Arizona vs Illinois: Homeschool Laws Compared

Arizona is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice but no testing or evaluation, while Illinois requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, required subjects, compulsory school ages, ESA funding, and public school sports access.

Rules compared

9

Differences

5

Same in both

4

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Arizona to Illinois

Once you are a Illinois resident you homeschool under Illinois's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. There is no notice to file in Illinois. Before you leave, send Arizona's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
2. Illinois's required list adds language arts, fine arts, health, and physical education and drops reading and grammar compared with Arizona's. Match Illinois's wording in your records.
3. Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in Illinois against 6-16 in Arizona, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
4. Illinois has no ESA program. Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is for Arizona residents, so budget without it.
5. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Illinois the answer is yes, with conditions; in Arizona it was yes.

Moving from Illinois to Arizona

Once you are a Arizona resident you homeschool under Arizona's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. File a notice of intent with the local school district once you are a Arizona resident. Illinois did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
2. Arizona's required list adds reading and grammar and drops language arts, fine arts, health, and physical education compared with Illinois's. Match Arizona's wording in your records.
3. Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in Arizona against 6-17 in Illinois, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
4. Arizona runs Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA). Check whether your family qualifies; Illinois had no comparable program.
5. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Arizona the answer is yes; in Illinois it was yes, with conditions.

What stays the same

Arizona and Illinois match on hours or days per year, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, and progress reports. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Arizona nor Illinois takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Arizona vs California 6 rules differ
• Arizona vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• Arizona vs New Mexico 6 rules differ
• Arizona vs Texas 4 rules differ
• Arizona vs Washington 6 rules differ
• California vs Illinois 5 rules differ
• Florida vs Illinois 7 rules differ
• Illinois vs Indiana 5 rules differ
• Illinois vs Kentucky 5 rules differ
• Illinois vs Missouri 5 rules differ
• Illinois vs Tennessee 4 rules differ
• Illinois vs Wisconsin 5 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table