Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in New Mexico?

Yes. You send notice to the New Mexico Public Education Department (Secretary of Public Education), within 30 days of establishing the home school, and on or before August 1 of each later year (the renewal window opens June 1). How often: annually. Online through the NMPED Home School System (print the Parent Notification Report as proof), or the paper Notification of a Home School form mailed to PED (certified mail recommended).

What subjects do I have to teach in New Mexico?

New Mexico requires: Reading; Language arts; Mathematics; Social studies; Science.

How many days or hours of homeschool does New Mexico require?

Not set by the home school statute; PED's form and FAQ cite the public school minimum of 1,140 hours/year (550 for half-day kindergarten).

Do parents need a teaching certificate to homeschool in New Mexico?

The person providing instruction must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

What records should I keep when homeschooling in New Mexico?

Each student's immunization record, or a waiver (NM Health Form 454); Proof of each year's notification (PED recommends also keeping hours, materials, and work samples).

How to homeschool in New Mexico

Low regulationChecked against official sources October 9, 2026

In New Mexico you register your home school with the Public Education Department (PED) within 30 days of starting and renew by August 1 every year, usually online. You must teach reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science, keep immunization records (or a waiver), and the person teaching needs a high school diploma or equivalent. Testing is not required.

Homeschooling in New Mexico at a glance: notice of intent required (send to the New Mexico Public Education Department (Secretary of Public Education)); instruction time: not set by the home school statute; PED's form and FAQ cite the public school minimum of 1,140 hours/year (550 for half-day…

Requirements in New Mexico

Home school registered with PED · N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 22-1-2(E), 22-1-2.1

A parent operates a home study program providing a basic academic education in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. You notify PED, keep immunization records, and make sure the instructor has a high school diploma or equivalent.

Notice: Send to: the New Mexico Public Education Department (Secretary of Public Education).
When: within 30 days of establishing the home school, and on or before August 1 of each later year (the renewal window opens June 1).
How often: annually.
How: online through the NMPED Home School System (print the Parent Notification Report as proof), or the paper Notification of a Home School form mailed to PED (certified mail recommended).
Instruction time: Not set by the home school statute; PED's form and FAQ cite the public school minimum of 1,140 hours/year (550 for half-day kindergarten).
Required subjects: Reading, Language arts, Mathematics, Social studies, Science.
Records to keep: Each student's immunization record, or a waiver (NM Health Form 454).
Proof of each year's notification (PED recommends also keeping hours, materials, and work samples).
Testing / evaluation: None required.
Parent qualifications: The person providing instruction must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also: School-age children: age 5 before September 1 through age 18 (unless graduated).
The operator must be the child's parent or legal guardian (you may hire others to teach specific subjects).
PED enforces the law and may order a child into a public or private school if a home school is out of compliance.

Official form: NMPED: Home Schooling (online Home School System and paper Notification of a Home School form)

What the notice must include

School district where the students live.
Legal names of all parents or guardians.
Physical home address of the students and custodial parents.
Each child's full name, date of birth, gender, and grade (the form also asks for ethnicity).
Affirmation that the person providing instruction has at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
Parent's signature and date.

Checklist

Register your home school with PED: within 30 days of starting.
Renew your registration with PED: June 1 to August 1 each year.
Keep immunization records or a waiver for each child: ongoing.
Teach reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science: ongoing.

Leaving a public school

Not specified in the statute. Register with PED within 30 days of starting and let the school know in writing that your child is withdrawing to be home schooled.

Common questions about homeschooling in New Mexico

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in New Mexico?: Yes. You send notice to the New Mexico Public Education Department (Secretary of Public Education), within 30 days of establishing the home school, and on or before August 1 of each later year (the renewal window opens June 1). How often: annually. Online through the NMPED Home School System (print the Parent Notification Report as proof), or the paper Notification of a Home School form mailed to PED (certified mail recommended).
What subjects do I have to teach in New Mexico?: New Mexico requires: Reading; Language arts; Mathematics; Social studies; Science.
How many days or hours of homeschool does New Mexico require?: Not set by the home school statute; PED's form and FAQ cite the public school minimum of 1,140 hours/year (550 for half-day kindergarten).
Are standardized tests or evaluations required in New Mexico?: None required.
Do parents need a teaching certificate to homeschool in New Mexico?: The person providing instruction must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
What records should I keep when homeschooling in New Mexico?: Each student's immunization record, or a waiver (NM Health Form 454); Proof of each year's notification (PED recommends also keeping hours, materials, and work samples).

Worth double-checking

PED's materials quote the public school instructional-hours law (§ 22-2-8.1) alongside the home school rules, but the home school statute itself (§ 22-1-2.1) sets no hours and PED does not ask for hour reports. Whether the 1,140-hour figure binds home schools is not settled in the sources checked; keep a reasonable record of instructional time.
Older sources give an April 1 renewal deadline; the current statute and PED form say August 1.
Students enrolled in a New Mexico online public school are not home schoolers; students in an out-of-state online program are, and must register.

Sources

NMPED: Home Schooling.(official)
NMPED: Home Schooling FAQ.(official)
NMPED: Notification of a Home School form with statutes (revised 09/15/2026).(official)
HSLDA: New Mexico.

This is a plain-language summary to help you get organized, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the details with your state or school district before you file.