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. 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 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’s 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.
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.
Arkansas’s Requirements at a Glance
Parent Notifies State = Yes
State Educational Funds = Yes
Academic Calendar Requirement = No
Reporting Age Requirement = 5-17
Instructor Qualifications = No
Subjects Required = No
Standardized Assessment = Required by Enlightium
Immunization Requirement = No
Keep a Portfolio = Recommended
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Arkansas Families = Yes
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 over $6,800 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 the district. Families may fulfill this requirement through homeschooling, including the use of a curriculum provider such as Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they turn 17 or receive a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Instructor Qualifications
Arkansas does not require parents providing home instruction to hold teaching credentials. However, the parent or guardian must attest that they are qualified to supervise and monitor their child’s education.
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.
Required Subjects
The Arkansas Department of Education does not require any specific courses for homeschool instruction.
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 homeschool 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
*If participating in the Education Freedom Accounts (EFA), the family is responsible for ensuring the required annual assessment is administered and the results are submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education.
Immunization
Arkansas 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.
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 a 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 requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
- Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
- If you have any questions:
- Chat with a team member
- Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
- 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 Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, hybrid, 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.
Sources reviewed in June 2026:
