Homeschool reimbursement and benefits in Louisiana

4 statewide programs in Louisiana offer education services or help with specific costs. Eligibility and deadlines differ; check the program for your child's age and enrollment route.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Louisiana Home-School Educational Expense Deduction

You can deduct half of qualifying K-12 homeschool textbook and curriculum expenses from Louisiana taxable income, up to $6,000 per dependent. Claim it on your income-tax return with receipts; it is a deduction, not a $6,000 refund.

Eligibility and program rules

1. Louisiana residency

   You must be a resident; part-year residents can claim qualifying expenses paid in Louisiana while resident.

2. A dependent child

   You must have claimed the child on your current or prior-year return.

3. Textbooks and curriculum

   Keep receipts for necessary homeschool textbooks and curricula. The deduction cannot exceed your taxable income.

4. Do I need to apply again each year?

   Yes. Claim eligible expenses on each year’s tax return and keep the receipts.

What it is worth

Worked examples use 50% of expenses and the $6,000 cap.

$2,000 spent

$1,000

$8,000 spent

$4,000

$12,000 spent

$6,000

These are deductions from taxable income, not refund amounts.

From applying to keeping it

1. During the 2026 tax year

   Keep receipts

   Record qualifying expenses separately for each dependent.

2. When filing your 2026 Louisiana return

   Complete the worksheet

   Attach the Louisiana School Expense Deduction Worksheet and report the adjustment on Schedule E of Form IT-540.

3. If you share expenses

   Respect the child limit

   Parents filing separately share the $6,000 cap for the same dependent.

What it pays for

Covered

• Necessary homeschool textbooks
• Necessary homeschool curricula

Not covered

• A cash account
• Expenses above the per-dependent cap

Who to contact

Use Revenue’s school-expense guidance to prepare your claim.

Program information

Louisiana BESE-approved home-study textbook loan

Your BESE-approved home-study student can borrow state-approved textbooks when your local school system has extra copies. There is no cash award or statewide application window; ask the school board about inventory and any refundable deposit for 2026-27.

Eligibility and program rules

1. BESE-approved home study

   Use the approved home-study route and keep your approval current.

2. Available textbooks

   Your local system must have extra copies of the requested state-approved book.

3. When do we renew home study to keep borrowing?

   By October 1 or 12 months after initial approval, whichever is later, or when your child advances to the next grade. A deposit, if your school system charges one, comes back when you return the books.

From applying to keeping it

1. For 2026-27

   Contact your local board

   Ask which textbooks are available and how to request them.

2. When borrowing

   Confirm the deposit

   A school system may charge a refundable deposit for each book.

3. When returning books

   Recover the deposit

   Return borrowed books under the local system’s terms.

4. October 1 or 12 months after initial approval, whichever is later

   Renew home study

   Submit your annual home-study renewal, or renew when advancing to the next grade.

What it pays for

Covered

• Available state-approved textbooks

Not covered

• Cash for new curriculum
• Guaranteed availability

Who to contact

The guidelines list local board contacts; LDOE answers home-study questions.

homestudy@la.gov Guidelines and local board contacts

Louisiana Course Choice for home-study students

BESE-approved home-study students can enroll in Louisiana Course Choice courses, but families are responsible for the provider’s tuition. For 2026-27, confirm a course’s seats, dates and price with its approved provider; home-study participation does not receive the public-school funding allocation.

Eligibility and program rules

1. Louisiana resident

   Your student must live in Louisiana.

2. Approved home study

   A BESE-approved home-study student is an eligible participating student, rather than an eligible funded public-school student.

3. Course prerequisites

   Choose an authorized provider and meet its course requirements.

4. Does this renew automatically?

   No. Arrange enrollment for each course with the provider.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before a 2026-27 course starts

   Choose a course

   Consult the LDOE course and provider information.

2. Before enrollment

   Confirm cost and eligibility

   Ask the provider about home-study admission, prerequisites, tuition and its registration deadline.

3. During an online course

   Support participation

   Provide the required equipment and internet access, and monitor daily engagement.

4. At course completion

   Confirm credit

   Follow the provider’s completion and credit requirements.

What it pays for

Covered

• Approved secondary courses
• Dual-enrollment offerings
• Career and technical courses

Not covered

• A statewide homeschool tuition grant
• Public-school allocation paid to parents

This is access to approved courses on a self-pay homeschool route, not an education savings account.

Who to contact

Use the official provider list to ask about admission, course dates and tuition.

Program information

Louisiana TOPS home-study pathway

Your BESE-approved home-study graduate can qualify for Louisiana TOPS college aid, with award amounts varying by level and institution and Excellence paying up to $12,000 at a public institution. May 2026 graduates have until July 1, 2027 to apply, subject to the separate testing and enrollment requirements.

Eligibility and program rules

1. Approved home study

   LDOE must verify completion of grade 11, if applicable, and grade 12 in BESE-approved home study. Earlier attendance at a traditional high school can require both years and a good-standing letter.

2. Residency and citizenship

   Meet TOPS Louisiana residency rules and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

3. Qualifying test scores

   Home-study ACT minimums are 17 for Tech, 20 for Opportunity, 23 for Performance, 27 for Honors and 31 for Excellence. SAT and CLT equivalents are also available.

4. How much does TOPS Excellence pay?

   Up to $12,000 annually at Louisiana public institutions, or $8,500 at eligible LAICU private institutions, limited to reported tuition and fees.

5. Does every TOPS award cover today’s full tuition and fees?

   No. The amount depends on the TOPS level and institution; request your college’s exact award calculation.

6. Do continuing students reapply annually?

   No. TOPS does not require another application or renewal FAFSA unless needed for federal grant aid, but you must maintain your award’s eligibility.

What it is worth

LOSFA limits Excellence to tuition and fees or the stated cap, whichever is less.

Louisiana public institution

Up to $12,000

Eligible LAICU private institution

Up to $8,500

Other TOPS award levels have different institution-specific amounts.

From applying to keeping it

1. During senior year

   Start your application

   Submit the FAFSA or TOPS online application and identify your student as homeschooled.

2. By July 1, 2027 for May 2026 graduates

   Apply

   Submit the application; this is not the testing deadline.

3. By January 15, 2028 for May 2026 graduates

   Finish documentation

   LOSFA must receive required eligibility documents, including earlier high-school records.

4. Before using an award

   Confirm college enrollment

   Meet the award’s separate initial enrollment and testing deadlines with LOSFA.

5. Each college term

   Maintain eligibility

   Your college sends grades for TOPS renewal review; track your status in the Student Hub.

What it pays for

Covered

• College aid at eligible Louisiana institutions
• Excellence tuition and mandatory fees up to its cap

Not covered

• K-12 curriculum reimbursement
• Guaranteed admission to college

Who to contact

Ask LOSFA about records, scores, deadlines and your award level.

TOPS.Homestudy@la.gov 225-219-1012 Program information

Local help in Louisiana

The local programs we have checked across the state cover college and dual credit, school services, transportation, library resources, and grants and scholarships. Each local program sets its own rules for who qualifies. Search your ZIP code to see the ones that serve your address.

Search your ZIP code

The state's homeschool rules

BESE-approved home study: apply through LDOE within 15 days of starting; renew by October 1 or within 12 months of approval, whichever is later, or when advancing a grade. Nonpublic school not seeking approval: report enrollment annually as of the 30th school day; notify the previous public school within 10 days of enrollment when transferring.

• Subjects: Both routes require a 180-day school session. BESE-approved home study must provide sustained instruction at least equal in quality to public schools at the same grade; the nonpublic route does not require state curriculum approval.
• Testing: No mandatory state standardized test. BESE home-study renewal accepts a curriculum packet, qualifying standardized scores, or a grade-qualified certified teacher’s statement. The nonpublic route does not submit renewal test scores.
• Records: BESE home-study renewal requires evidence through the curriculum-packet, test-score, or teacher-statement option. For the nonpublic route, maintain attendance records and applicable immunization or exemption documentation.
• Teachers: BESE home-study parents or tutors need no teaching certification. An unfunded nonpublic school sets its own instructional-staff requirements.

Read the Louisiana homeschooling guide