How to withdraw your child from public school and homeschool in Alabama

Step by step

1. Step 1. Know what Alabama requires to start

   Alabama has no stand-alone homeschool statute. A family usually enrolls the child in a church school, and under 16-28-7 the parent files the child's enrollment on a form provided by the local public school superintendent, countersigned by the church school administrator and returned by the parent. The statute names no annual renewal and no state approval, and the Department of Education may not license church schools. The other route is a certified private tutor, who must file with the county or city superintendent a statement of the children, the subjects and the period of instruction before starting (16-28-5).

2. Step 2. Leave the school the right way

   The statute does not describe a separate step to leave a public school beyond the church school enrollment form or the tutor's statement. Whether a school asks for a written withdrawal or an exit meeting is not set out in the state sources we read, so it is common courtesy to tell the school in writing. A child who ceases attending a church school is reported to the superintendent by the church school, based on the consent the parent gives at enrollment.

3. Step 3. Watch the deadlines

   No deadline is stated for the church school enrollment form. A private tutor must file before beginning instruction (16-28-5). The statute makes absence from a school the child should attend prima facie evidence of a violation (16-28-12), so file before the child stops attending.

4. Step 4. Ask for your child’s records

   No state-specific records rule was found in the sources we read. Under FERPA (34 CFR 99.10) a parent has the right to inspect and review the child's education records, and may ask the school for a copy.

5. Step 5. If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan

   Federal rule: if a parent revokes consent in writing for continued special education and related services, the school may not continue them and must give prior written notice before stopping (34 CFR 300.300(b)(4)). No Alabama-specific withdrawal form or wait was found in the sources we read.

Before you pull your child out

A letter you can fill in

Fill in the boxes and copy the letter. It is built from what we found above for Alabama: it goes to your child's current school to withdraw, and the state filing described above is a separate step. Check it against the state office before you send it.

[today's date]

To: The local public school superintendent [name and address]

Re: Withdrawal from school and home education, [child's full name]

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am the parent of [child's full name], born [date of birth], who is currently enrolled in grade [grade] at [name of current school]. Please accept this letter as notice that I am withdrawing my child from [name of current school], effective [start date]. I will be providing a home education program under Code of Alabama 16-28-1, 16-28-3, 16-28-5, 16-28-7.

I also request a copy of my child's education records, including the cumulative file, attendance and any testing records. Please send them to the address below.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[your name]
[your address]

Who to ask in Alabama

Alabama State Department of Education, last checked October 2026.

A plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the current rules with the state office before you send anything.

Questions