How to Homeschool in Minnesota

A home school is defined as a nonpublic school wherein a resident of Minnesota may legally fulfill the compulsory instruction requirements. The home school must be located within the state and must meet the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352). Minn. Stat. Ann. §123B.41.

A parent conducting a home school must complete and submit documentation that meets annual reporting requirements to the local superintendent by October 1 of the first school year "the child receives instruction after reaching the age of seven." Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.24.

Home school instructors submit to the local superintendent either a full report or a Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling. Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.24, §120A.22, §121A.15.

"The parent of a child is primarily responsible for assuring that the child acquires knowledge and skills that are essential for effective citizenship." Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.22.

The local superintendent is responsible for ensuring compliance with Minnesota's compulsory instruction law. Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.26.

Home schools are required to provide instruction in: 1) basic communication skills, including reading, writing, literature, and fine arts; 2) mathematics and science; 3) social studies, including history, geography, and government; and 4) health and physical education. Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.22.

Instruction, textbooks, and materials must be in the English language. It is permissible to use another language in addition to English, according to Minn. Stat. Ann. §124D.59-124D.61.

Home school students may take non-elective core courses in the local public school at the discretion of the local school district. Local school districts receive prorated funding from the state for the portion of time used to educate nonpublic school students. Minn. Stat. Ann. §126C.19.

Home school students are eligible to participate in cocurricular activities in their resident local school district. Minn. Stat. Ann. §123B.49.

Teacher certification is not required. However, if the home school is not accredited by a Minnesota state-recognized accrediting agency (TEACH or HBEA as of September 2008), then the parent is required to submit instructor qualifications in accordance with the Compulsory Instruction Law. Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.22, Subd.10(6).

A home school student is required each year to be "assessed using a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement examination." Both the parent and the superintendent must agree on the specific examination, the administration, and location of the examination. Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.22, Subd.11.

Home schools must submit immunization to the local school district in which the home school is located the first year of the child's homeschooling in Minnesota and the grade seven year. Minn. Stat. Ann. §121A.15.

Limited aid is available. Costs can include instructional materials, field trips, and most importantly, parental time, as the parent/guardian is the instructor and administrator of the homeschool. Minn. Stat. Ann. §§123B.41, 290.0674.

School districts "shall allow all resident pupils receiving instruction in a home school ... to be eligible to fully participate in extracurricular [but not co-curricular] activities on the same basis as public school students."Minn. Stat. Ann. §123B.49, Subd.4(a).

Shared Time – School districts may establish policies that allow nonpublic school students who reside in a district to take public school classes to fulfill the district's graduation requirements. Local policy determines which classes are eligible and other factors may affect a nonpublic school student's ability to enroll. Minn. Stat. Ann. §§126C.19; 126C.01, Subd. 6-8.

Minnesota Nonpublic School Laws:

Minnesota defines a nonpublic school as any school, church or religious organization, or home school where a student can fulfill compulsory education requirements, that is located in the state, and that meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Minn. Stat. Ann. §123B.41, Subd. 9.

Accreditation is optional.

Teacher certification is optional.

The state does not regulate the length of the school year for students attending nonpublic schools.

Minnesota's compulsory education law requires instruction in 1) basic communication skills, including reading, writing, literature, and fine arts; 2) mathematics and science; 3) social studies, including history, geography, and government; and 4) health and physical education. Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.22, Subd. 9.

Instruction, textbooks, and materials must be offered in the English language. Minn. Stat. Ann. § 120A.22. Another language may be used for students with limited English proficiency. Minn. Stat. Ann. §§124D.59-124D.61 et seq.

School districts may provide nonpublic school students of limited English proficiency the opportunity to participate in specially designed programs for such students attending public school. Minn. Stat. Ann. §124D.65, Subd. 6.

Nonpublic schools may contract with local school districts to provide American Indian language and culture education programs to American Indian children. Minn. Stat. Ann. §124D.74.

Nonpublic schools must complete and submit the Minnesota Compulsory Instruction Report to the local superintendent by October 1 of each school year. The report requires the name, age, and address of each child receiving instruction. In addition, schools not accredited by the Minnesota Department of Education or an accrediting organization recognized by the Minnesota Nonpublic Education Council must also report the name of each instructor and evidence of their qualifications; and they must make available documentation that the requisite subjects are being taught and provide class schedules, materials for instruction, and descriptions of methods used to assess student achievement. Minn. Stat. Ann. §120A.24.

Nonpublic school administrators are responsible for issuing age certificates for students in attendance who wish to obtain employment. Minn. Stat. Ann. §181A.06.

Any minor 14 or 15 years of age who wishes to work on school days during school hours shall first secure an employment certificate. The certificate shall be issued only by the school district superintendent, the superintendent's agent, or some other person designated by the board of education.

Immunizations are mandatory for students attending any elementary or secondary school in Minnesota unless contraindicated for medical reasons or contrary to conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian or emancipated student. Minn. Stat. Ann. §121A.15.

Contact Information

Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266
Phone: 651-582-8200
Fax: 651-582-8724
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Website: http://education.state.mn.us/mde/index.html

Source: United States Department of Education - Minnesota State Regulations

A home school is defined as a nonpublic school wherein a resident of Minnesota may legally fulfill the compulsory instruction requirements. The home school must be located within the state and must meet the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352). Minn. Stat. Ann. §123B.41.

Intent to Home School Notification

The person or nonpublic school in charge of providing instruction to a child must submit an Minnesota Initial Registration Form​ for Unaccredited Nonpublic Schools (including homeschools), to the superintendent of the school district where the child resides. Please do not mail the registration form to the Minnesota Department of Education. Complete the information using this form or a written or electronic format of your choice. You will submit a Minnesota Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction by October 1 in subsequent years.

Per Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.24, subdivision 1, Information in the registration form must be submitted:
By October 1 of the first school year the child receives instruction after reaching the age of seven;
Within 15 days of when a parent withdraws a child from public school after age seven to provide instruction in a nonpublic school that is not accredited by a state-recognized accredited agency;
Within 15 days of moving out of a district; and,
By October 1 after a new resident districts is established.

Record Keeping

Per Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.24, subdivision 2, the person or nonpublic school in charge of providing instruction to a child must maintain documentation indicating that the subjects required in section 120A.22, subdivision 9, are being taught and proof that the tests under section 120A.22 subdivision 11, have been administered. This documentation must include class schedules, copies of materials used for instruction, and descriptions of methods used to assess student achievement.

Assessment/Evaluation

Instructors and superintendent must mutually agree on the proposed annual nationally normed achievement test(s) assessment(s) or examination plan, the administration and the location of the examination. Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Iowa Tests of Education Development and Stanford Achievement Tests are available from the University of Minnesota Statewide Testing Program, (612) 626-0006. High school students may also consider the ACT college admissions test.

Immunization Records

Per Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.15, subdivision 8, please attach immunization records or notarized statement of conscientious objection for each student. Update immunization information when each student reaches 7th grade.

Teacher Requirement

A person who is providing instruction to a child must meet at least one of the following requirements per Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.22, subdivision 10:
1) The instructor holds a valid Minnesota teaching license in the field and for the grade level taught. (Attach a copy of the license.)
2) The instructor is directly supervised by a person holding a valid Minnesota license. (Attach a copy of the license.)
3) The instructor has successfully completed a teacher competency examination.
4) The instructor holds a baccalaureate degree. (Attach a copy of diploma/degree.)
5) The instructor is the parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of a child who is assessed according to the procedures in Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.22, subdivision 11.

Public School Re-enrollment

The parent of a child who enrolls full time in public school after having been enrolled in a nonpublic school that is not accredited by a state-recognized accrediting agency must provide the enrolling public school or school district with the child's scores on any tests administered to the child under section 120A.22, subdivision 11, and other education-related documents the enrolling school or district requires to determine where the child is placed in school and what course requirements apply. This paragraph does not apply to a shared time student who does not seek a public school diploma. The person or nonpublic school in charge of providing instruction to a child must make the documentation in this subdivision available to the county attorney when a case is commenced under section 120A.26, subdivision 5; chapter 260C; or when diverted under chapter 260A.

Initial Registration for an Accredited Nonpublic School

If your nonpublic school is currently accredited by a Minnesota-state recognized accrediting agency, Minnesota’s Compulsory Instruction statutes (sections 120A.24, and 120A.26) require you to submit the name, birthdate and address of each student ages 7-17 to each student’s resident public school superintendent by October 1 of each year.

Because of your accreditation, you are waived from the requirement to come to an agreement on a nationally normed achievement test.

View a list of state-recognized Minnesota Accrediting Agencies.

Nonpublic Pupil Aids

Nonpublic schools and homeschools may elect to receive Minnesota Aids to Nonpublic Students. Nonpublic schools and homeschools must request this aid from their local school district by September 15 using a form provided by the superintendent’s office.

Contact Information

Cindy Jackson
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
651-582-8572

Minnesota Home Schooling Links

• Minnesota Homeschool Initial Registration Form​
• Minnesota Initial Registration Form for Unaccredited Schools
• Minnesota Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction
• Minnesota Fact Finding and Mediation for Noncompliance with Reporting Requirement
• Minnesota Aids to Nonpublic Students​
• Minnesota Accrediting Agencies
• Minnesota ACT Test

Source: Michigan Department of Education