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Enlightium Academy is a private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Arkansas Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C. With this freedom comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!
Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Arkansas homeschool requirements.
Homeschooling Options
Arkansas families enrolled in Enlightium are still considered homeschoolers under the law and must comply with all state homeschool regulations. Individualized guidance may be required if your student is under discipline by a public school and/or if there are other circumstances in your household.
Arkansas’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance
Notifying the State
Homeschooling families in Arkansas are required to inform their local public school district superintendent of their intent to homeschool. Your family only needs to do this each year by August 15 or within a week upon enrolling or re-enrolling your student at Enlightium Academy.
Parents have two options for submission: Electronically or via a paper form. Paper forms may be completed and turned in at your resident school district. Forms are available at your resident school district or may be printed from the
Include the following information for each homeschooled student in your family:
Name
Date of birth
Gender
Grade level
Previous school’s name and address, if applicable. You can include the year(s) at a different public or private school and the year(s) at Enlightium Academy
Additionally, include your (NOT Enlightium Academy’s) address:
Mailing address
Phone number
The notice must also include a statement from you that you are in charge of your student’s education. Include your name and signature. Optionally, you can include your plans for your student to participate in public school interscholastic activities, if applicable. Keep a record of the notice in your homeschool portfolio (folder) and then submit originals to your local public school district superintendent.
If withdrawing mid-year from a public school, plan to submit the intent to homeschool five days prior to withdrawing. If moving mid-year to Arkansas or to a new school district, you must submit a new intent to homeschool notice within 30 days.
State Educational Funds
Enlighitium Academy is an approved service provider for Arkansas’s Education Freedom Accounts. This program provides up to $6,864 per year for most full-year participants, and the funds can be used for approved educational expenses, including tuition and fees at Enlightium Academy.
Families can visit the Arkansas Department of Education website to learn more and apply for the EFA. Applications will continue being processed until January 31, 2026. Please note that Enlightium Academy cannot guarantee any funding amounts, particularly for families who apply in August 2025 or later.
Age Requirement
Ages four or younger:
Students are not required to attend school, but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.
Ages five to 17:
The compulsory age is five by August 1st, but kindergarten is not mandatory if a waiver is filed with their district. Students must attend school during that academic year; this includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they turn 17 or receive a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Instructor Qualifications
Arkansas students are not required to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications.
As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields.
Students in the Book-Based Program (grades PreK-9) use textbook Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use the Ignitia digital Christian curriculum (grades 3-12) or Enlightium’s custom online curriculum (available to select grade levels). Students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 1-12) use a collection of the best-vetted curriculum options by our curriculum department. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and elective courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.
Required Subjects
The Arkansas Department of Education does not require any specific courses.
After you enroll/re-enroll and before your student starts courses at Enlightium Academy, your student’s counselor will send you an email with a recommended course schedule consisting of core courses and, if applicable, courses that fulfill Enlightium’s graduation requirements. Your student can also select from Enlightium’s elective courses.
Standardized Assessment
The Arkansas Department of Education does not require a standardized test for homeschooled students. However, Enlightium Academy requires students to take an annual assessment to keep track of how students are progressing. Enlightium provides the following options per grade level:
Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment. We recommend the IXL diagnostic assessment, as it provides more flexibility in scheduling and does not have an additional fee.
Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT
Keep a portfolio
For your records, keep a copy of the Notice of Intent you file each year. You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:
Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide academic plans during the admission process for each of our four divisions of grades: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and involvement in the Student Council.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Arkansas Families
Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Arkansas to inform and support each other in fulfilling their state’s homeschooling requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
If you have any questions:
Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.
Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, hybrid, online, and book-based program K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning, Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288 or visit EnlightiumSchool.com.
We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.
Sources reviewed in May 2025: