A Guide to Homeschooling in New Mexico

In this brief overview, we will explore the Legal Requirements, Options/The OPFD, Finances, and a few Benefits of a homeschooling environment.

Let’s Begin with a Working Definition

Definition of “Home School”

In New Mexico statute, “home school” is defined as:

“The operation by the parent of a school-age person of a home study program of instruction that provides a basic academic educational program, including reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.”
— Section 22-1-2(E) NMSA 1978

Legal Requirements

“Any person operating or intending to operate a home school shall:

1. Submit a home school registration form made available by the department, notifying the department within thirty days of establishing the home school and on or before August 1 of each subsequent year.
2. Maintain records of student disease immunization or a waiver of that requirement.
3. Provide instruction by a person possessing at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.”
   — Section 22-1-2.1 NMSA 1978

Requirements in Steps

1. Notify:
   You must submit a notice of intent to the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) within 30 days of beginning homeschooling. This notification must be renewed annually by August 1 each year you continue to homeschool.

“Notify the state superintendent of your intent to homeschool. Notification must be made to the New Mexico Public Education Department within 30 days of starting your homeschool and annually by August 1 thereafter. Please visit the New Mexico Public Education Department’s website to find the latest notification form. You can mail the form to this address:

New Mexico Department of Education
Attn: Home School Notification
300 Don Gaspar
Santa Fe, NM 87501-2786
You can also submit the notice of intent online.”

2. Qualify:
   The person providing instruction must be the child’s parent or legal guardian and must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent (like a GED).
3. Requirements Within:
   Homeschooling must cover at least 180 instructional days per year, similar to public schools. The curriculum must include basic subjects like reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.
4. Immunization:
   You must maintain records of your child’s immunizations or obtain a waiver if there is a medical or religious exemption.
5. Keep Records:
   While not explicitly required by law, it is recommended to keep records of your homeschool activities, including attendance, grades, and any work samples or portfolios. This can be useful if you ever need to prove your child’s education.
   Important note: No Standardized Testing Mandate: New Mexico does not require homeschooled students to take standardized tests, though you might choose to have your child tested for personal or college application purposes.

Options / The OPFD

The Options for Parents & Families Division (OPFD)

What is the OPFD?
“The Options for Parents & Families Division (OPFD) strives to ensure that New Mexico families have access to the information they need to make informed decisions for the education of their students.”
In New Mexico, families can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling while mixing and matching learning opportunities.

Most of the nearly 900 public schools in New Mexico are operated by one of the state’s 89 school districts. One hundred of the state’s public schools are charter schools, which operate with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools operate under a contract with an authorizer, either the Public Education Commission (PEC) or a school district. Schools chartered by the PEC are called state charter schools and operate as their own independent school district or local education agency (LEA). Schools chartered by a district have more autonomy than other district schools but remain part of their local district. Currently, twelve New Mexico districts authorize charter schools.

Online and Virtual Schools

New Mexico offers a variety of online learning options, including our online and virtual offerings at Dailies.

New Mexico’s Virtual Programs

• New Mexico Connections Academy: A tuition-free public school for grades 4–12 open to all New Mexico residents.
• Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico: A tuition-free, full-time online public school program that offers career and college prep.
• New Mexico Virtual Course Consortium (NMVC²): A network of public school districts and charter schools that offers supplemental online courses.
• Pecos Cyber Academy: A free, full-time online learning option for students.
• eCademy K8 and eCademy High School: Free, full-time online learning options for students.

Outside the New Mexico Network

Some online platforms provide a complete curriculum and live teacher support, giving parents the option of a hands-off, guided educational experience. These virtual programs typically require tuition but offer convenience and support for families seeking more structure. Check out Dailies for a great variety of options to assist your family on your homeschool learning path.

Hybrid Homeschooling

Hybrid homeschooling blends at-home learning with in-person classes, often through partnerships with local co-ops, community centers, or local schools. This option allows students to attend classes in specific subjects or participate in extracurricular activities while still being homeschooled for the majority of their coursework. Dailies is a great option for hybrid learning, as we offer a wide range of enrichment classes to advance your students’ education.

Co-ops and Learning Pods

Homeschooling co-ops and learning pods provide a shared educational experience for children from multiple families. In a co-op, parents take turns teaching specific subjects, often rotating responsibilities. Learning pods are smaller, family-driven groups where parents may pool funds to hire a tutor or teacher to facilitate learning for multiple children at once.

Financial Support and Resources for Homeschoolers

New Mexico does not offer financial support for homeschooling, meaning that families are responsible for the full cost of homeschooling, including textbooks, technology, and other educational expenses. Despite this, here are a couple of federal options to consider:

Federal Options to Note:

• Coverdell:
  A Coverdell education savings account (Coverdell ESA) is a trust or custodial account set up in the United States solely for paying qualified education expenses for the designated beneficiary of the account. This benefit applies to both qualified higher education expenses and qualified elementary and secondary education expenses. Requirements include:
• The designated beneficiary must be under the age of 18 or be a special needs beneficiary when the account is established.
• The account must be designated as a Coverdell ESA when created.
• The document creating and governing the account must be in writing and meet certain requirements.
  (Topic No. 310 Coverdell Education Savings Accounts | Internal Revenue Service, 2019)
• 529 Plan:
  A 529 plan is operated by a state or educational institution, providing tax advantages and potentially other incentives to make it easier to save for college and other post-secondary training or for tuition related to enrollment at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school for a designated beneficiary, such as a child or grandchild.
  (529 Plans: Questions and Answers | Internal Revenue Service, 2016)

A Few Benefits

The benefits of homeschooling are plentiful and reach across a broad range of possibilities. Here are three key benefits:

• Academic Benefits:
  Homeschooling allows for tailored, one-on-one instruction, enabling a focused approach to your child’s education.
• Family Bonding:
  When done together, homeschooling can strengthen the bonds between parents and children. Spending time together exploring concepts and ideas fosters a strong foundation of shared experiences.
• Creativity:
  Homeschooling offers numerous creative outlets, enhancing subjects like counting, letters, and art assignments. This flexibility encourages hands-on learning that can greatly benefit your family’s educational journey.

Bonus Material

Does my curriculum have to be approved by the NMPED?
No, your curriculum does not have to be approved by the NMPED. The NMPED does not approve curriculum. The state homeschool requirement is that instruction be provided in five primary subjects:

• Reading
• Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Science
• Math

Can my child take classes part-time and participate in sports in the local school district?
The local public school district is required to allow homeschool students to participate in sports and extracurricular activities if they meet certain requirements. Participating part-time in courses at the local school is at the discretion of the district. If the district allows homeschool students to participate, your child would need to enroll with their assigned STARS ID and would likely be considered a part-time student, funded by the state proportionately. For sports and extracurricular activities, please contact the New Mexico Activities Association at 505-923-3110.
“If you have questions about educational options for your child after exploring the Options for Parents & Families web pages, please contact us at charter.schools@ped.nm.gov or (505) 827-6909. Questions about homeschooling can be directed to info.homeschool@ped.nm.gov.”
(Frequently Asked Questions, 2025)

Summary

In summary, I hope you find this guide helpful as it summarizes the Legal Requirements, Options/The OPFD, Finances, and Benefits of a homeschooling environment. Homeschooling can provide positive outcomes for many families. I hope this article guides you and your family in the direction that works best for you. We also hope to see you within the Dailies community with our classes and offerings that truly facilitate and support a homeschool environment.

Resources

• Options For Parents & Families. (2024). New Mexico Public Education Department. https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/options-parents-families
• School Choice Opportunities. (2024, August 16). Navigate School Choice. https://myschoolchoice.com/opportunities
• Topic No. 310 Coverdell Education Savings Accounts | Internal Revenue Service. (2019). Irs.gov. https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc310
• 529 Plans: Questions and answers | Internal Revenue Service. (2016). Irs.gov. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/529-plans-questions-and-answers