Homeschooling in Minnesota

Minnesota classifies home schools as nonpublic schools under Minn. Stat. §123B.41. The state's Compulsory Instruction statutes (Minn. Stat. §120A.22, §120A.24, §120A.26) govern home education. Minnesota offers one of the most generous K-12 Education Tax Subtractions and Tax Credits in the country (up to $2,500 per child for grades 7-12). Minnesota also GUARANTEES homeschoolers access to public school extracurricular activities under Minn. Stat. §123B.49. Compulsory ages 7-17.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: One pathway — Home School as a Nonpublic School under Minn. Stat. §120A.22, §120A.24, and §120A.26.

Notification: File the Initial Registration Form for Unaccredited Nonpublic Schools (Including Home Schools) with your local resident superintendent by October 1 of the first school year, OR within 15 days of withdrawing your child from public school. File a Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling on October 1 of each subsequent year..

Instructional time: No specific minimum days or hours required by statute — instruction must be 'thorough and efficient'.

Required subjects: Instruction must include: (1) basic communication skills (reading, writing, literature, fine arts); (2) mathematics and science; (3) social studies (history, geography, government); and (4) health and physical education. Per Minn. Stat. §120A.22..

Testing and evaluation: Annual nationally normed standardized test required. Parents KEEP the results — not submitted to the state. If a child scores below the 30th percentile (or one grade level below age peers), additional evaluation for learning disabilities is required..

What Minnesota families need to know

**Initial Registration Form for Unaccredited Nonpublic Schools (Including Home Schools)**: file with the resident superintendent by October 1 of the first school year your child receives instruction after reaching age 7, OR within 15 days of withdrawing the child from public school.

**Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling**: file with the resident superintendent by October 1 of each SUBSEQUENT year. The forms include the names and ages of the children, name of the parent(s)/instructor, and confirmation that required subjects will be taught and annual assessments administered.

Initial filing must include: (1) the name and address of each child; (2) the name and address of each instructor; (3) annual instructional calendar; (4) for grades 1-6, class schedule, course materials, methods of evaluation, and pupil progress reports for each subject; (5) immunization records (or notarized exemption statement).

**Required subjects** (Minn. Stat. §120A.22, Subd.9): basic communication skills (reading, writing, literature, fine arts); mathematics and science; social studies (history, geography, government, economics, citizenship); and health and physical education.

**Instructor qualifications** (Minn. Stat. §120A.22, Subd.10): must meet ONE of these criteria: (1) hold a valid Minnesota teaching license for the grade level; (2) be directly supervised by a licensed teacher; (3) successfully complete a teacher competency examination; (4) provide instruction in an accredited school; (5) hold a baccalaureate degree; OR (6) be a parent of a child whose performance is assessed each year per Minn. Stat. §120A.22, Subd.11.

**Annual nationally normed standardized test required** (Minn. Stat. §120A.22, Subd.11): each child ages 7-17 must be tested annually. PARENTS KEEP THE RESULTS — not submitted to the state unless a problem arises. If a child scores at the 30th percentile or LOWER (or one grade level below their age peers), state law requires additional evaluation for learning disabilities. Accredited home schools are EXEMPT from this testing requirement (e.g., schools accredited by the Home-Based Educators Accrediting Association, the only state-recognized homeschool accrediting agency).

Quarterly subject reports (sometimes required by district): some districts request quarterly reports listing subjects covered. Check with your superintendent.

**MN K-12 Education Tax Subtraction**: up to $1,625 per child in grades K-6 and $2,500 per child in grades 7-12. Available to all income levels regardless of public/nonpublic enrollment status. Covers educational expenses including tutoring, music lessons, instructional materials, and computers.

**MN K-12 Education Tax Credit**: dollar-for-dollar income tax CREDIT for qualified low-income families (more valuable than the subtraction). Income limits apply.

**PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Options)** (Minn. Stat. §124D.09): GUARANTEED BY LAW for homeschool students in grades 11-12 (and some 10th graders). Allows students to take college courses tuition-free at participating public colleges and universities. Per the PSEO statute, nonpublic students must register with the Commissioner of Education before participating — the Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling now serves as that registration. PSEO is a major financial benefit — many MN homeschoolers complete their high school diploma WITH significant college credit.

**Sports and extracurriculars guaranteed** (Minn. Stat. §123B.49, Subd.4(a)): school districts SHALL allow all resident homeschool students to be eligible to fully participate in EXTRACURRICULAR (but not co-curricular) activities on the same basis as public school students. Districts cannot charge homeschool families higher fees than public school students. The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) administers competitive sports.

Shared time enrollment (Minn. Stat. §126C.19, §126C.01): districts MAY allow nonpublic students to take public school classes part-time to fulfill graduation requirements. Local policy determines eligibility.

**Withdrawal from public school**: notify your superintendent in writing. We advise also notifying the principal and teacher. File the Initial Registration Form within 15 days of withdrawal.

After age 16: reporting is no longer required (compulsory attendance ends at 17, but homeschool reporting ends at 16) UNLESS the student is participating in PSEO — PSEO students must continue filing the Letter of Intent.

**Accreditation option**: Minnesota homeschools may voluntarily seek accreditation through the Home-Based Educators Accrediting Association. Accredited home schools are exempt from the annual standardized testing requirement.

Sales tax exemption: Minnesota home schools may be exempt from state sales tax on some educational items via the MN Department of Revenue's Certificate of Exemption.

Educational neglect: county social services has jurisdiction (NOT MDE). Mandatory reporters report to county where the student resides.

Compulsory attendance: ages 7-17.

Always verify current requirements with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

Minnesota homeschool parents issue their own diplomas. The state does NOT certify or validate homeschool diplomas or transcripts. Minnesota public colleges (University of Minnesota system, MnSCU schools) accept homeschool transcripts. Strong ACT/SAT scores significantly strengthen applications. Many MN homeschool graduates leverage PSEO (free college courses in 11th-12th grade) to enter college with significant credit already earned — some graduate from high school with an associate's degree. The GED is available for graduates who need a state-recognized credential.

Getting started in Minnesota

If you are new to homeschooling in Minnesota, here is the practical sequence to follow:

1. Read the statute. Visit the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
2. Choose your legal pathway. Minnesota offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
3. Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
4. File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
5. Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
6. Connect with a local homeschool organization. Minnesota has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.

Minnesota homeschool organizations

The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for Minnesota homeschool families:

• Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MÁCHÉ) — Largest statewide Christian organization with detailed legal guidance — homeschoolminnesota.org
• Minnesota Homeschoolers' Alliance (MHA) — Inclusive statewide organization since 1991
• HSLDA Minnesota — Legal defense and member support

Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Minnesota homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.

Beyond the legal requirements

Meeting Minnesota's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:

Homeschool360 • Minnesota State Guide