Starpath

Norway homeschool checklist

Notice and filing

Notification: Yes, once
What to file: Notification of Private Home Instruction
When: Before starting homeschooling
Where: Local municipality (kommune) education authority
How to submit: Contact local school or kommune directly; no standardized form required
What to include
Intent to provide private home instruction; can begin immediately after notification without waiting for response

Instruction: Parents direct all instruction. Education must achieve national competence goals and cover central topics in core subjects for the child's grade level as specified in the national curriculum. No specific teaching hours or school-like structure mandated. Education should be individually adapted and adjusted to the child's needs.

Records: Not explicitly specified in legislation. Parents should maintain records demonstrating progress toward national competence goals to present during municipal evaluations.

Testing: Not routinely required. Municipality may administer achievement tests only after a prior supervision meeting and only if there is documented doubt about the adequacy of the homeschooling. Tests serve to verify whether the child is meeting national competence goals.
Assessment: Municipal supervision (tilsyn) conducted 1-2 times per year through collaborative evaluation meetings. Meetings typically held at school or public location, not at home. Evaluator is usually a teacher appointed by the kommune. Supervision conducted in agreement with parents, respecting their right to educate according to religious and philosophical beliefs. Evaluator assesses whether conditions for homeschooling are present and whether child is attaining education goals specified in law.

Notification to Municipality: Before starting homeschooling
Compulsory Education Begins: Calendar year child turns 6
Compulsory Education Ends: Completion of 10-year primary and lower secondary education (age 16)
Municipal Supervision Meetings: 1-2 times per school year