The state says. •Alaska law lets a parent or legal guardian teach a child at home.•That one line is the whole home education rule.•It sets no number of days or hours.•The private school route is different.•It must run at least 180 days a year.

You do. •Pick your own days and hours.•The Lesson Planner can count the days you teach, if you want a count.

The state says. •Alaska has more than one legal way to teach at home.•This guide walks the home education route.•On it, a parent or legal guardian teaches the child at home.The other home routes:•A tutor who holds an Alaska teaching certificate.•A plan the school board approves. You ask in writing, and the child's school must say yes.•A religious or other private school that follows the state rules for one.•Many families instead enroll in a full time correspondence program the state education department approves.•A correspondence program is a public school program done at home.

You do. •To file nothing, use the home education route.1.Teach your child at home yourself.2.Keeping records is up to you. It helps later.•Thinking about a correspondence program?•Read its rules before you enroll.

The state says. •The law covers a child between 7 and 16 years old.•A child of 6 may start first grade in a public school.•Then the attendance law covers that child right away.•A parent or guardian may take the child out within 60 days of enrolling, if first grade is not best for the child.•Then the law waits until the child turns 7.

You do. •Is your 6 year old in public school first grade?•To wait until age 7, withdraw within 60 days of enrolling.•After 60 days, you can still homeschool on the home route.

The state says. •The home education line in the law names no notice, form or office.•You do not tell the state before you start.•The private school route is different.•On it, the parent or guardian files a yearly notice with the local school superintendent.•A superintendent is the head of the school district.

You do. •File nothing to start.•Is your child in a school now?1.Send that school a letter saying you are withdrawing to homeschool.2.Keep a copy.

The state says. •The home education route asks only that a parent or legal guardian teach.•It names no degree, license or test for the parent.•The tutor route is different.•There, the tutor holds an Alaska teaching certificate.

You do. •Teach your child yourself.•You do not need to get anything first.

The state says. •The home education line in the law lists no subjects.•A correspondence program is different.•Its learning plan must follow state and district standards.

You do. •You choose what to teach.•The Academic Planner shows what colleges expect.

The state says. •The home education line in the law names no test.•The private school route tests in grades 4, 6 and 8.•That test covers grammar, reading, spelling and math.•A correspondence program includes the statewide tests public schools give.

You do. •There is nothing to schedule.•You may choose a yearly test to see progress.

The state says. •The home education line in the law does not mention shots.•The school shot rule starts before a child enters a school.•It covers public and private schools.•A family that runs its own private school follows it too.•Licensed child care has its own shot rule.

You do. •There is nothing to file to homeschool.•Keep the shot record at home.•Your child may join a school or child care later.•If so, bring the shot record or a state exemption form.•The religious form is signed in front of a notary each year.•A notary is an official who watches you sign.