Homeschool by State
Homeschooling in Minnesota: Requirements, Records & How to Get Started
Everything Minnesota families need to homeschool with confidence — the law in plain English, the records to keep, and the tools to generate them in minutes.
Idaho homeschool law, summarized
Minnesota has a few clear requirements to follow
What Minnesota actually requires
Minnesota treats homeschools as nonpublic schools, so families must give notice: after a child turns seven, the parent files an initial report of instruction with the superintendent of the resident district and then submits a short letter of intent to continue by October 1 of each following year until the child turns sixteen. That report identifies the child, the parent-teacher, and the subjects covered, and it must be updated within 15 days if you withdraw a child from public school mid-year. Instruction has to span a broad required list — reading, writing, literature, fine arts, math, science, history, geography, government and citizenship, health, and physical education. Minnesota is one of the few states that also mandates an annual nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test for every homeschooled student.
The practical burden in Minnesota is documentation, not permission. Beyond the yearly notice, parents keep class schedules, the instructional materials they used, and a written description of how they assess progress, and they administer and retain the results of each year’s standardized test. The test itself is arranged by agreement with the superintendent as to which instrument is used and where it is given, and results are kept rather than sent to the state for judgment. Keeping these records at least two years — and longer for high school, where transcripts matter for college and work — makes annual compliance routine. A simple attendance and hours log, a subject-by-subject file, and a folder of test reports cover essentially everything the district could ask to see.
Official Minnesota resources
Always confirm current rules directly with the state. These are the authoritative sources:
Minnesota Dept. of Education — Home School Education education.mn.gov ↗HSLDA — Minnesota Homeschool Laws hslda.org ↗
The records smart Minnesota families keep
Keeping clean, organized records is the simplest way for Minnesota families to stay ready for anything — and Homeschool Reports generates each one in minutes.
Generate Minnesota-ready records without the busywork
Enter your students once and produce attendance logs, report cards, and transcripts whenever you need them — no spreadsheets, no formatting headaches.
Choosing a Minnesota homeschool curriculum
Minnesota gives families broad freedom to choose the curriculum and materials that fit their child — from full boxed programs to a custom mix. Whatever you choose, keeping simple records of what you cover makes the year far easier to document.
Homeschooling in neighboring states
Common questions about homeschooling in Minnesota
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Minnesota?
Yes. You file an initial report of instruction with your resident district superintendent and then an annual letter of intent by October 1 each year until the child turns 16.
Is standardized testing required in Minnesota?
Yes. Every homeschooled child must take a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test each year; you arrange the test and location with the superintendent and keep the results.
What subjects must I teach?
Reading, writing, literature, fine arts, math, science, history, geography, government and citizenship, health, and physical education, taught at an age-appropriate level.
Do I need a teaching degree to homeschool my own child?
No. A parent instructing their own child is automatically deemed qualified in Minnesota; credential rules only apply to non-parent instructors.
Start homeschooling Minnesota with confidence
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