Table of Contents

Click to proceed to a corresponding section.

Homeschooling in North Carolina

Home School Qualiications and Requirements

Listing a Home School for Legal Recognition

School Names and Chief Administrators

Termination power of a Home School

Schools Out of State Travel

Two Household Home

Home School Visits by DNPE

National Standardized Testing Requirement

Nationally Standardized Achievement Test Vendors

10

Home School Academics

12

Textbooks/Curriculum

14

Diplomas and Transcripts

15

Basic Subjects Traditionally Taught in Private Elementary & Middle Schools

16

North Carolina Public High School Graduation (College Prep Diploma)

16

Minimum Admissions Requirements at the 16 Institutions of the University of

North Carolina

17

Drivers Education and Driver Eligibility Certiicates

18

DNPE Recommendations

22

Appendix
Web Copy of Notice of Intent Form to Open a (New) Home School
Web Copy of Notice of Intent to Re-Open a Home School
Attendance From

24
25
26

This online publication was produced by the N.C. Department of Administration in July 2013.
1

Homeschooling in North Carolina

The North Carolina compulsory school attendance law (Article 26, Chapter 115C) requires that
parents and/or guardians, of children who are at least age 7 but not yet 16, ensure that their
children attend school. Parents may use their discretion to select the educational environment
to ful ill the compulsory school attendance law. Parents are legally allowed to home school
their children as prescribed by G.S. 115C-563(a). G.S. 115C-563(a) de ines a home school as a
nonpublic school consisting of the children of not more than two families or households, where the
parents or legal guardians or members of either household determine the scope and sequence of
academic instruction, provide academic instruction, and determine additional sources of academic
instruction.
The entire statute can be reviewed by clicking the following link:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/byarticle/chapter_115c/
article_39.html
Parents who desire to home school their child or children must submit a Notice of Intent to
Operate a Home School (NOI) to the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE).
DNPE is authorized by state law to receive all home school notices of intent to begin initial
operation and to terminate operation. DNPE is also authorized by state law to annually inspect
the schools student attendance and nationally standardized achievement test records. Chief
administrators of home schools may receive an invitation to meet with a DNPE representative
outside the general home school for annual inspection of student records.

Home School Qualiications and Requirements

As prescribed in Article 39 of G.S. 115C, parents/guardians residing in North Carolina and desiring
to home school their children who are at least age 7 but not yet age 16 must:

Hold at least a high school diploma or its equivalent ;

Send to DNPE a Notice of Intent to Operate a Home School ;

Elect to operate under either Part 1 or Part 2 of Article 39 of the G.S. 115C as a religious or
non-religious school ;

Operate the school on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months, excluding
reasonable holidays and vacations ;

Make and Maintain the school disease immunization and annual attendance records for
each student (see sample attendance record located in the Appendix) ;

Have a nationally standardized achievement test administered annually to each student ;

and

Notify DNPE when the school is no longer in operation .

Listing a Home School for Legal Recognition

Pursuant to G.S. 115C-552 and 115C-560, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to operate a new home
school or a notice of termination of an existing home school must be provided to DNPE
Notice of Intent to Operate a Home School may be submitted during the months of July through
April each year. NOI forms WILL NOT be accepted during May and June of each year. IF there are
extenuating circumstances where a family feels that their only option is to withdraw their child
(children) from their current school during the inactive period, a family may contact DNPE to
request a NOI form.
Children between the ages of seven and 16 years of age are required to be enrolled in either public
or non-public school. Those who anticipate forming a home school to educate a child when the
child reaches seven years of age should submit the NOI before the childs 7th birthday. Please
do not ile a NOI if the only school-aged child will not turn age 7 in the current school year, since
the compulsory school attendance laws would not yet be applicable. The notice must include the
name and address of the school along with the name of the schools owner and chief administrator.
There is a limit of one NOI per household (not per child). Therefore, it is NOT necessary for the
chief administrator to ile another NOI to add an additional student.
Submitting Notice of Intent (NOI) to Operate a Home School
A NEW NOI to operate a home school should be submitted electronically.
If there are technical dificulties submitting the NOI online, please contact DNPE at 919-733-4276.
Annual Update
To assist each home school in complying with G.S. 115C-552 and G.S. 115C-560, each home
school is requested to complete an online update annually to notify DNPE if the home
school has been terminated and to update the contact information for the home school and
enrollment numbers. The update period is between August 1st and September 30th each
year. A reminder will be sent to each home school chief administrator via email.
If there are technical dificulties while completing the annual update, please contact DNPE at 919733-4276.
Diploma evidence for parents/guardians
The chief administrator shall provide a copy of his/her high school diploma, college diploma or
GED to DNPE . Acceptable examples of graduation from high school include a copy of the high
school or college transcriptprovided it states clearly that a diploma (high school or college)
was awarded in a speci ic month and year. High school certi icates or copies of them are not
acceptable.

A letter on the letterhead of the educational institution of graduation stating the full name of the
chief administrator and that a high school or college diploma was received from that institution in
a speci ic month and year is also acceptable evidence of graduation
If the graduation documentation is in a language other than English, please enclose an English
translation of it by a non-related adult residing outside of the household. That person should then
sign and date the translated document and provide a telephone number and mailing address for
veri ication purposes. The credentials of the person performing the translation should also be
provided.
Failure to include diploma evidence with your NOI will delay processing and, consequently, may
delay the withdrawal of your student from the conventional school in which he/she is currently
enrolled.
Back dating the Notice of Intent form
Back dating is prohibited. Listing with DNPE begins on the date both the NOI form and the
diploma evidence(s) are received by DNPEnot on the date entered on the NOI form or the
date it was submitted electronically.
Re-opening a home school
Less than ive years since terminating the home school:
If the home school has been closed for less than ive years, the home school chief administrator
can submit electronically a NOI to re-open his/her home school. The following requirements
apply:
The same home school name must be used.
The chief administrator must provide a current and valid email address, the previous
address,
county and update the address if applicable.
More than ive years since terminating the home school:
If the home school has been closed for ive years or more, the chief administrator will need to
initiate the process for opening a new home school.
Acknowledgment of Notice of Intent
Beginning July 1, 2011, all oficial acknowledgments for legally listed home schools from DNPE
will be sent to the email address provided by the chief administrator during the initial submission
of the Notice of Intent. This email should be saved by the chief administrator for future reference
and use.
For those who submitted a NOI via USPS mail prior to July 1, 2011, the orange acknowledgment
postcard initially received from DNPE will not be replaced.
In a case when a chief administrator needs an acknowledgement of a schools current listing with
DNPE, DNPE can furnish (upon request only) an Inspection Veriication Certiicate.

Acknowledgment, Notice of IntentInspection Veriication Certiicate

To obtain an Inspection Veri ication Certi icate (IVC), mail DNPE a copy (keep originals at
home) of the most recent home school student national standardized test result scores and
student attendance records, speciically request in writing the IVC. Be sure to include with
the written request the home school name, mailing address, county and chief administrators
name. On the mailing envelope, place the words IVC Section on the irst line of the DNPE
mailing address to expedite the handling of your request when it arrives.

School Names and Chief Administrators

Selecting a school name
1. School name length should not exceed 30 characters (including spaces and punctuation);
2. To avoid duplication and confusion, do not use the following words in the name: Charter,
college, elementary, family, grade, grammar, high, home, incorporated (or inc), junior,
kindergarten, lower, middle, primary, public, residence, schooling, secondary, seminary, senior,
the, university or upper; and
3. Any school submitting its NOI without providing a school name will automatically be
assigned a school name beginning with the last name of the chief administrator followed by
the word school.
Procedures for handling duplicate school names
All school names are separated according to North Carolina counties. If a new (or re-opening)
home school selects the same name as another already listed home school in any given
county, DNPE will add a hyphen after the school name submitted and add the last name of the
chief administrator.
If there is already a school in that county with that school name and a chief administrator
with the same last name as well, DNPE will also add the initial of the irst name of the chief
administrator to the last name immediately after the hyphen.
Changing a school name
The school name submitted to DNPE on the initial NOI will be the only name retained and
used of icially by the division for state record keeping, all future iling, correspondence,
identi ication, mailing, etc. purposes.
If you change your school name after initially listing with DNPE, when corresponding or
completing DNPE forms thereafter, always use your new school name irst followed by, in
parentheses, the word formerly and the school name submitted on your initial NOI to DNPE.

Procedure for changing the Chief Administrators name and/or the Owners name
There are only four circumstances under which DNPE will change an existing home school
chief administrators name:
1.
2.
3.
4.

An of icial divorce
A legal change of last name by a court of law
Marriage
Death

Once a divorce, a legal change of last name by a court of law, or a marriage has occurred, mail a
letter to DNPE providing:

The county in which the home school is located;

The home school name;
Its mailing address;
Its telephone number;
The current date; and
The irst and last name of its Chief Administrator (as it currently appears on ile at DNPE).

The communication signed by the chief administrator should state one of the identi ied
circumstances and photocopied government issued evidence must accompany it.
If the chief administrator passes away, the surviving parent/guardian should submit a letter to
DNPE providing the same information stated above. However, the communication must state
instead that the chief administrator is deceased, a death certi icate, and request that DNPE make
this change in its records. If DNPE does not already have high school or college diploma evidence
on ile for the surviving parent/guardian, a photocopy of such evidence must accompany the letter.
An email address for the new chief administrator should also be provided.
If a co-owner passes away, however, the communication does not need to include high school or
college diploma evidence for the surviving parent/guardian co-owner, providing that DNPE has the
diploma evidence on ile. The surviving parent/guardian co-owner may become the sole owner,
provided DNPE is provided the proper noti ication as described in the above question.

Termination Power of a Home School

he home school chief administrator may exercise the authority to terminate a home schools
operation at any time by notifying DNPE of the termination decision pursuant to G.S. 115C-552
and 115C-560.
Additional Reasons Home Schools can be Terminated
Failing to meet all of the home school legal requirements, including:

Proving an invalid school address;

If any correspondence sent to a home school via the U. S. Postal Service is returned to DNPE
as undeliverable or address not known;
Home schools that have moved out-of-state;
Home schools that report no student enrollment; and
6

(Continued on next page)

Home schools that do not operate on a regular schedule for more than three consecutive
calendar months during any July 1 through the following June 30 period of time.

Please note: When the home school no longer meets the legal home school requirements, there is
the risk of compulsory attendance prosecution by local public school of icials.
No Students Enrolled and Notice of Intent Legal Status
In accordance with G.S. 115C-548 and G.S. 115C-556, every home school must operate on a regular
schedule for at least nine calendar months each year. During that nine-month period, whenever
all students in the household are enrolled full-time in a conventional school (public or private) or
college, the home school would automatically be considered legally closed as of the date of said
enrollment by the parent/guardian for failure to comply with the operating on a regular schedule
statutory requirementuntil a NOI to re-open the school is later received by DNPE. A school can
operate on a regular schedule only when there is at least one student enrolled. However, if the
student is withdrawn from the public or private school within 10 calendars days of enrollment,
the home school chief administrator shall not have to ile a NOI with DNPE in order to re-open the
home school.

Out of State Travel

The Administrator and students of a North Carolina home school must maintain residency
in North Carolina. Failure to maintain residency shall terminate the home school. If a home
school family will be temporarily living in another state for an extended period of time, the chief
administrator should inquire of the state of the temporary residence about the truancy laws of that
state.

Two-Household Home Schools

If a home school (household A) currently listed with DNPE is teaching students who are of
North Carolina compulsory attendance age (at least age 7 but not yet age16) and who live in
the house wishes to also teach students from ONE additional household (household B), the
home school may legally do so.
If the local conventional school where household Bs children currently attend requires
written veri ication that those students are now enrolled in household As home school, the
household A home school chief administrator will need to provide that information to the local
conventional school in order for that local school to of icially release the household B students
to attend household As home school.
Only educational settings in which each household has children living in them (who are at least
age 7, but not yet age 16) can qualify as two-household schools. Educational settings involving
children from three or more households cannot qualify as home schools. Such arrangements
must instead follow the conventional non-public school legal requirements.

Home School Visits by DNPE

Since 1985, the North Carolina General Statutes (115C-549 and 115C-557) governing home
schools has required that certain home school records shall be made availableat the
principal ofice of such school, at all reasonable times, for annual inspection by a duly authorized
representative of the State of North Carolina. The purpose of the visit is to determine that the
home school record keeping statutory requirements are being met on a continuing basis. The
representative will always be a member of the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education
staff. You will always receive at least ive days notice via the United States Postal Service or by
telephone or email.
Types of Visits
1. Random Selected Records Inspection Visits to Home School Residence
2. Request to Attend a Record Review Meeting
Record Review Meetings
DNPE utilizes a program called Record Review Meetings to monitor home school recordkeeping compliance with North Carolina statutes. At the selected date and time, the parent and
the DNPE of icial meet for about 25 minutes to review the legal records required by each home
school. The program involves the following:

Any home school administrator who (since iling with DNPE an initial NOI) is eligible to
be invited to voluntarily participate in this program (in lieu of an on-site visit to the home
school). Only schools which are in their second , fourth, seventh, or tenth consecutive
school year of being listed with DNPE are randomly selected for the invitation.

DNPE establishes a temporary of ice space for a day or more in major cities throughout
the State. Record Review Meetings are scheduled statewide each school year for two-three
weeks within each school month between November 1 and May 31.

Each qualifying family living within a one-hour drive of the meeting location near them
receives by mail (about 20 days in advance) an invitation to participate. It gives the
location, directions to the location, dates, items to bring, and the name of the DNPE staff
member conducting the meeting.

The invitation asks the family to call the DNPE of ice within 10 days to select a convenient
appointment date and time.

National Standardized Testing Requirement

In accordance with G.S. 115C-564, each student enrolled in a home school is required to take
a national standardized test annually. The chief administrator is responsible for securing and
scheduling the national standardized test. The test results must be kept on ile at the home school
for at least one year thereafter. The test results must be made available for annual inspection upon
request by a DNPE staff member. Test results provided to DNPE are not considered a public record
and will not be shared.
Machined-scored assessments are not required nor is there a minimum score requirement on
any national standardized test for any home school student. North Carolina public school Endof-Grade tests are not required nor do these tests meet the state requirement for annual
national standardized testing.
Below are tests home schools in North Carolina use most often; however, there are many others
available to choose:
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ III is the latest version)
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) for grades 18 and also called Iowa Tests of Achievement
and Pro iciency (TAP) for Grades 912
California Achievement Test (CAT)
Stanford Achievement Test
PASS Test
Terra Nova Plus
BASI

Nationally Standardized Achievement Test Vendors

Test Vendor
ATC Educational
Services

Address

Phone Number

Web Site/Email

ATC Educational Services

3700 Valley Pine Court
Wendell, NC 27591

(919) 374-0282 (Raleigh

and surrounding areas)

www.atced.com

Beverly Hardister
7740 Orchard Park Circle
Harrisburg, NC 28075

(704) 454-3140 (Charlotte

location)

Becky Rulapaugh
602 Old Mill Road
Castle Hayne, NC 28429

(910) 431-8742
(Wilmington location)

Bayside School
Services

PO Box 250
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

(800) 723-3057
(252) 441-5351

www.baysideschoolservices.com

Bindrim Testing and

Educational Services

107 SE Main Street

Suites 203-205
Rocky Mount, NC 27801

Info: (252) 451-0118

Appts: (252) 266-0181

www.testingandeducationalservices.
com

Bob Jones University

Press

BJU Press Customer Service

Greenville, SC 29614-0062

(800)845-5731 or
(864)770-1317 (for
questions)
M-F 8am-5pm EDT

www.bjupresshomeschool.com
Email: [email protected]

Brewer Testing
Services

2853 Davis Road

East Bend, NC 27018

(336) 699-3997

Test Questions:
[email protected]
Order/Grading Status Questions:
[email protected]
www.brewertesting.com

Covenant Education
Services

1213 Queen Anne Road

Wilson, NC 27896

(252) 281-4788

Email: [email protected]
www.covenanteducationservices.net

Crosspointe
Educational Services

PO Box 10
Willow Spring, NC 27592

(919) 341-1552
(888) 713-1249

[email protected]
www.cetesting.com

1421 East Broad Street

Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Diane Allen &
Associates

804 Cricket Knoll Road

Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

(919) 552-4001

[email protected]
www.dallenassociates.com

ED-CORE Educational
Services

2610 New Walkertown Road

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

(336) 723-3100

[email protected]

Hewitt Educational
Resources

2103 Main Street

Washougal, WA 98671

(360) 835-8708
(800) 348-1750

[email protected]
www.hewitthomeschooling.com

Lighthouse
Educational Services

113 Wyn ield Drive

Clayton, NC 27520

(919) 302-5786

[email protected]
www.lighthouseedu.net

McGettrick Testing
Services

106 Quartemaine Court

Cary, NC 27513

(919) 469-0924

[email protected]

Piedmont Education
Services

1629 Turfwood Drive

Pfafftown, NC 27040

(336) 924-2494

www.pesdirect.com

**This list is provided as a courtesy. It is not to be interpreted as an endorsement or recommendation by DNPE.

10

Smoky Mountain
Academic Resources
and Training (WJIII)

Asheville, NC

(828) 775-7949

Web: www.smarttesting.net

Southeast Education
Associates

PO Box MM
137 Palmer Avenue
Saltville, VA 24370

(276) 496-7777 Ext. 221

Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aopse.com

The Sycamore Tree

Mail: 2179 Meyer Place

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Info: (888) 334-6711

Orders & Order Info:
(800) 779-6750

[email protected]
[email protected]
www.mailordercentral.com/
sycamoretree/

Thurbers Educational 400 Clayton Road, Chapel

Assessments
Hill, NC 27514

(919) 967-5282

[email protected]
www.thurbers.net

Triangle Education
Assessments

(919) 387-7004
(877) 843-8837

www.triangleeducationassessments.
com

2521 Schieffelin Road

Suite 102
Apex, NC 27502

**This list is provided as a courtesy. It is not to be interpreted as an endorsement or recommendation by DNPE.

11

Home School Academics

Home School Instructors
The law allows, for two-household schoolseducational settings in which children from both
households can legally receive academic instruction togetherto be instructed by a parent/
legal guardian (or other adult) living in either household.
The chief administrator and all instructors in the household(s) must hold at least a high school
diploma or its equivalent.
Use of outside of the household professional educator
Academic Instruction
G.S. 115C-563(a) gives the legal de inition of a home school. It allows the parent, legal
guardian, or a member of the two-family home school the discretion to determine the scope
and sequence and sources of the academic instruction including, but not limited to, the use
of professional educators, tutors, and other persons knowledgeable about the subject of
instruction..

Consultant Services
Professional educators may provide such services as:

Guidance concerning the choosing of curriculum, textbooks and standardized testing;

Acquiring curriculum, textbook and standardized test materials;
Administering and scoring of the students annual nationally standardized achievement test;
Meeting periodically with the teaching parent/guardian to instruct him/her on how to best present
the forthcoming academic subject material to the student;
Assist the parent with the grading of homework; and
Answer any educational questions the teaching parent/guardian may have.

Enrollment in Distance Learning Programs

A North Carolina family may legally enroll its students in a distance learning program (such as a
correspondence, internet-based, or audio/video program), and utilize that organizations textbooks,
curriculum, learning materials, etc.
However, if the student is at least age 7 but not yet age 16 (age 18 if the student wishes to obtain/
retain a North Carolina drivers license), the family must first establish its own North Carolina home
school by listing it with DNPE.
When doing so, the family must list the parent/guardians name as the home school owner, chief
administrator and instruction provider as well as the parent/guardians address and telephone
number (NOT that of the distance learning program).
On an on-going basis from that point, the family must always then satisfy all of North Carolinas
home school lawsincluding the maintenance of the state mandated home school records at the
home school site.
12

Student enrollment part-time in either a local conventional school or college

For students who are at least age 16, enrollment in either a local conventional school or college is
permissible.
For students who are of compulsory attendance age (at least age 7, but not yet age 16), it is
permissible if the local conventional school (public or non-public) or college officials allow such
part-time arrangements.
College level courses (not high school), however, may be taken part-time in any subject at local
colleges (either community or four-year, degree-granting colleges/universities).
Each local education agency (LEA) may have different policies relating to the enrollment of
homeschool students in one or more public school courses. Please inquire of the LEA about their
policies on enrolling a home school student in one or more courses and how the student will be
classified by the system (as either a visiting student or a public school student of the LEA).
Enrollment in N.C. Virtual Public High School
Enrollment in the N.C. Virtual Public School program is for North Carolina public school students.
The authorizing legislation for the North Carolina Virtual Public School states: NCVPS shall be
available at no cost to all students in North Carolina who are enrolled in North Carolinas public schools,
Department of Defense schools, and schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Homeschoolers
will be subjected to a course fee for each course that student is registered.
To review course offerings and to register please visit the following website:
http://www.ncvps.org/index.php/parents/non-public-school-students/.

13

Career and College Promise

Career & College Promise offers North Carolina high school students a clear path to success in
college or in a career. The program is free to all students who maintain a B average and meet
other eligibility requirements.
Through a partnership of the Department of Public Instruction, the N.C. Community College
System, the University of North Carolina system and many independent colleges and universities,
eligible high school students can begin to earn college credit at a community college campus at no
cost to them or their families. Three pathways are offered for home school students:

College Transfer to all UNC System Institutions and many of North Carolinas Independent
Colleges and Universities; or
A credential, certi icate or diploma in a technical career.

The two pathways to choose from are:

College Transfer Earn tuition-free course credits toward a four-year degree through North Carolinas
community colleges. All credits in the completion of 44-hour credit program will transfer to all UNC
institutions and many of North Carolinas Independent Colleges and Universities.
Technical Career Earn tuition-free course credits at a North Carolina community college toward an
entry-level job credential, certificate or diploma in a technical career.
Basic Eligibility:
High school junior or senior status as of January 2012 or later
Weighted 3.0 GPA
Continue to make progress toward high school graduation
Complete transcript (homeschool and other courses, if applicable)
Copy of homeschool registration form
Meet testing requirements (examples: SAT, ACT, PSAT, PLAN)
Complete application (may vary by community college)
Contact a College Career Promise representative to schedule an appointment
For more information contact your local community college and/or visit the North Carolina Community
College system website at http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/programs/ccp.htm
Use of various electronic instructional technologies
The use of audio visual electronic technologies (such as the internet, video schools, satellite, etc.) is
legally acceptable.

Textbooks/Curriculum
Government (state, federal or local) does not provide funding for North Carolina home schools.
The chief administrators of the home school must pay for and purchase all textbook and/or
curriculum directly from private companies.

14

Diplomas and Transcripts

The State of North Carolina does not issue a diploma or a transcript for home schooled students.
The home school parent/guardian, who serves as the chief administrator of the home school designs,
provides and retains copies of each students diploma and/or transcript. Each non-public school
student receives all diplomas and transcripts from the chief administrator of the school in which the
student is enrolled.
Whenever a former home school student is presented for enrollment at a conventional school
(public or non-public) or college, that educational institution may request a student transcript/
record of grade levels successfully completed, subjects taught, semester grades, nationally
standardized test scores while enrolled in the home school.
All such information is provided solely by the parent/guardiannot by state or local government
of icials. North Carolina law states that a home school is a non-public school. When a student
successfully completes his/her non-public schools academic requirements for high school
graduation, the non-public school itself (not a government agency) maintains academic records
of the students high school academic work and issues student transcripts and graduation
veri ications in future years as requested. DNPE does not provide student graduation veri ications
for non-public school graduates (whether from a private K12 or a home school) nor does it
maintain or keep student academic records or transcriptsonly records concerning the legal
existence of such schools.
For this reason, chief administrators of home schools, which have graduated high school students
are strongly encouraged to permanently retain student transcripts re lecting all of the students
grade 912 academic work. A student may need a copy of his/her high school transcript many
years after graduationperhaps even after the home school administrator has deceased. It is
suggested the transcript should include:

Suggested Transcript Information

The DNPE recommends the inclusion of the following information in home school transcripts:
The home schools name, address and telephone number;
Subjects completed by the student by school year (for each year);
If a student completed courses at a local high school, those courses should be included on
the transcript as transferred courses with the grade earned;
The numerical (or letter) grade and unit credit earned for each subject;
Annual nationally standardized test scores; and
The month and year of high school graduation.
If the student is academically gifted and has successfully mastered some traditional high school
level courses prior to grade 9, those courses should be noted on the transcript including the grade
the course(s) was completed. In most conventional schools, a unit credit is given for successful
completion of each subject which involved at least 150 clock hours of academic instruction over
the school year.

15

Basic Subjects Traditionally Taught in Private Elementary & Middle Schools

Grades 16
Language Arts
Reading
Handwriting
English Grammar
Spelling
Math
Science
History
Gr. 4 The U.S. & North Carolina
Gr. 5 Western Hemisphere Nations
Gr. 6 Eastern Hemisphere Nations
Social Studies
Gr. 1 Families
Gr. 2 Communities
Gr. 3 Early America

Grades 78
Language Arts
English Grammar & Composition
Spelling
Literature
Math
Social Studies
Gr. 7 World Studies
Gr. 8 American & North Carolina
Science
Gr. 7 Life
Gr. 8 Earth-Space
Health, Safety & Physical Education

Health, Safety & Physical Education

Minimum Requirements for a North Carolina Public School High School Graduation
College Prep DiplomaGrade 912 Subject Credits Required
English 4 Credits
(I, II, III & IV)
Foreign Language 2 Credits
(Both must be in same language)
Mathematics 4 Credits
(Algebra I, II, Geometry & one beyond Algebra II or Integrated Mathematics I, II, III and a credit
beyond Integrated Mathematics III)
Science 3 Credits
(A physical science, Biology & Earth/Environmental Science)
Social Studies 3 Credits
(Civics & Economics, U.S. History, World History)
(*2 coursed to meet UNC minimum admission requirementsU.S. History & Elective)
Health & Physical Education 1 Credit
Electives 3 Credits and other Credits designated by LEA
For more detailed information go to www.ncpublicschools.org.
** These requirements are established by the North Carolina State Board of Education; local public
school boards of education usually require additional units for graduation.

16

Minimum Admissions Requirements at the 16 Institutions of the

University of North Carolina
For the class of 2006 and beyond, the following courses are required for admissionin addition to
an institutions own speci ic requirements:

In language, six course credits including: Four in English emphasizing grammar,

composition and literature; plus, two units of a language other than English;

In mathematics, four course credits including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and one
credit beyond Algebra II; or Algebra I, II and two units beyond Algebra II; or Integrated
Mathematics I, II, III and one unit beyond Integrated Mathematics III;
(The fourth credit of math applies to effects applicants to all institutions except the
North Carolina School of the Arts.) It is recommended that prospective students take a
mathematics course credit in the 12th grade;

In science, three course credits including:

o At least one credit in a life or biological science (for exampleBiology);
o At least one credit in a physical science (for example Physical Science, Chemistry
or Physics);
o At least one laboratory course; and

In social studies, two course credits including one credit in U.S. History; but, an applicant
who does not have the credit in U.S. History may be admitted on the condition that at least
three semester hours in that subject will be passed by the end of the sophomore year.

Course credits as de ined in these requirements may include those high school level courses
taken and passed by an applicant after graduating from high school, as well as those taken while
enrolled as a high school student.
FOR SOME TRANSFER STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL
PRIOR TO 1990 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
Individual constituent institutions may require other courses in addition to the minimum
requirements.
High school students should take the ACT or SAT either in their junior year or in the fall of their
senior year. Scores are forwarded directly to the admissions of icer of the campus applied to by the
agency which administers the test.
In reviewing applications, admissions of icers consider an applicants high school courses
taken and grades received, class rank or grade point average, ACT or SAT scores, extracurricular
activities and recommendations. For all freshman entering the UNC system in the fall of 2009 and
thereafter, new statewide minimum admissions requirements for high school GPAs as well as SAT
and ACT scores apply. Check with the university of choice for speci ic requirements.
For transfer students, requirements for admission usually include a transcript from high school
and each former college attended, eligibility to return to the institution last attended, C
cumulative average grade on all work attempted at other colleges and an application fee.
17

Drivers Education and Driver Eligibility Certiicates (DEC)

Driver Education Course
Driver Education is available only through two sources:
1. The local public high school that student would be enrolled.
2. A local professional North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles approved driver training
program.
Pursuant to Session Law 2011-145 Section 31.1, each Local Education Agency has the discretion to
charge a fee up to $45 per student for Driver Education courses. Parents/guardians should contact
the Local Education Agency to determine the cost that will be required for any Driver Education
course.
If a non-public school student fails to pass the course, he/she must then either wait until at least
age 18 to obtain a North Carolina drivers license; or, repeat the course at his/her own expense at a
professional driver training school approved by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.
The of icial North Carolina Driver Education course completion certi icate which is awarded to
students under age 18 by the state-approved Driver Education course instructor has no expiration
date. Successful completion of the of icial North Carolina Driver Education course is not required
for age 18 and older adults in order to obtain a North Carolina drivers license.
Parent (or other) taught Driver Education courses are UNACCEPTABLE toward obtaining a North
Carolina drivers permit/license.
Please note: Minors attending an out of state non-public or public school but who reside in North
Carolina must attend one of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles certiied commercial
driving schools throughout North Carolina which issues an oficial North Carolina Driver Education
Certiication of Completion.
Issuance of Driver Eligibility Certiicates (DEC) by Non-Public Schools
Before issuing a DEC, a conventional non-public school or a home school must already have on
ile with the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education a currently valid Notice of Intent to
Operate and must be in compliance with all the laws and regulations applicable to conventional
non-public schools or home schools which enroll students subject to compulsory attendance laws.
The chief administrator of a non-public school which is in compliance with all laws and regulations
applicable to that type of non-public school may then request DEC forms from the North Carolina
Division of Non-Public Educationthe exclusive supplier of DEC forms to all non-public schools.
These DEC forms are then non-transferable between schools.
Non-public schools may not request DEC forms from the North Carolina Division of Non-Public
Education until after the schools currently valid Notice of Intent to Operate has been on ile with
the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education for six calendar months, unless the student has
moved to North Carolina within the last 30 days preceding the DEC form order date.

18

Procedure for Requesting a DEC

Only the chief administrator of a North Carolina non-public school (home or conventional) can
request a DEC. The school must have been registered with DNPE for at least the last six calendar
months and meets all current North Carolina requirements for such a school. If the home school
has been closed due to an invalid address, the a six-month waiting period will remain in effect
beginning with the legal re-activation date of the school as listed in the DNPE databasebefore a
student driving eligibility certiicate can be requested.
Available Request Options:
1. Online request on DNPEs website, www.ncdnpe.org.
2. Telephone: (919) 733-4276; prompt 3 for DECs; Leave a message indicating the type of
school (home); county in which it is located; name of the schools chief administrator; the
schools name; its mailing address, including city and zip code; its area code and telephone
number; and, the number of DECs needed.
3. U.S. Postal Service in writing providing the same information as identi ied in #2.
Once the information has been received, and open legal status of the home school has been
veri ied, the DECs will be mailed via US mail within 48 hours.
Student Requirements for Obtaining a DEC
A non-public school student under age 18 currently and properly enrolled in that school and
wishing to obtain a North Carolina drivers license or a learners permit must irst obtain a DEC
issued from and signed by either the chief administrator (or his/her designee) of the conventional
non-public school in which the student is enrolled, or from the chief administrator of the home
school in which the student is enrolled. The student must obtain the signed DEC form no more
than 30 days before the date the student applies for a North Carolina drivers license or learners
permit. See G.S. 20-11(n) and 115C-566.
In order for a non-public school student under age 18 to be eligible to receive a DEC, the following
requirements must be met:
1. The student must be enrolled in a non-public school which is currently meeting all the
requirements of Part 1, 2 or 3 of Article 39, Chapter 115C of the North Carolina General
Statutes and must be making academic progress toward obtaining a high school diploma
or its equivalentunless, the student cannot make progress toward obtaining it. That
academic progress shall be determined by the chief administrator (or his/her designee) of
the non-public school in which the student is enrolled;
2. The student must have not been expelled, suspended for more than 10 days, or assigned to
an alternative education setting for more than 10 days for committing one of the following
offenses after the students 14th birthday or during or after 8th grade:
a. Possession or sale of alcohol or a controlled substance on school property or at a
school-sponsored or school-related activity;
19

b. Bringing, possession or use of a weapon or irearm on school property; or,

c. Assault on a teacher or other school personnel on school property or at a school
sponsored or school-related activity.
North Carolina learners permit/drivers license revocation for these three conduct offenses are
mandated for one year and, if the student committed and was disciplined for the offense while the
student was age 17, the revocation period may extend past age 18.
A student who has committed one of these offenses may be eligible for a DEC only when the chief
school administrator (or his/her designee) has determined that the student has exhausted all
administrative appeals, is making academic progress toward high school graduation and meets
one of the three following conditions:
a. The conduct occurred before the student was age 15 and the student is now at least
age 16;
b. The conduct occurred after the student reached age 15 and it is at least one year
after the student has exhausted all administrative appeals; or,
c. The student quali ies for at least a Level 2 North Carolina drivers license, needs the
DEC in order to drive to and from school, a drug or alcohol treatment counseling
program, or a mental health treatment program, and no other transportation is
available. In the case of treatment program attendance, the revocation would be
suspended only long enough for completion of the treatment program. Once the
treatment program has been completed, the chief administrator of the non-public
school must then revoke until the full year revocation period has been satis ied.
3. A student whose permit/license was revoked or denied due to committing one of these
offenses may be eligible for a DEC only if, after 6 months from the date of ineligibility, the
chief school administrator (or his/her designee) determines that the student is making
academic progress toward high school graduation and that one of the following conditions
has been met:
a. The student has returned to school or been placed in an alternative educational
setting, and has displayed exemplary behavior, as de ined only as when a student has
no further offenses as listed earlier which would result in the earlier described types
of school disciplinary action;
b. The disciplinary action was for the possession or sale of alcohol or a controlled
substance and the student has successfully completed a drug or alcohol treatment
counseling program as determined by the chief administrator (or his/her designee)
of the school in which the student was enrolled at the time the offense occurred.
The chief administrator of the non-public school may grant a substantial hardship classi ication
for the student and provide a DEC despite the students lack of academic progress or a misconduct
offense such as listed earlier. Some examples of a substantial hardship could include:
a. If the parent/guardian is unable to drive due to illness or other impairment and the
student is the only person of driving age in the household;
20

b. If the student requires transportation to and from a job that is necessary to the
welfare of the family and is unable by any other means to do so.
Notiication to the North Carolina DMV
Non-public schools shall send written noti ication to the North Carolina Division of Non-Public
Education within ive calendar days of when a student who is at least age 15 but not yet age 18:
1. After having been issued a DEC, is no longer making academic progress toward obtaining a
high school diploma or its equivalent; and/or
2. Has dropped out of school and will NOT be enrolled in another school (public, conventional
non-public, home school or community college).
The written noti ication shall include:
1. The students legal name ( irst, middle and last, as on birth certi icate);
2. The students residence address (including street, city and zip code);
3
. The students date of birth;
4. The students gender;
5. The students race;
6. The students North Carolina learners permit/drivers license number;
7. The name of the parent/guardian with whom the student is living;
8. A statement giving the reason for the revocation;
9. The date of the students ineligibility or withdrawal from school;
10. The type of non-public school: Conventional or home?
11. The name of the non-public school;
12. The county in which the non-public school is located; and
13. The name of the chief administrator of the non-public school.
Within ive calendar days of the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Educations receipt of this
written noti ication from a non-public school, the Director of that of ice or his/her designee shall
inform the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles of the noti ication.

21

DNPE Recommendations

Conduct instruction each school year for at least 180 days.

Maintain a current daily log, journal or lesson plan book throughout the entire school year.

Keep school records longer than required by law.

When selecting your school name, choose an academic name appropriate for inclusion on
the students future high school diploma which would be provided by your school. Keep
in mind that DNPE will NOT be able to accommodate requests later for a change of school
name in the divisions iles.

In order to expedite the processing of Notices of Intent, please do not submit your Notice of
Intent until you are certain that your home school will de initely begin operation.

Do not withdraw your child from his/her present school or begin your school until you
have received written acknowledgment from DNPE that your completed Notice of Intent to
Operate a School form has been received.

National Standardized Testing Requirement

In accordance with G.S. 115C-563(a), each student enrolled in a home school is required to take a
national standardized test annually. The chief administrator is responsible for securing and scheduling the national standardized test. The test results must be kept on ile at the home school for
at least one year thereafter. The test results must be made available for annual inspection upon
request by a DNPE staff member. Test results provided to DNPE are not considered public record
and will not be shared.
Machined-scored assessments are not required nor is there a minimum score requirement on any
national standardized test for any home school student. North Carolina public school End-ofGrade tests are not required nor do these tests meet the state requirement for annual national standardized testing.
Below are tests home schools in North Carolina use most often; however, there are many others
available to choose:
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ III is the latest version)
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) for grades 18 and also called Iowa Tests of Achievement
and Pro iciency (TAP) for Grades 912
California Achievement Test (CAT)
Stanford Achievement Test
PASS Test
Terra Nova Plus
BASI

22

Appendix

23

Notice of Intent to Operate a Home School

24

Notice of Intent to Re-Open a Home School

25

Attendance From

26