For founders

How can I run a microschool in Indiana?

Indiana recognizes 7 canonical operator models. Each has different legal compliance pathways, capital requirements, and family relationships. Choose the one that fits your team. You can change later, but the legal mechanics differ enough that the choice shapes facility planning and scholarship eligibility.

Independent Private School

Viable

Operate as a nonpublic school under Ind. Code § 20-33-2-12. There is no state license to obtain — Indiana does not regulate private schools at all unless they voluntarily seek state accreditation. Your school takes on full responsibility for enrollment, attendance, and instruction. If you want to participate in the Indiana Choice Scholarship voucher program (universal as of the 2026-27 school year), you must obtain accreditation from SBOE or an SBOE-recognized accrediting organization and meet additional state testing and reporting requirements.

Top requirements

Form a business entity (LLC or nonprofit) with the Indiana Secretary of State at https://inbiz.in.gov.
Register for state tax accounts with the Indiana Department of Revenue at https://www.in.gov/dor/business-tax/.
Operate the school for at least 180 instructional days per year and keep a daily attendance register (Ind. Code § 20-33-2-21).

Watch for

Universal Choice Scholarship eligibility (no income cap) begins with the 2026-27 school year per HEA 1001-2025; until then the 400% FRL income cap applies. Confirm current-year rules before assuming voucher revenue.
Choice Scholarship participation requires accreditation, ILEARN testing of all students at required grade levels, and Indiana teacher evaluation compliance — substantively heavier than running a nonaccredited school.

Homeschool Cooperative

Viable

A shared-resource model where each participating family operates its own nonaccredited nonpublic school under Ind. Code § 20-33-2-12. You provide programming, space, curriculum support, and community; families remain legally responsible for the 180-day instruction requirement, attendance register, and equivalent-instruction standard. Indiana's no-notice, no-test, no-portfolio framework makes this one of the simplest co-op environments in the country.

Top requirements

Form a business entity (LLC recommended for liability) with the Indiana Secretary of State.
Structure operations as a shared resource for homeschooling families. Do NOT take on enrollment, transcripting, or attendance responsibility for the families — those duties stay with each family's own nonaccredited nonpublic school.
Use written family agreements documenting that each family is operating its own nonaccredited nonpublic school under Ind. Code § 20-33-2-12 and is responsible for the 180-day instruction count and its own attendance register.

Watch for

Do not issue school-style transcripts, report cards, or diplomas. Doing so suggests you are operating as the school of record and pulls you out of the co-op model.
Indiana has no state homeschool notice requirement, but a high-school transfer from public school still requires the parent to sign the IDOE withdrawal form (Ind. Code § 20-33-2-28.6) — verify this is handled before accepting a teen mid-year.

Certified Tutor Practice

Not viable

Indiana does not provide a separate certified-tutor exemption. The compulsory attendance pathways are public school, accredited nonpublic school, and nonaccredited nonpublic school (which absorbs both home instruction and tutor scenarios). A solo tutor who takes responsibility for a child's full education is, by definition, operating that child as a nonaccredited nonpublic school under Ind. Code § 20-33-2-12 — there is no separate tutor satisfier with its own statutory framework. Use the independentPrivateSchool model (if you take responsibility) or homeschoolCooperative model (if the family does).

Religious Community School

Viable

A faith-integrated nonpublic school operated under Ind. Code § 20-33-2-12. No state oversight of curriculum or religious content. Same operating mechanics as the independent private school model: open without state approval, follow the 180-day rule, keep attendance records, and comply with local zoning. If the school pursues Choice Scholarship participation, it must accredit through SBOE or an SBOE-recognized accreditor and administer ILEARN — religious affiliation does not exempt it from these program requirements.

Top requirements

Form business entity (typically nonprofit corporation) with the Indiana Secretary of State; if the school is a ministry of an existing church, document the affiliation in the entity formation.
Operate as a nonaccredited nonpublic school under Ind. Code § 20-33-2-12 — no IDOE registration required.
Operate at least 180 days per year, keep a daily attendance register, and provide instruction in English (Ind. Code §§ 20-33-2-12 and 20-33-2-21).

Watch for

Religious curriculum and faith integration are unrestricted at the state level for nonaccredited nonpublic schools, but Choice Scholarship participation comes with state assessment, teacher evaluation, and nondiscrimination obligations that apply regardless of religious mission.
Public schools are not required to accept credits from a nonaccredited religious school. If transcript portability matters to your families, accredit early.

Childcare Preschool Program

Viable

A pre-compulsory-age program for children under 7 (Indiana's compulsory age starts at 7, Ind. Code § 20-33-2-6). Regulated by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. Licensing applies to centers serving 4 or more unrelated children and to homes serving 6 or more children under 14 (Child Care Home). Below those thresholds, providers may be exempt or operate as Legally Licensed Exempt Providers.

Top requirements

Regulated by FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, NOT IDOE.
Home-based: a "Child Care Home" requires a license once the provider cares for 6 or more children under 14 (other than the provider's own children) on a regular basis (Ind. Code § 12-7-2-33.7 and rule 470 IAC 3-1.1).
Center-based: a "Child Care Center" license is required once the program serves 4 or more unrelated children. Ratios, background checks, staff training, and facility inspections all apply.

Watch for

Child care licensing is a separate regulatory universe from K-12 nonpublic schools. Fees, ratios, training, background checks, and inspections are substantially heavier than the K-12 nonpublic side.
Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) voucher availability is in flux. FSSA paused new CCDF vouchers in late 2025 citing funding shortfalls (roughly 35,400 children on the waitlist as of February 2026). On April 14, 2026, Governor Braun announced a $200M one-time investment (authorized by Senate Enrolled Act 4 and approved by the State Budget Committee April 16, 2026) to restart the program in May 2026, bringing ~14,000 children off the waitlist and restoring enrollment to roughly 57,000. This is a one-time boost, not permanent funding (ongoing need is ~$350M/year), so voucher access remains constrained and priority goes to foster/kinship, special needs, homeless children, and children of child care workers. Do not assume CCDF access for every eligible family.

Hybrid University Model

Viable

A part-time program (typically 2-3 days per week on-site) where each enrolled family continues to operate its own nonaccredited nonpublic school under Ind. Code § 20-33-2-12. You provide curriculum, instruction, and community for the on-site days; families handle the at-home days and own the 180-day attendance and equivalent-instruction obligations. Functionally similar to the homeschoolCooperative model but with a more intensive program design.

Top requirements

Same as Homeschool Cooperative: each family operates as its own nonaccredited nonpublic school; you operate as a shared-resource provider, not a school of record.
Operate 2-3 on-site days per week with families completing instruction the remaining days at home.
Document the split-schedule arrangement in family agreements; capture each family's ownership of the 180-day attendance count.

Watch for

If on-site days expand to 4-5 days per week and you start setting curriculum and tracking attendance for the family, you have effectively become the nonpublic school of record. At that point reclassify as Independent Private School (and consider accreditation if Choice Scholarship participation matters).
Avoid issuing school-style transcripts or diplomas in the hybrid model — those signal that you are the school of record.

Umbrella School Satellite

Not viable

Indiana does not have a statutory umbrella-school framework. Because nonaccredited nonpublic schools are completely unregulated under Ind. Code § 20-33-2-12, there is no compliance benefit to operating "under" another school — each family or program already operates without state oversight. If you want accredited-school benefits (credit transfer, Choice Scholarship eligibility), you must accredit your own school rather than satellite under another. Use the independentPrivateSchool or homeschoolCooperative models instead.

For families

What programs help families pay for tuition?

Indiana funds private school tuition through 4 state programs.

Education Savings Accounts

Indiana Education Scholarship Account (INESA)

INESA

A state-funded education savings account for K-12 students with disabilities and (since July 1, 2024) their siblings. Funds may be used for private school tuition, therapies, tutoring, curriculum, and other qualifying education expenses. Administration transfers from the Indiana Treasurer of State to the Indiana Department of Education effective July 1, 2026.

Family eligibility (4 criteria)

Student is an Indiana resident, age 5-22 by October 1 of the applicable school year.
Student has an active Indiana Individualized Education Program (IEP), Service Plan (SP), or Choice Special Education Plan (CSEP).
Household income at or below 400% of the Federal Free or Reduced-price School Meals limit.
Siblings of an eligible student are also eligible (effective July 1, 2024) at the lower sibling award amount.

School eligibility (3 criteria)

Schools serving INESA students must be approved as INESA-eligible providers by the Indiana Treasurer of State (or IDOE after July 1, 2026).
Maintain documentation of services provided so families can submit reimbursement claims.
Service providers (tutoring, therapy, curriculum) must apply separately to be approved on the INESA marketplace.

Vouchers

Indiana Choice Scholarship Program

ChoiceScholarship

Indiana's primary K-12 voucher. Established 2011, expanded in HEA 1001-2023 and HEA 1001-2025. Provides up to roughly 90% of state per-pupil tuition support (typically $6,100-$8,000+ depending on the student's resident school district) to attend a participating accredited nonpublic school. Income-capped at 400% of Federal Free or Reduced-price Lunch for 2025-26; income cap is removed and the program becomes universal for all K-12 Indiana residents beginning the 2026-27 school year.

Scholarship Granting Organizations

50%

$19M annual cap

Indiana School Scholarship Tax Credit (SGO Program)

SGOTaxCredit

Indiana's donor tax-credit scholarship program. Donors (individuals and businesses) receive a 50% Indiana state tax credit on contributions to state-certified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), which then award scholarships to eligible K-12 students at participating nonpublic schools. Aggregate state credit cap of $18.5 million for FY 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026). Unused credits may be carried forward up to nine years.

Family eligibility (3 criteria)

Donors: any Indiana taxpayer (individual or business) with Indiana state tax liability. No minimum donation; no per-donor cap.
Student: Indiana resident, ages 5-22, household income at or below 400% of Federal Free or Reduced-price Lunch (2025-26).
Student eligibility cap removed for 2026-27 and later — all Indiana students will be eligible per HEA 1001-2025.

School eligibility (4 criteria)

School must be on a participating SGO's approved school list. Each SGO maintains its own list of participating schools.
School must be a nonpublic school accepting scholarship students; accreditation is not strictly required for SGO participation but is required by most SGOs as a practical matter.
SGO funds flow from the SGO to the school, not directly to families.
Maintain enrollment, attendance, and tuition documentation for SGO audit purposes.

Scholarship Granting Organizations

Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (FSTC)

FSTC

Federal nonrefundable tax credit of up to $1,700 per individual taxpayer for donations to state-approved Scholarship Granting Organizations, beginning January 1, 2027. Established under the 2025 federal reconciliation package ("One Big Beautiful Bill"). Indiana opted in via Governor Braun on January 22, 2026; Indiana was among the first 23 states to opt in. Unused credit carries forward up to five years.

Family eligibility (3 criteria)

Donors: any U.S. individual taxpayer with federal tax liability.
Student/SGO eligibility rules to be finalized by U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance.
Indiana's state-approved SGO list will be filed with IRS via Form 15714. Indiana's existing state-certified SGOs are expected to be the initial federal list, subject to IRS final guidance.

School eligibility (2 criteria)

Schools accept FSTC-funded scholarships through participating SGOs (no separate school-level federal certification anticipated, pending IRS guidance).
Confirm with each SGO whether your school is on their approved list for FSTC scholarships when guidance finalizes.

Family-side compliance

How families satisfy compulsory attendance

Indiana recognizes 2 legal pathways for families to satisfy compulsory attendance. The pathway determines who's legally on the hook (your microschool, the parent, or both) and shapes the operator model you should use.

Private School

Ind. Code §§ 20-33-2-21, 20-33-2-12, 20-33-2-28

A child between 7 and 18 may satisfy compulsory attendance by attending a nonpublic school. Indiana recognizes two effective categories: (i) state-accredited (or SBOE-recognized agency-accredited) nonpublic schools, which are eligible for the Choice Scholarship voucher program; and (ii) nonaccredited nonpublic schools, which under IC 20-33-2-12 are exempt from any IC 20 or IC 21 curriculum or content requirement. Either category satisfies compulsory attendance so long as the school provides instruction equivalent to that given in public schools, in English, for 180 days per year, and keeps an attendance register.

Home Instruction

Ind. Code §§ 20-33-2-12, 20-33-2-21, 20-33-2-28.6

Indiana does not have a separate "homeschool" statute. A home school is treated as a nonaccredited nonpublic school under IC 20-33-2-12 — exempt from state curriculum and content requirements. There is NO state notice, NO portfolio review, NO standardized testing requirement, and NO parent-qualification requirement. Families must teach 180 days per year in English and keep an attendance record. A microschool supporting these families is NOT the legally responsible party — each family operates its own nonaccredited nonpublic school.

Licensing triggers

When does Indiana require a state license?

Indiana imposes 2 state license requirements that may apply to your microschool. Most general microschools never trigger them.

Operating a child care center or child care home for pre-compulsory-age children

Ind. Code § 12-7-2-28.4 et seq.; 470 IAC 3-1.1 (Child Care Centers); 470 IAC 3-1.2 (Child Care Homes)

A Child Care Center license from FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning is required for centers serving 4 or more unrelated children. A Child Care Home license is required for homes serving 6 or more children under 14 (excluding the provider's own children). License application includes facility inspection, staff background checks, training, ratios, and ongoing health and safety compliance. Some narrow exemptions exist (Legally Licensed Exempt Providers); verify exemption status with FSSA before opening.

Choice Scholarship Program participation as an accredited nonpublic school

Ind. Code § 20-51-4 (Choice Scholarship Program); IDOE program rules

Participating schools must (a) be accredited by the State Board of Education or an SBOE-recognized accreditor; (b) administer ILEARN/ISTEP/ECAs to all students at required grade levels; (c) implement an annual teacher evaluation plan compliant with Indiana law; (d) apply via the IDOE LINK Portal and obtain a school identification number from IDOE Office of Accountability; (e) comply with nondiscrimination requirements. This is voluntary — only required if the school wants to receive Choice Scholarship voucher revenue.

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Verification

Primary sources

Every claim on this page traces to a primary source. The full list of state code sections, regulatory citations, and government program pages cited:

All sources cited (26)

Microschool laws in Indiana

How can I run a microschool in Indiana?

Independent Private School

Top requirements

Watch for

Homeschool Cooperative

Top requirements

Watch for

Certified Tutor Practice

Religious Community School

Top requirements

Watch for

Childcare Preschool Program

Top requirements

Watch for

Hybrid University Model

Top requirements

Watch for

Umbrella School Satellite

What programs help families pay for tuition?

Indiana Education Scholarship Account (INESA)

Indiana Choice Scholarship Program

Indiana School Scholarship Tax Credit (SGO Program)

Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit (FSTC)

How families satisfy compulsory attendance

Private School

Home Instruction

When does Indiana require a state license?

Operating a child care center or child care home for pre-compulsory-age children

Choice Scholarship Program participation as an accredited nonpublic school

Ready to plan your Indiana microschool?

Primary sources