If you’re thinking about homeschooling or if you’ve already made the decision, you’ll find that our state is a great place to home educate your kids. You’re probably wondering how to begin homeschooling in Minnesota. Thanks to a generation of pioneering homeschoolers in our state who laid the legislative groundwork, state laws are relatively friendly toward homeschoolers. You’ll find them easy to understand and comply with.
First, if you’re the parent or legal guardian of the kids you want to homeschool, you qualify to do so. It’s that simple.
If you’re not the parent, you can still qualify. Let’s say you’re a grandmother, aunt, or even a neighbor or friend of the family. State law lets you homeschool the children if:
- You hold a valid Minnesota teaching license in the field and for the grade level taught
- You are directly supervised by a person holding a valid Minnesota teaching license
- You have successfully completed a teacher competency examination
- Your homeschool is accredited by an accrediting agency, recognized according to section 123B.445 or recognized by the commissioner, or
- You hold a Bachelor’s degree.
If you’re qualified to homeschool, you must comply with the following legal requirements for homeschooling in Minnesota.
1. Inform your school district you’re going to begin homeschooling. The first year you homeschool, send a Letter of Intent to Homeschool to the superintendent by October 1. (If you’ve pulled your child out of school during the school year because you’ve decided to homeschool, make sure you inform the superintendent within 15 days of withdrawing.) Each year after that, submit the Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling. This intent letter requirement only applies if the homeschooled child is between the ages of 7-17 by October 1 of the school year.
If you’re not sure where to send the letter, just do an internet search on your city’s school district, and the Office of the Superintendent should appear. Most districts also have a department of “home and nonpublic schools.” It’s worth bookmarking that page and familiarizing yourself with the information it contains. You’ll often find helpful information and the name of the district’s homeschool liaison.
2. Provide required instruction. As a homeschooler in Minnesota, you must make sure your child is not truant, but you’re able to set your own school schedule. When it comes to what subjects you teach and what materials you use, you have a lot of discretion. However, state law has some foundational requirements.
When you begin homeschooling, be aware that each year you must teach your students the following:
- Basic communication skills, including reading and writing, literature, and fine arts
- Math and science
- Social studies, including but not limited to history, geography, economics, government, and citizenship
- Health and physical education
3. Document your student’s work. State law requires that you keep copies of student schedules, courses, instructional materials, and a description of how you assess your student’s progress. Any type of filing system you develop to track your school is fine. For example, keeping your planner, curricula, and tests for the year all in one place would fulfill this requirement. In addition, when your student reaches ninth grade, you should start building an official transcript. Although this isn’t required by law, there are many reasons you’ll want to have one as your student progresses through high school.
4. Administer a standardized test each year. Your student must take a norm-referenced standardized test each year, and you must inform your school district which test you’ve chosen. This test can be a paper and pencil “darken the bubble” test like the Iowa Basics or California Achievement Test or an orally administered test like the Peabody test. You can choose whether to hire an administrator or give the tests yourself. Not all tests allow parents to administer their tests, so be sure to check into the rules before placing an order.
Family Learning Organization is one nationwide test supplier of tests that parents can administer. If your student scores below the 30th percentile or one grade level below his or her age range on a standardized test, you must obtain an evaluation from a consultant to see whether your child has learning disabilities.
To find someone in your area who administers the Peabody test, do a search on Peabody Individual Achievement Test. You may also want to investigate the Woodcock Johnson Test of Academic Achievement, which is administered in oral and written form by trained administrators. Some administrators may travel to your home or may use videoconferencing.
5. Be prepared to provide information when necessary. Many if not most homeschoolers have never had to provide the documentation they keep to anyone. For example, even though you’re required to administer a standardized test each year, you don’t need to submit those results to the school district. However, in the case of a legal proceeding or a transfer to a public or private school, you must be able to provide the records when requested.
Now that you know how to begin homeschooling in Minnesota, you can fulfill the legal requirements for your school. Minnesota is a homeschool-friendly state. You’ve made a great decision!