Withdrawing from public school
How to Withdraw From School in Louisiana
Pulling your child out of public school in Louisiana to homeschool is usually a short, one-time process. Here are the steps, the letter you send, and how to time it so the district doesn't flag your child as truant.
Start tracking freeHow withdrawal works in Louisiana
Louisiana's home-study program requires an application to BESE: file within 15 days of starting, then renew annually. Notify your child's current public school so attendance reflects the change, and keep a copy of your approval. Some families instead use the separate nonpublic-school-not-seeking-approval path, which has its own rules.
Step by step
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1
Confirm your child is currently enrolled
This guide is for moving a currently enrolled student to homeschooling. If your child has never attended public school in Louisiana (a kindergartner you're starting at home, for example), there's usually nothing to withdraw from. A quick call to the school confirms their status.
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2
Send a written withdrawal letter to the school
Louisiana handles the transition from public school at the state level: send a withdrawal letter to the child's current school, then file a notice of intent directly with the state Department of Education. Homeschool Fox generates a compliant withdrawal letter from your family's details in a few clicks.
Download the free Louisiana withdrawal letter -
3
File your notice of intent
Yes, Louisiana requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify the state Department of Education.
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4
Keep dated copies for your records
Save a copy of the withdrawal letter and anything you file, noting the date you sent it. If the district ever asks about attendance, dated proof that you withdrew on time is what closes the question.
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5
Set up your homeschool
With the withdrawal handled, the rest is starting your homeschool: planning subjects, setting an hours or days target, and keeping records. Your next stop is the how-to-start guide for Louisiana.
Read the Louisiana how-to-start guide
Free Louisiana printables
Two ready-to-use PDFs for Louisiana homeschoolers. No account needed.
Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.
What Homeschool Fox tracks for Louisiana
Everything Louisiana expects you to keep, in one place — no spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.
- Days toward your 180-day goal
- Required subjects & core hours
- Daily activity logs
- Attendance records
- Notes & portfolio records
- Printable PDF reports
- High school transcripts
- State-specific progress tracking
More Louisiana guides
- Louisiana Homeschool Requirements Hours, notice, assessment, and subjects at a glance.
- How to Start Homeschooling in Louisiana A step-by-step guide from withdrawal to your first logged day.
- Homeschooling High School in Louisiana Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
- Record Keeping in Louisiana What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.
- Moving to Louisiana What to file when you arrive and whether your records transfer.
- ESA & School Choice in Louisiana Funding amounts, who qualifies, and the trade-offs.
Withdrawn? Start your Louisiana homeschool
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