How to Homeschool in Minnesota (2026): Notice, Required Subjects, and Annual Assessment

Minnesota's Home Instruction Law

Minnesota Statutes §120A.22 sets out the requirements for home instruction as an alternative to public school enrollment. Minnesota sits toward the more regulated end of the spectrum, not because the paperwork burden is high, but because the state requires a licensed teacher to be involved in the assessment process for most home school families. The annual notice is straightforward. The subject requirements are broad. The licensed teacher piece is what distinguishes Minnesota from most other states and what new families need to understand before they start.

Minnesota's compulsory school age runs from 7 through 17. Children outside that window are not subject to the attendance law, though most families continue home instruction through high school graduation regardless of age.

Filing the Annual Notice

Each year, file a written notice of intent to provide home instruction with your school district superintendent. The deadline is October 1 for the current school year. If you begin home instruction mid-year, file within 15 days of starting. The notice must include each child's name and age, the grade level being served, and the subjects you plan to teach during the year.

The district records the notice. It does not approve or deny your program. Keep a copy of every notice you file. If you move to a different district, file a new notice with the new superintendent within 15 days.

The October 1 deadline is later than most states -- most require notice before the school year starts. In Minnesota, the school year may already be underway when you file. File as soon as you have confirmed your family's plans for the year, even if that is before October 1. Missing the deadline does not invalidate your home instruction program, but filing on time protects you if the district raises questions about attendance.

Required Subjects

Minnesota requires instruction in a defined set of subjects that varies by grade level. For grades 1 through 6, the required areas include reading, language arts and literature, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts (visual arts, music, or related disciplines), health, and physical education. For grades 7 through 12, the list shifts to align with secondary school expectations: English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, and career and technical education.

Minnesota does not specify which textbooks to use, which publishers to buy from, or how much time to spend on each subject. The subject list defines the scope of instruction; the family controls every other decision about curriculum, sequence, and materials. Many standard home school curriculum packages cover all of the required areas without supplemental planning.

The Licensed Teacher Requirement

This is the piece of Minnesota's law that sets it apart from most other states. Unless the teaching parent holds a valid Minnesota teaching license, a licensed teacher must be involved in the instructional or assessment process in one of two ways.

Option 1: Direct Supervision by a Licensed Teacher

A person with a valid Minnesota teaching license directly supervises the home instruction program and evaluates the child's progress in each required subject area at least once per quarter. The supervising teacher meets with the child regularly, reviews work samples and performance, and provides written evaluations each quarter. Some Minnesota home school organizations and co-ops maintain networks of licensed teachers who take on this supervisory role for multiple families.

Option 2: Annual Assessment by a Licensed Teacher

A licensed teacher conducts an annual assessment of the child's academic progress in the required subjects. The results of the assessment are submitted to the school district. This option lets the parent teach independently throughout the school year while bringing in a licensed teacher once annually to document the child's progress and submit the required report. Most Minnesota families who do not hold a teaching license use this path.

If the parent holds a valid Minnesota teaching license, neither option applies -- the parent may assess their own child and submit results directly to the district.

What Happens Below the 30th Percentile

Minnesota's law includes a consequence provision tied to assessment performance. If a student's assessment shows performance below the 30th percentile in a required subject area, the licensed teacher involved in the assessment must evaluate the student every six months rather than annually, until the student reaches the 30th percentile in that subject. This provision applies to the assessment results submitted to the district.

This is not a termination provision -- a student who scores below the 30th percentile is not required to return to public school. It is an increased oversight requirement that adds one additional evaluation cycle per year until performance improves. Families whose children are working below grade level in specific subjects should build a relationship with a licensed evaluator who is willing to conduct the twice-yearly assessment and document progress. Taking a free reading assessment before the annual evaluation gives you a clear picture of where your child stands and allows you to address gaps before results go to the district.

Withdrawing from a Minnesota Public School

Write a withdrawal notice to the school, then file your home instruction notice with the district superintendent within 15 days. Keep both documents. If your child has an IEP, mandatory special education services end at withdrawal. Minnesota does allow home-instructed students with disabilities to access certain district services on a voluntary basis, but the entitlements under an IEP end when the child leaves public school. Contact your district's special education office before withdrawing if services are currently in place.

Minnesota law also allows home school students to participate in extracurricular activities and access courses at their local public school. Home-instructed students have the right to enroll in classes at the public school on a part-time basis, including elective courses and career and technical programs. The right exists under state law, but the enrollment process and any eligibility requirements vary by district. Check with your specific district well before the semester you want to participate.

Finding a Licensed Teacher in Minnesota

The licensed teacher requirement is the step that causes the most friction for new Minnesota home school families. The good news is that a well-developed network exists to address it. Minnesota has several active home school organizations -- including the Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE) and secular support groups throughout the state -- that maintain lists of licensed teachers available for home school evaluations and quarterly supervision. Annual evaluation services are offered in spring, with group evaluation sessions coordinated through co-ops in many parts of the state.

Some licensed teachers offer private evaluation services throughout the year. Building this relationship before the school year begins is far easier than searching for an evaluator in late spring when demand is high. Ask your local home school group for evaluator referrals as soon as you decide to home school. Most evaluators in Minnesota are familiar with the §120A.22 process and can walk you through what they need to complete the assessment and file the required report.

High School, Transcripts, and Diplomas in Minnesota

Minnesota does not set graduation requirements or diploma standards for home instruction programs. You set your own graduation criteria, track credits through grades 9 to 12, and issue the diploma when the student meets them. A parent-issued diploma and transcript from a Minnesota home instruction program are accepted by Minnesota's public universities, community colleges, employers, and licensing bodies.

The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State system institutions are experienced reviewing home instruction applications. Most ask for ACT or SAT scores alongside the parent-issued transcript. A well-organized transcript listing courses, credit hours, and grades by year is the standard document. For selective programs, course descriptions strengthen the application considerably. Start building the transcript in grade 9, not grade 11.

Minnesota's Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program allows high school students, including home-instructed students, to take college courses at Minnesota colleges and universities tuition-free. Eligibility and enrollment requirements for home-instructed students vary by institution; contact the specific college early to understand what documentation they need. Use the curriculum guide to build a full high school plan that accounts for the courses and assessments your student's target institutions will want to see.

No State Funding for Minnesota Home School Families

Minnesota does not have an education savings account or voucher program for families providing home instruction under §120A.22. All curriculum, assessment fees, evaluator costs, and other educational expenses are the family's responsibility.

A Note from Homeschool Teacher Guide: What This Really Means for You

Minnesota's licensed teacher requirement sounds more burdensome than it turns out to be. Most families use the annual assessment option rather than quarterly supervision, which means finding a licensed teacher once a year in spring. The home school community in Minnesota is well-organized and this is a solved problem -- evaluators are available, the process is established, and the cost is usually modest. What Minnesota families underestimate is the October 1 notice deadline. It catches people who start planning their school year in August and forget that the notice has a fall rather than summer deadline. Set a calendar reminder for late September and file before October 1 every year. The subject requirement list is broad but not heavy -- any solid curriculum package covers it. Minnesota gives you real freedom in curriculum and schedule within a structured accountability framework, and once you have found a good evaluator, the annual rhythm is easy to maintain.