Homeschooling in Chile: A Growing Educational Movement
Constitutional Foundation and Legal Status
Homeschooling in Chile stands on solid constitutional ground. Article 19 of Chile’s Constitution explicitly states that “parents have the preferential right and duty to educate their children,” establishing parents as primary educators. This constitutional principle, along with the guaranteed “freedom of education,” provides the legal foundation for homeschooling in Chile.
Despite occasional misconceptions, homeschooling is fully legal in Chile. While there’s no specific law regulating “homeschooling” by name, education at home is legally protected by these constitutional rights. The homeschooling community has grown significantly from around 200 families a decade ago to thousands today, with official recognition through established validation procedures.
Exámenes Libres: The Validation System
The key mechanism allowing homeschoolers to validate their studies is the “exámenes libres” system (free exams). Regulated by Decreto Exento Nº 2272 (2007), this system enables children educated outside traditional schools to validate their learning and receive official certificates.
The Ministry of Education offers these exams annually at no cost. Families register with MINEDUC during the sign-up window, and students take exams covering standard curriculum subjects at assigned examination centers. Upon passing, students receive certificates equivalent to those earned in traditional schools, allowing them to progress through grade levels and eventually access higher education.
This system provides flexibility – families don’t need home inspections or curriculum approvals, just periodic demonstration of academic progress through exams.
What SchoolhouseTeachers.com Offers to Support Chilean Families
SchoolhouseTeachers.com provides tools to help families plan, document, and organize their homeschool efforts in a way that aligns with the expectations of exámenes libres and other academic benchmarks. We offer planning and recordkeeping resources to assist families in building thorough academic plans and documenting student progress. While we do not guarantee compliance with Chilean education laws, our tools can support families as they seek to meet the necessary standards.
- Use our Letter of Intent to Homeschool Template when formally notifying local education offices of your decision to homeschool.
- Build detailed, year-long learning plans with our Education Plan Builder.
- Track your student’s progress using the Applecore Recordkeeping system.
Download the Letter of Intent Template
Create Your Education Plan
Learn About Applecore Recordkeeping
Demographics and Motivations
Homeschooling in Chile has grown dramatically, with students taking exámenes libres nearly quadrupling from 9,000 in 2013 to 33,000 in 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend significantly.
Chilean families choose homeschooling for various reasons:
- Personalized Learning: Parents seek education tailored to their children’s unique learning styles, interests, and developmental pace.
- Safe Environment: Many families cite escaping bullying or negative social environments. Nicolas Garrido of Lumbreras Homeschool estimates that 80% of their students switched to homeschooling because of bullying.
- Family Values and Religious Reasons: Some families choose homeschooling to integrate religious or moral instruction with academics.
- Post-Pandemic Shift: After experiencing remote learning during COVID-19, many families discovered their children thrived outside traditional classrooms.
- Flexibility for Special Pursuits: Homeschooling accommodates students with demanding athletic, artistic, or other extracurricular commitments.
- Educational Quality: Some parents believe home education can yield better academic outcomes and foster a deeper love of learning.
While historically concentrated among middle and upper-middle-class families, homeschooling is becoming more diverse as awareness grows and resources become more accessible.
Educational Approaches
Chilean homeschoolers employ diverse teaching methods:
- Structured “School-at-Home”
- Eclectic or Semi-structured
- Unschooling
- Religious Homeschooling
- Alternative Pedagogies: Montessori, Waldorf, Charlotte Mason
- Hybrid Approaches
The true strength of homeschooling lies in its adaptability—families naturally refine their approach as they discover what best suits their children’s needs. SchoolhouseTeachers.com supports this flexibility by offering families in Chile and beyond access to essential tools that assist with academic validation, along with a robust library of hundreds of courses designed to prepare students for higher education – college ready. All of this is available under a single family membership, regardless of the number of children in the household.
Challenges and Opportunities
Chilean homeschoolers face several challenges:
- Bureaucratic Implementation
- Resource Intensity
- Academic Accountability
- Access to Facilities
However, these challenges are balanced by growing opportunities. The pandemic normalized remote work, making logistics easier for many families. Online communities provide support and resource sharing. Homeschoolers take advantage of museums, community programs, and other in-person group activities for enrichment. Many families report that the freedom to customize education leads to exceptional outcomes. Learn about these outcomes as they are well documented here: www.NHERI.org.
Support Networks
Chilean homeschoolers have developed robust support systems:
- Online Communities
- Local Groups and Co-ops (Schoolhouses)
- Homeschool Associations
- Learning Centers
- Resource Sharing
These networks reduce isolation and provide practical support, making homeschooling sustainable and enriching.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com: A Comprehensive Resource
All-in-One Homeschooling Platform
- Complete PreK-12 Curriculum
- Cost-Effective Family Membership
- Automatic Entry into Area Schoolhouses (ST Co-ops)
Tools for Success
- Customizable Planning and Record-Keeping
- Education Plan Builder (customizable form)
- Self-Paced Learning
- Letter of Intent to Homeschool Template (customizable)
- Compliance Resource Center
Enhanced Learning Experience
- World Book Online Access
- 25,000 Educational Videos
- Community Support with Schoolhouses
- Christian Worldview
Special Lifetime Membership Offer for Chilean Families
As homeschooling continues to grow in Chile, we’re excited to offer Chilean families a special Lifetime Membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com. This one-time purchase provides permanent access to all current and future curriculum resources, planning tools, and community features.
✅ Ready to Begin?
SchoolhouseTeachers.com is here to walk with you as you educate your children at home in Chile. Discover a flexible, faith-based platform built for today’s Christian homeschooling families.
Get Everything You Need – Join Today!
By becoming a SchoolhouseTeachers.com member, you’ll gain access to:
✔ The Education Plan Builder – Create and download a structured homeschool plan.
✔ The Letter of Intent Template – Draft and download a formal homeschool registration letter.
✔ The Full Course Library – Choose from 400+ courses for all subjects, Grade R-12.
✔ Applecore Recordkeeping – Track assessments, grades, and progress in one place.
*Annual & Lifetime Members Only: Gain access to transcript generation to document high school coursework for college admissions.
Join today and homeschool with confidence!
Important Disclaimer:
SchoolhouseTeachers.com provides curriculum, planning tools, and organizational resources to assist homeschool families. We do not provide legal services or guarantee approval of homeschooling applications. Families must ensure their homeschool program complies with provincial and national regulations. Always consult official education authorities or legal experts for current compliance guidelines.
Final Thoughts
You’ve got this! Homeschooling in Chile is absolutely possible, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Backed by constitutional protections and a clear path for academic validation through exámenes libres, Chilean families can confidently provide their children with a high-quality, personalized education—on their terms. With the right tools, structured planning, and a supportive community, you can navigate the homeschooling path successfully and build an educational experience that reflects your values and meets national standards.
Let’s get started today!
Blessings,
The SchoolhouseTeachers.com Team
