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Enlightium Academy is a private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Colorado Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C. With this freedom comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!
Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Colorado homeschooling requirements.
Homeschooling Options
There are three homeschooling options in Colorado. Families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 1: Homeschooling under Colorado’s homeschool statute. Therefore, the rest of this blog provides guidance based on Option 1, which will apply to most Colorado families enrolled at Enlightium Academy*.
Colorado’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance
Notifying the State
The homeschool statute requires families homeschooling under Option 1 to submit a written notice of intent to any Colorado school district of the family's choosing. The family does not submit the letter of intent to the Colorado Department of Education.
For the first year of homeschooling, the parent or guardian must submit the notice within 14 days of beginning the homeschool program. For each subsequent year of homeschooling, the parent must submit the same notice. No timeframe appears to be required, so submitting it around the first day of school is recommended.
The notice must include the following:
Student’s name
Student’s age
Place of residence
Number of attendance hours
State Educational Funds
No state educational funds are available for homeschooling families at this time.
Age Requirement
Ages five or younger:
Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.
Aged six on or before August 1:
They must attend school during that academic year; this includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they turn 17 years old or graduate.
Instructor Qualifications
Under option 1, the Colorado Department of Education does not require teachers to have specific credentials or qualifications.
As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields.
Students in the Book-Based Program (grades PreK-9) use textbook Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use the Ignitia digital Christian curriculum (grades 3-12) or Enlightium’s custom online curriculum (available to select grade levels). Students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 1-12) use a collection of the best-vetted curriculum options by our curriculum department. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and elective courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.
Required Subjects
Under option 1, the Colorado Department of Education requires the following subjects:
The above subjects are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor.
Academic Calendar
Under option 1, the Colorado Department of Education requires you to provide 172 days of instruction, averaging four hours per day.
Enlightium’s school calendar has 180 school days (around 210 days with summer school). Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays.
Standardized Assessment
The Colorado Department of Education requires that students be assessed with a nationally standardized achievement test to determine if they have made sufficient academic progress according to their ability. Students must be tested or evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per given grade level:
Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment; you can also opt out of an assessment. Students in grades 3, 5, and 7 should take the Iowa Complete or another standardized assessment
Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT
Alternatively, students can be evaluated by a Colorado-certified teacher, a teacher employed by a private school, a licensed psychologist, or a person with a graduate degree in education. These services are not offered by Enlightium Academy.
Immunization Requirement
Immunization is required in the state of Colorado; therefore, parents are required to keep their children’s immunization records or exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Enlightium Academy does not require student immunization but may request a copy for our records, as we serve homeschooled students and must abide by state regulations.
You may find the Colorado state exemption form here. To complete an immunization exemption form, the state of Colorado requires you to be eligible under the religious exemption.
Keep a Portfolio
The law requires Colorado homeschooling parents to keep:
Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
Immunization Records - See “Immunization Requirement” above for details
You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include:
Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide academic plans during the admission process for each of our four divisions of grades: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and involvement in the Student Council.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Colorado Families
Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Colorado to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
If you have any questions:
Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.
*Alternative to Option 1
Alternatively, families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 3 (Homeschooling with a certified teacher) if:
The student is enrolled in the parent-led Book-Based Program or the parent-led Bronze Package, AND
The parent, guardian, or the student’s tutor holds a valid Colorado teaching certificate.
The benefits of choosing Option 3 include that the family is not required to notify the state. Additionally, under Option 3 the student is not required by the state to take a standardized assessment, though he or she will be required by Enlightium Academy.
Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, hybrid, online, and homeschool K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning, Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumSchool.com.
We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.
Sources reviewed in April 2025: