter of intent every year?

Whether you send a new homeschool letter of intent every year depends on the place. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction says parents must complete the PI-1206 form every school year. Minn. Stat. § 120A.24 sets a letter of intent to continue by October 1 of each school year, for the children named in the table above. NYC Public Schools says homeschooling families must submit the Letter of Intent each year. A.R.S. § 15-802 says an Arizona affidavit of intent is not required again unless the homeschool instruction is terminated and then resumed.

Can I withdraw my child from school before sending the letter?

Whether you can withdraw your child before sending the letter depends on the place, so ask your office about the order before your child stops attending. NYC Public Schools says that after submitting the Letter of Intent, your child can stop attending school and begin homeschooling.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Jennifer M. Settles

Author & Attorney

With over 25 years of experience as a business and transactional attorney, Jennifer has mastered the craft of closing highly successful deals for her clients. Through her wide-ranging expertise in commercial contracts, real estate transactions, M&A and corporate law, Jennifer secures results that are second-to-none.