Louisiana Homeschool Law: Two Paths

Not yet verified at a primary source. DiplomaPath has not independently verified Louisiana’s homeschool requirements against the statute text or the state’s own published guidance as of September 2026. The requirements described on this page may be incomplete or out of date.

Before you rely on any deadline, filing, or testing requirement here, confirm current law with the Louisiana Department of Education and the HSLDA Louisiana page. When this page has been checked against a primary source, this notice will be replaced with a verified date and a link to the statute.

Two free things before you read on. The sample transcript PDF is yours either way, no email needed, and the transcript checklist walks through what to include, line by line.

Louisiana families choose between two legal frameworks. The Home Study Program (La. R.S. 17:236.1) requires an application to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) within 15 days of starting, with renewal by October 1 each year (or 12 months after initial approval, whichever is later). Applications go through louisianabelieves.com or by mail to BESE, and require a certified birth certificate copy.

The alternative Home-Based Private School path requires written notification to your local public school within 10 days of enrollment, plus an annual attendance notification due no later than 30 days after the school year starts.

Testing for Home Study families: If you use the Home Study Program, you must show evidence of academic progress each year via LEAP test scores, an approved standardized test showing grade-level progress, or a statement from a certified teacher. Both paths require 180 instructional days per year.

Comparing Louisiana with another state, or planning a move? See our guide to homeschool graduation requirements by state.

TOPS & Public-School Credit Benchmarks

Louisiana homeschoolers aren’t bound to the state’s public/TOPS credit structure, but families planning for Louisiana’s TOPS scholarship (available to home-study students who enroll no later than 10th grade, based on ACT scores) often use it as a benchmark.

Subject AreaCourses / NotesCredits
EnglishAll four years4.0
MathematicsThrough Algebra II4.0
ScienceIncluding 2 lab sciences4.0
Social StudiesUS History, World History/Geography, Civics4.0
Foreign LanguageSame language, two years2.0
Fine ArtsVisual or performing arts1.0
Health/PECombined requirement2.0
ElectivesRemaining coursework3.0
TotalTOPS University Diploma benchmark, not a homeschool mandate24.0
DiplomaPath tip: Set the TOPS 24-credit model, or your own custom targets, in DiplomaPath’s Requirements tracker — earned vs. planned progress updates automatically per subject.

Required Transcript Elements

Use this checklist when building your Louisiana homeschool transcript:

  • Student information
    Full legal name, date of birth, address
  • Home study program name
    The name of your home program
  • Courses organized by year
    Group by grade (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) or academic year
  • Grades and grade points
    Letter grade and numeric grade point value; include your grading scale
  • Credits per course
    Full-year course = 1.0 credit; semester course = 0.5 credit (Carnegie Unit)
  • Cumulative GPA, weighted and unweighted
    Include the scale (e.g., A = 4.0; Honors +0.5; AP/dual-enrollment +1.0)
  • Total credits earned
  • Graduation date
  • Parent signature and title
    Sign as “Administrator” or “Supervisor” of your home program

GPA Calculation

GPA is calculated the same way in every state: multiply each course’s grade points by its credit value, sum all products, and divide by total credits. The standard 4.0 scale applies to most courses. Honors courses typically add 0.5 points; AP and dual-enrollment courses add 1.0 point for a weighted GPA.

Always report both weighted and unweighted GPA on your transcript, clearly labeled. Include your complete grading scale (e.g., A = 93–100 = 4.0) so admissions reviewers understand exactly how grades were assigned.

Want to calculate GPA automatically? Use our free Homeschool GPA Calculator, enter courses and grades and get weighted and unweighted GPA instantly.

Common Mistakes

  • 1
    Missing the October 1 Home Study renewal
    The BESE Home Study approval must be renewed annually by October 1 (or 12 months from initial approval). Set a recurring reminder well before the deadline.
  • 2
    Confusing the two legal paths
    Home Study Program and Home-Based Private School have different filing deadlines and different documentation requirements. Confirm which path you’re on before assuming a deadline applies.
  • 3
    Enrolling too late for TOPS eligibility
    Home-study students must enroll no later than 10th grade to qualify for TOPS based on ACT scores. If college funding matters to your family, plan this timeline early.

Generate a Complete Louisiana Transcript Automatically

DiplomaPath supports Louisiana homeschoolers under either legal pathway, with custom credit targets, weighted GPA calculation, and professional PDF transcript export accepted by colleges across the country.

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