Starting a Private School in Indiana
Regulations, Resources, & Support
Indiana State Regulations
General Regulations
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Registration and licensing are not required, while accreditation and registration are optional for schools except those participating in the Choice Scholarship Program.
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The Indiana Department of Education has assembled a page of detailed requirements for private schools.
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Homeschools are considered nonpublic schools and have stringent attendance and reporting requirements.
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The US Office of Innovation & Improvement has assembled a summary of regulations for private schools operating in Indiana.
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Indiana does not have specific insurance requirements for private schools.
State Funding Sources & Support
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Indiana provides funding for private education:
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Indiana Choice Scholarship Program: Provides a tuition scholarship to low-income families who would otherwise be zoned for a low-performing public school.
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Curriculum Requirements
Schools seeking accreditation from the state must follow curriculum requirements, specifically civics and constitution education. Non-accredited schools do not have to follow any specific curriculum requirements.
Teacher Certification & Hiring
Accredited schools must have licensed teachers; other nonpublic schools do not.
Food Services / Lunch
In Indiana, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Indiana State Department of Education.
Length of School Year
Students must attend school for the 180 days required of public school students.
Recordkeeping & Reports
Nonpublic schools must keep student enrollment and attendance records and provide them to the state, if requested.
Healthy & Safety Requirements
Accredited nonpublic schools must meet the same health and safety requirements as public schools in the state. Non-accredited schools do not need to meet these requirements.
Transportation
The local school district must provide transportation to students living along a highway that is part of the normal school bus route. Otherwise, private schools may contract out bus services.
Testing
Accredited nonpublic schools must give state exams at the same time as public schools.
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Indiana State Resources
State & Regional Associations
Government Websites
Helping Educators Do the Work That Matters
Quick Guide Nav
We gathered so much information that we had to break it down into 10 chapters. This free information is well-researched- we even hunted down the rules and regulations for each state! If you're thinking about starting a private school, you will find this guide very handy!
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