Hawaii Homeschool Laws

Hawaii requires school attendance for children who are 5 years old on or before July 31 of the school year. Attendance is no longer required once the child will turn 18 before January 1 (HSLDA: Compulsory School Age in Hawaii).

Homeschooling is an exception to compulsory attendance under Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 302A-1132(a)(5). The Board of Education rules in Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 8-12 set the details (HAR Chapter 8-12; HSLDA: How to Comply with Hawaii’s Homeschool Law).

Annual progress report: Each year, send the principal a report of your child’s progress. Use one of these methods (HAR § 8-12-18(b)):

• A nationally normed standardized test score showing grade-level achievement for the child’s age;
• Progress on a nationally normed test equal to one grade level per calendar year;
• A written evaluation by a Hawaii-certified teacher; or
• A written evaluation by the parent, with a description of progress in each subject, work samples, and representative tests and assignments.

Required test grades: Test scores are required in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. Your child may take the state test free at the local public school, or you may arrange private testing at your own cost. The principal may approve other means of evaluation (HAR § 8-12-18(a), (c)). The Hawaii Department of Education notes that public school students are now tested in grade 11 rather than grade 10 (HIDOE: Homeschool).

Review: If progress is not adequate, the principal meets with the parent to plan improvements. No recommendation to enroll in school may be made unless progress is inadequate for two straight semesters, and none before third grade (HAR § 8-12-18(d)).

Hawaii does not list required subjects. The planned curriculum must be structured, based on educational objectives and the child’s needs, cumulative and sequential, and suited to the child’s interests and abilities (HAR § 8-12-15).

An elementary curriculum may include language arts, math, social studies, science, art, music, health, and physical education. A secondary curriculum may include social studies, English, math, science, health, physical education, and guidance (HAR § 8-12-15(3)).

Notice of intent: Before you begin, give the principal of your local public school a notice of intent. Use HIDOE Form 4140 or a letter with the child’s name, address, phone number, birthdate, and grade level, signed by the parent (HAR § 8-12-13(a)).

Not yearly: If you send annual progress reports, you do not resubmit the notice each year. Give new notice when your child would move to a different public school, such as from sixth grade to an intermediate school (HAR § 8-12-13(c)).

Stopping: Notify the principal if you stop homeschooling. The child must re-enroll in a public or licensed private school within five school days unless a new alternative program is presented (HAR § 8-12-16).

Hawaii does not require attendance records. You must keep a record of the planned curriculum. It should include the start and end dates of your program, weekly instruction hours, subjects, how you measure mastery, and a list of textbooks and materials in standard bibliographic format (HAR § 8-12-15). The principal may ask to see this record only if progress is not adequate (HAR § 8-12-18(d)).

None. Hawaii does not require homeschool families to join an umbrella school or other organization (HSLDA: How to Comply with Hawaii’s Homeschool Law).

None. A parent teaching their own child at home is a qualified instructor (HAR § 8-12-19).

No state law gives homeschoolers access to public school sports or classes. Schools and districts decide, and policies vary. Contact your local school (HSLDA: Public School Access in Hawaii). The rules make the parent responsible for the child’s total program, including athletics and co-curricular activities (HAR § 8-12-13(d)).

None for homeschoolers. The Hawaii Department of Education says health records such as Form 14 or a TB clearance are not required when you homeschool (HIDOE: Homeschool).

Special education: Homeschooled children who are evaluated and certified as needing services may receive them at the home public school site on request (HAR § 8-12-14).

Credits and diplomas: No Carnegie credits are granted for homeschool time. A public high school diploma requires three full years of attendance and the credit requirements. A diploma from the community school for adults requires age 16, at least one semester of homeschooling under Hawaii rules, and a passing GED score (HAR §§ 8-12-20, 8-12-21).

College entrance exams: Homeschooled students may take any college entrance exam offered to other students. On request, the local high school principal provides written acknowledgment that the child was homeschooled in compliance with the rules (HAR § 8-12-22).

2026 legislation: HB 2376 and SB 3193 would have required in-person state testing at public schools. Both bills died when the 2026 session ended (HSLDA: SB 3193 / HB 2376).

• Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 8-12: Compulsory Attendance Exceptions
• Hawaii Department of Education Form 4140 and HIDOE Homeschool page
• HSLDA: Hawaii Homeschool Laws, How to Comply with Hawaii’s Homeschool Law, Compulsory School Age in Hawaii, and Public School Access in Hawaii
• HSLDA: Hawaii SB 3193 / HB 2376

Last reviewed: November 4, 2026