How Do I Withdraw My Child From Public School In Louisiana?

Dear Unschool Clubhouse Peeps,

I really want to homeschool my kids, but I’m nervous about going to withdraw them from their Louisiana public school. What if the school gives me a hard time or doesn’t let me?

Signed, Nervous in LP

Withdrawing children from a Louisiana public school, children running through school gates

Dear Nervous,

Legally, (and this is not legal advice, just information from the BESE website) you don’t have to provide any documentation to prove that you are homeschooling to withdraw your child from a Louisiana public school. And legally, school officials can’t prevent you from withdrawing your kids.

That’s legally.

But if you're nervous, and want to cover all your bases, here's how you can withdraw smoothly, without any misunderstanding from your public school. Others may give you different advice, but this is mine.

The easiest way to withdraw your child from a Louisiana Public School is to follow these steps:

Apply for Home Study

Before you withdraw your kids from a Louisiana Public School, apply for a BESE Approved Home Study Program. Approval may take up to two weeks.

Write Withdrawal Letters

When you receive your approval letter, write a letter to the school for each child stating that they will be withdrawing from their public school to homeschool in a BESE Approved Home Study Program.

Meet With the School

Bring your withdrawal letters and copies the approval letter from BESE to the school. Let them know you will be homeschooling, and your children will not be returning. Collect your children's belongings and bring back anything belonging to the school.

Write Follow Up Letters

When you get home, write a follow up letter for each child, reminding the school of your meeting and your decision to withdraw to homeschool. Send these, in separate envelopes for each child, return receipt. This way you'll be notified when the school receives them.

Keep Copies

Keep a copy of everything, including the receipts.

That's it! You're officially withdrawn!

Is all this totally necessary? Maybe not, but it covers all the bases, avoids any misunderstandings between you and the school, and removes any fear you have that they might not “let” you withdraw to homeschool.

Because you registered as an Approved Home Study Program, the Louisiana Department of Education will notify your local school superintendent that your children are registered as Home Study students.

Your Home Study Program is approved for one year. At the end of that year you can choose to renew your application, or to register your homeschool as a Non-Public School Not Seeking State Approval.