How Arizona Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

Enlightium Academy is an approved 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. In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Arizona Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states; however, with the freedom to educational opportunities 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! As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables us to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide. 

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Arizona's requirements.

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Homeschooling Options

Families in Arizona may fulfill compulsory attendance requirements through either traditional homeschooling or participation in the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. The information below is intended as a starting point for families enrolled at Enlightium Academy who are operating under the traditional homeschooling option.

Families who participate in the ESA program follow a different process. Instead of filing a homeschool affidavit, the ESA agreement serves as the student’s record of enrollment. Under Arizona law, ESA students are classified as receiving nonpublic instruction rather than homeschooling.

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Arizona’s Requirements at a Glance

Does the Parent Need to Notify the State? = If an ESA is being used, then no*. If no ESA is being used, then yes.

State Educational Funds = Yes

Academic Calendar Requirement = No

Reporting Age Requirement = 6-16

Instructor Qualifications = No

Required Subjects  = Yes

Standardized Assessment = Enlightium Requires

Immunization Requirement = No

Keep a Portfolio = No

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Arizona Families = Yes

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Notifying the State

Arizona families not receiving ESA funds must submit a notarized affidavit of their intent to homeschool to the county school superintendent. This only needs to be submitted one time within 30 days after starting or as soon as possible if you missed that deadline. 

A few additional notes about submitting the intent to homeschool:

• If you move within the county, you will need to submit it again. 
• If you are no longer enrolled at Enlightium Academy or move out of your county, you must submit a letter of termination to the county superintendent of schools within 30 days of ending your homeschool program. 
• You will need to provide a copy of each student’s birth certificate or other proof of the student’s age and identity. 
• Information such as names and addresses should be those of the parent or guardian. 
• Many counties have their own unique form to submit, so your best course of action would be to research your county’s website for the form or find your county at the bottom of this page.

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*State Educational Funds

The Arizona Department of Education provides funding through the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) for approved educational expenses, including some private online schools and education at home. Families may apply to determine if they qualify. 

If you are an ESA scholarship recipient:

• Some or all of the tuition may be covered by the ESA
• You do not need to file an affidavit

If you are interested in learning more about the ESA, how to apply, and how to use the funds at Enlightium Academy, click here.

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Age Requirement

Ages five 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.

Aged six years old before September 1 to age 16:

Your student must attend school during that academic year. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they turn 16 or complete 10th grade. This includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy.

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Instructor Qualifications

Most, if not all, Arizona counties do not require students 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. 

For students living in the U.S., this does not necessarily mean that their teachers are certified in the student’s state of residence, but instead in the teacher’s state of residence. For most states, this distinction is not important to the student’s academics.

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Required Subjects

Arizona counties require the following subjects:

• Reading/Grammar
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science

The above subjects are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor. Check with your county to see if there are any additional required courses.

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Standardized Assessment

Arizona does not require standardized testing for students participating in either traditional homeschooling or the ESA program. However, families may choose to use optional assessments to monitor academic progress or prepare for college entrance. Additionally, Enlightium Academy requires students to take an annual assessment to keep track of how they 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.

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Immunization Requirement

Arizona does not require homeschool students to submit immunization records to the state. However, families should maintain vaccination or exemption records, especially if their child later enrolls in a public or private school. 

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Keep a Portfolio

Arizona law does not require families to maintain or submit records such as attendance or portfolios. However, many families choose to keep records for personal tracking or future school transitions. Enlightium recommends you 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 the pen pal program.

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Enlightium Parents App with Group for Arizona Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and a desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Arizona to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.

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Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
2. If you have any questions:
   
   1. Chat with a team member
   2. Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
   3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.

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Since 2003, Enlightium Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, and partner schools. Our dedicated faculty and staff, in collaboration with parents, deliver high-quality instruction and individualized learning. We focus on developing each student’s academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional well-being.

To find out if Enlightium is the right school for your family, schedule an appointment, call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.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.

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Sources reviewed in March 2026:

• https://hslda.org/legal
• https://www.azed.gov/ 
• ‍https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/homeschool