How to start homeschooling in Michigan
Everything Michigan asks of a homeschool family, in order, from the state’s own sources, checked October 1, 2026. Each step links to a free tool that does it, and there’s a checklist to print at the end.
Step 0: choose how you’ll homeschool
Michigan gives families 2 legal ways to homeschool. Each has its own steps below. Choose one to see its steps.
Home education by parent: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
A parent or legal guardian educates the child at home in an organized educational program in the listed subjects. No reporting to the state.
Required school ages in Michigan: 6 to 18 (from age 6 to the child's eighteenth birthday, for children who turned 11 on or after December 1, 2009). Teacher qualification for this option: No qualification requirement for a parent teaching under (3)(f).
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Michigan doesn’t require a separate notice under this option, so the letter is the school’s record that your child has left.
No notice to file
Michigan doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
MDE: home schools under (3)(f) do not report to MDE.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Michigan doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.
No day requirement (MDE: the public school 180 days/1,098 hours rule does not apply). No hour requirement.
Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.
Cover the required subjects
Reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, English grammar.
Must be an organized educational program in these subject areas.
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
No required testing; MDE says home-schooled students may take state assessments by contacting their resident district.
Keep records anyway
Michigan doesn’t require records under this option.
MDE: no law requires nonpublic schools or home schools to maintain student records.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
MDE: diplomas and transcripts are the responsibility of the home school family, based on internal standards.
Official sources for this option
Home school operating as a nonpublic school: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
The home school operates as a nonpublic school under the Private, Denominational and Parochial Schools Act and reports to MDE each year.
Required school ages in Michigan: 6 to 18 (from age 6 to the child's eighteenth birthday, for children who turned 11 on or after December 1, 2009). Teacher qualification for this option: MCL 388.553: no person may teach regular or elementary grade studies in a private, denominational or parochial school without a certificate that would qualify them to teach like grades in public schools (statute has exceptions).
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Michigan also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
When: Membership Report opens October 15, due October 31 annually; Personnel Report September 1 through December 1 annually.
What it includes: Annual Nonpublic School Membership Report to MDE in NexSys (students per grade, teacher qualifications, course of study). MDE also lists a Nonpublic School Personnel Report for all nonpublic schools (school safety legislation).
Plan your school year: days and hours
Michigan doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.
No day requirement stated for nonpublic schools (MDE). No hour requirement stated for nonpublic schools (MDE).
Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.
Cover the required subjects
Michigan doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
Must teach subjects comparable to those taught in the public schools to children of corresponding age and grade, as determined by the local district's course of study (MCL 380.1561(3)(a)).
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
No required testing; state assessments available through the resident district.
Keep records anyway
Michigan doesn’t require records under this option.
MDE: no law requires nonpublic schools to maintain student records.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
The nonpublic school sets its own standards and issues the diploma (MDE).
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: Any religious-objection exemption from the teacher-certificate rule (court-recognized) was not confirmed on an official source. Whether the Personnel Report applies to a family-only home school was not confirmed. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Your Michigan checklist
Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Michigan · homeschoolcorral.com
- Read Michigan’s rules for “Home education by parent”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
- Read Michigan’s rules for “Home school operating as a nonpublic school”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice (Membership Report opens October 15, due October 31 annually; Personnel Report September 1 through December 1 annually)
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
Questions Michigan parents ask
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Michigan?
Home education by parent: No. Michigan doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
Home school operating as a nonpublic school: Yes. When: Membership Report opens October 15, due October 31 annually; Personnel Report September 1 through December 1 annually. What to file: Annual Nonpublic School Membership Report to MDE in NexSys (students per grade, teacher qualifications, course of study). MDE also lists a Nonpublic School Personnel Report for all nonpublic schools (school safety legislation).
How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Michigan?
Home education by parent: No day requirement (MDE: the public school 180 days/1,098 hours rule does not apply). No hour requirement.
Home school operating as a nonpublic school: No day requirement stated for nonpublic schools (MDE). No hour requirement stated for nonpublic schools (MDE).
Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Michigan?
Home education by parent: No required testing; MDE says home-schooled students may take state assessments by contacting their resident district.
Home school operating as a nonpublic school: No required testing; state assessments available through the resident district.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Michigan?
Home education by parent: No qualification requirement for a parent teaching under (3)(f).
Home school operating as a nonpublic school: MCL 388.553: no person may teach regular or elementary grade studies in a private, denominational or parochial school without a certificate that would qualify them to teach like grades in public schools (statute has exceptions).
What subjects are required in Michigan?
Home education by parent: Reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, English grammar.
Home school operating as a nonpublic school: Michigan doesn’t list required subjects.
What records do I need to keep in Michigan?
Home education by parent: Michigan doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Home school operating as a nonpublic school: Michigan doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Keep going
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
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