Homeschooling in Rhode Island

Your options

1) Home instruction approved in advance by the local school committee (R.I. Gen. Laws 16-19-1/16-19-2). 2) enrollment in an approved private/non-public school (16-19-1).

Notice or letter of intent

Prior approval by the school committee of the town of residence is required before home instruction begins; the process usually starts with a letter of intent and a plan to the superintendent's office. If the family moves, the child must enroll in the new district before a new plan is approved. Statute does not set an annual renewal; check district practice.

Need a letter? See our letter of intent and withdrawal letter templates – but use the official form below if there is one.

Subjects, time, assessment and records

Subjects

Reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, U.S. history, Rhode Island history and principles of American government, taught in English and 'thorough and efficient'. RIDE FAQ also lists civics and health/physical education.

Days or hours

Period of attendance 'substantially equal' to public school (public schools: 1,080 hours/180 days); calendar need not match.

Testing or assessment

Method of evaluating progress (e.g., periodic testing, at home or at the public school) is agreed between parent and school committee at approval.

Records

Keep attendance register and return it to the school committee/superintendent/RIDE in the form public schools use; keep progress reports and test scores if testing is used; submit regular reports as agreed.

Parent qualifications

None (no diploma or teaching certificate required).

Other rules

Online programs must be approved by the school committee. Denials may be appealed to RIDE (free hearing). Districts must loan core-subject textbooks free (16-23-2).

Official forms

No state form; RIDE Homeschooling Guidance and FAQ (rev. Oct 2024): https://ride.ri.gov/media/36396/download

The law

R.I. Gen. Laws 16-19-1; 16-19-2 – read the law

Who to contact

• Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) – RIDE Legal Office (appeals of school committee home-instruction decisions); approval is by the local school committee via the superintendent's office[email protected] · 401-222-8979 (Legal Office) / 401-222-4600 (RIDE main) · Official pageWho handles notices: Local district (school committee approves; RIDE hears appeals)

Special education and public school classes and sports

No RI statute specific to homeschool special ed; districts must provide FAPE similar to parentally placed private-school students and the IEP team updates the IEP for home setting (Kimberly J. v. Coventry). Extracurricular/interscholastic participation is at each school committee's discretion (Commissioner encourages space-available access; RIIL rules apply).

Federal rules on Child Find and evaluations apply in every state – see special education.

Going back to public school in Rhode Island

To enroll your child in a public school in Rhode Island, contact the enrollment or registration office of your local school district or public school. Ask how it decides grade placement and whether it accepts credits from homeschooling before your child starts, and bring the records you choose to share. We didn’t find a state rule on this for Rhode Island in the official sources we checked – see the Rhode Island official page and ask the district.

See going back to school after homeschooling for what to bring, placement, credits and special education.