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Homeschooling in Nova Scotia

What Nova Scotia actually asks of a family teaching their own children. Written plainly, and honest where the answer is that nobody asks for anything.

CanadaFiling required

Who is in charge

Minister / Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Regional Education Services (2021 Brunswick Street, Halifax NS B3K 2Y5)

Who actually reviews your child

The Minister / Department. The Minister may authorise assessment instruments, which must be administered by an education entity at the same time and under the same conditions as for public school students. A qualified assessor (a teacher, certificate holder, or university education faculty member) may assess progress using standardized tests or a portfolio of work.

What you must file

Home Schooling Registration Form

On or before SEPTEMBER 20 of the school year; or before beginning the program if starting mid-year.

Goes to: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Regional Education Services

Registration must state the prior grade level attained (if applicable), the program level of achievement, and identify the proposed home education program. A copy of the child's birth certificate must be included. The parent certifies familiarity with Education Act ss.83-84 and Regulations ss.31-34.

Annual progress report

At least once a year, in JUNE of the school academic year.

Goes to: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Must accurately reflect the child's progress and be consistent with the type of program provided.

The words a reviewer uses

Nova Scotia curriculum outcomes framework

Outcome · Specific Curriculum Outcome · General Curriculum Outcome

The part the paperwork does not cover

Filing on time is the easy half. The harder half is the year in between: showing what your child actually learned, in words the reviewer recognises, without turning your home into a school.

That is what this app is for. You say what your child did, in a sentence. It maps that to the real curriculum for Nova Scotia and builds the record you can hand over the day someone asks. See how it works.

Start your record

Other places in Canada

AlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNorthwest TerritoriesNunavutOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanYukon
Read at the government's own source. Every requirement above was checked word for word against the authority's own page or statute, on the date shown.
Read at the source on 2026-08-28: the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's own home schooling Questions and Answers at ednet.ns.ca. Its words: 'Each school year, parents/guardians are required to fill out a Registration Form for Home Schooling', and 'The Registration Form for the school year must be received by September 20.' A report on each child's progress is sent in June. Both dates on this page are confirmed unchanged.
Check it yourself: the authority's own page.