Homeschooling in Minnesota: what the state requires
A home school is a recognized school for compulsory instruction. The parent reports to the local superintendent, teaches the required subject areas, tests the child yearly with a nationally norm-referenced achievement test, and keeps documentation.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Minnesota sources. State page: Minnesota Department of Education — Home School Education. Compulsory school age: 7 to 17 (every child between seven and 17 years of age must receive instruction unless the child has graduated; a child under 7 enrolled in kindergarten or higher may be subject to attendance).
Home school (Minn. Stat. 120A.22 and 120A.24)
A home school is a recognized school for compulsory instruction. The parent reports to the local superintendent, teaches the required subject areas, tests the child yearly with a nationally norm-referenced achievement test, and keeps documentation.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. By October 1 of the first school year after the child reaches age 7; within 15 days of withdrawing a child from public school; within 15 days of moving out of a district; by October 1 after a new resident district is established. Letter of intent by October 1 each year. — Report to the superintendent of the district of residence: child's name, birth date and address; the annual tests intended to be used; name of each instructor; and evidence of compliance with the instructor requirements (120A.22 subd. 10). After the initial report, an annual letter of intent to continue by October 1, with any changes. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | basic communication skills including reading and writing, literature, fine arts, mathematics, science, social studies including history, geography, economics, government, and citizenship, health, physical education — 120A.22 subd. 9. Instruction and materials must be in English (other languages permitted under specified statutes). |
| Days | No day requirement for home schools. |
| Hours | No hour requirement for home schools. |
| Testing or evaluation | Required every year. Each year, children ages 7 through 16 (and ages 16-17 if the initial report was filed after age 16) must be assessed with a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement examination; the superintendent and instructor mutually agree on the exam, its administration and location. A parent-instructor who does not hold a teaching license or teach under a licensed teacher's supervision must assess subjects the exam does not cover. If the total battery score is at or below the 30th percentile or one grade level below, the parent must obtain additional evaluation for learning problems. Results are not required to be filed annually but test scores must be given to the school if the child later enrolls full time in public school. |
| Records | Required. Maintain documentation that the required subjects are taught and proof the tests were administered, including class schedules, copies of instructional materials, and descriptions of methods used to assess achievement; make it available to the county attorney in a truancy/CHIPS case. No retention period stated. |
| Teacher | Instructor must meet one of the 120A.22 subd. 10 criteria (e.g., Minnesota teaching license, supervision by a licensed teacher, bachelor's degree), or be the parent of a child who is assessed under subd. 11. |
| Other | Immunization: parent submits the required immunization statements (or exemption) to the superintendent by October 1 of the first year of homeschooling in Minnesota and of the grade 7 year (121A.15 subd. 8). |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade; testing applies every year.
High school and graduation
No state graduation requirements for home schools; the parent sets them and issues the diploma.
Official sources:
- Minn. Stat. 120A.22 — Compulsory instruction
- Minn. Stat. 120A.24 — Reporting
- Minn. Stat. 121A.15 — Health standards; immunizations
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: MDE home school pages (education.mn.gov) could not be fetched (robots.txt); all facts are from statute. Who issues the diploma is not stated in statute.
High school: the public-school diploma as a guide
Optional for homeschools in most states, but the credit plan most colleges and employers recognize, and a sound default for a homeschool transcript. Shown in the subject areas this site uses.
| English Language arts 4 | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Science | 3.0 |
| Social Studies | 3.5 |
| Fine Arts The arts 1 | 1.0 |
| Electives | 7.0 |
| Total | 21.5 |
|---|
Total is the sum of listed credits (statute lists credits by subject, not a total). Also: physical education and health credit sufficient to satisfy state standards (amount not specified); a personal finance course in grade 10, 11 or 12 for students beginning grade 9 in 2024-2025 and later; a government and citizenship course in grade 11 or 12 for students beginning grade 9 in 2025-2026 and later. Last amended 2025 c 20 s 86.
Source: Minn. Stat. 120B.024 — Graduation requirements; course credits
After graduation: what to plan for
Suggestions from Homeschool Corral, not state rules. Most families keep the college path open through 10th grade, then narrow.
- 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II, pre-calculus if they can), 3–4 science with 2 labs, 3–4 social studies, 2–3 years of one foreign language, 1 fine arts
- A one-paragraph description for every high-school course; the parent signs the transcript and diploma
- PSAT in 10th and 11th; SAT or ACT by spring of 11th; dual credit, AP or CLEP where it fits
- A log of activities, service and work from 9th grade; two adults who can recommend them
- A Scholarship Finder profile by 11th grade; FAFSA when it opens in the fall of 12th
- A diploma and transcript with 4 English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies; applied math every year
- Dual-credit career and technical courses in 11th–12th; OSHA 10 and first aid/CPR; a driver’s license
- Real projects and a part-time job logged as credits, with references; visit the union hall about pre-apprenticeships in 11th
- A parent-issued diploma and full transcript, signed and dated; recruiters ask for both
- Strong reading and arithmetic for the entrance test; a practice ASVAB in 11th
- Physical fitness as a logged course; service and leadership; for an academy or ROTC, the college list plus the SAT/ACT early
- The diploma and transcript anyway; personal finance and business basics as credits
- Work experience logged with hours and a reference from 10th grade; typing, spreadsheets, a clear email
- Keep the college path open: a foreign language and Algebra II cost little now
My Homeschool turns these into a checklist for each child, with the credits recorded in Transcripts counted against the plan.
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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