Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Minnesota?

Yes. You send notice to the superintendent of your resident school district, initial report by October 1 of the first school year your child is taught after turning 7; or within 15 days of withdrawing a child age 7+ from public school; within 15 days of moving out of a district and by October 1 after establishing a new district. After that, a letter of intent to continue by October 1 every school year. How often: annually (letter of intent by October 1), plus a new report when you move districts. Written report to the superintendent; the district may offer an electronic or online option but cannot require it.

What subjects do I have to teach in Minnesota?

Minnesota requires: Basic communication skills, including reading, writing, literature, and fine arts; Mathematics and science; Social studies (including history, geography, economics, government, and citizenship); Health and physical education.

Are standardized tests or evaluations required in Minnesota?

Each year, children ages 7-16 take a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test; you and the superintendent agree on the test and how and where it is given. If the test doesn't cover every required subject, the parent assesses the remaining subjects. If the child scores at or below the 30th percentile (or one grade level below), you must have the child evaluated for learning problems. Scores are not filed with the district. Homeschools accredited by a state-recognized agency are exempt.

Do parents need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Minnesota?

Each instructor must meet one of: a Minnesota teaching license for the field and grade; direct supervision by a licensed Minnesota teacher; teaching in an accredited school; a bachelor's degree; or being the child's parent (with the child tested annually).

What records should I keep when homeschooling in Minnesota?

Documentation that the required subjects are being taught, including class schedules and copies of instructional materials; Descriptions of the methods you use to assess your child's achievement; Proof that the annual standardized test was given (and the scores, which a public school will need if your child later enrolls full time); Immunization records or exemption statement.

How to homeschool in Minnesota

Moderate regulationChecked against official sources October 9, 2026

In Minnesota a homeschool counts as a nonpublic school. Once your child is 7, you send your school district superintendent a report by October 1 (or within 15 days of withdrawing from public school), then a short letter of intent to continue by October 1 every year. Your child takes a nationally normed standardized test every year (you and the superintendent agree on which one), and you keep records showing you're teaching the required subjects.

Homeschooling in Minnesota at a glance: notice of intent required (send to the superintendent of your resident school district); instruction time: no minimum number of days or hours; 4 required subject areas; testing: each year, children ages 7-16 take a nationally norm-referenced standardized…

Requirements in Minnesota

Home school (nonpublic school) · Minn. Stat. §§ 120A.22, 120A.24; § 121A.15 subd. 8 (immunizations)

A parent (or another qualified instructor) teaches the child at home as a nonpublic school. You report to your resident district superintendent, give an annual standardized test, and keep documentation of what you teach. There is no minimum number of days or hours.

Notice: Send to: the superintendent of your resident school district.
When: Initial report by October 1 of the first school year your child is taught after turning 7; or within 15 days of withdrawing a child age 7+ from public school; within 15 days of moving out of a district and by October 1 after establishing a new district. After that, a letter of intent to continue by October 1 every school year.
How often: annually (letter of intent by October 1), plus a new report when you move districts.
How: Written report to the superintendent; the district may offer an electronic or online option but cannot require it.
Instruction time: No minimum number of days or hours.
Required subjects: Basic communication skills, including reading, writing, literature, and fine arts.
Mathematics and science.
Social studies (including history, geography, economics, government, and citizenship).
Health and physical education.
Records to keep: Documentation that the required subjects are being taught, including class schedules and copies of instructional materials.
Descriptions of the methods you use to assess your child's achievement.
Proof that the annual standardized test was given (and the scores, which a public school will need if your child later enrolls full time).
Immunization records or exemption statement.
Testing / evaluation: Each year, children ages 7-16 take a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test; you and the superintendent agree on the test and how and where it is given. If the test doesn't cover every required subject, the parent assesses the remaining subjects. If the child scores at or below the 30th percentile (or one grade level below), you must have the child evaluated for learning problems. Scores are not filed with the district. Homeschools accredited by a state-recognized agency are exempt.
Parent qualifications: Each instructor must meet one of: a Minnesota teaching license for the field and grade; direct supervision by a licensed Minnesota teacher; teaching in an accredited school; a bachelor's degree; or being the child's parent (with the child tested annually).
Also: Immunizations: submit your child's immunization statement (or a medical exemption or notarized conscientious-objection statement) to the superintendent by October 1 of your first homeschool year in Minnesota and again in the grade 7 year.
Instruction, textbooks, and materials must be in English (with limited exceptions).
If the superintendent alleges a violation, you have 15 days to fix it before mediation or referral to the county attorney.

What the notice must include

Each child's name, birth date, and address.
The annual standardized tests to be used.
The name of each instructor.
Evidence that each instructor meets one of the instructor qualifications in Minn. Stat. § 120A.22 subd. 10.
Annual letter of intent: a statement that you will continue to provide instruction, covering all students you teach, and any changes to the information above.

Checklist

File initial report with the superintendent (child info, tests to be used, instructors and their qualifications): by October 1 of the first school year after your child turns 7, or within 15 days of withdrawing from public school.
Submit immunization records or exemption statement to the superintendent: by October 1 of your first homeschool year in Minnesota, and again in the grade 7 year.
File letter of intent to continue homeschooling: each year by October 1.
Give the agreed nationally normed standardized test: each year.
Keep class schedules, materials, assessment methods, and test records: ongoing.
File a new report if you move to a different school district: within 15 days of moving out, and by October 1 in the new district.

Leaving a public school

If you withdraw a child age 7 or older from public school to homeschool, file the initial report with the superintendent within 15 days. Children under 7 enrolled in kindergarten or higher can be withdrawn by the parent.

Common questions about homeschooling in Minnesota

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Minnesota?: Yes. You send notice to the superintendent of your resident school district, initial report by October 1 of the first school year your child is taught after turning 7; or within 15 days of withdrawing a child age 7+ from public school; within 15 days of moving out of a district and by October 1 after establishing a new district. After that, a letter of intent to continue by October 1 every school year. How often: annually (letter of intent by October 1), plus a new report when you move districts. Written report to the superintendent; the district may offer an electronic or online option but cannot require it.
What subjects do I have to teach in Minnesota?: Minnesota requires: Basic communication skills, including reading, writing, literature, and fine arts; Mathematics and science; Social studies (including history, geography, economics, government, and citizenship); Health and physical education.
How many days or hours of homeschool does Minnesota require?: No minimum number of days or hours.
Are standardized tests or evaluations required in Minnesota?: Each year, children ages 7-16 take a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test; you and the superintendent agree on the test and how and where it is given. If the test doesn't cover every required subject, the parent assesses the remaining subjects. If the child scores at or below the 30th percentile (or one grade level below), you must have the child evaluated for learning problems. Scores are not filed with the district. Homeschools accredited by a state-recognized agency are exempt.
Do parents need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Minnesota?: Each instructor must meet one of: a Minnesota teaching license for the field and grade; direct supervision by a licensed Minnesota teacher; teaching in an accredited school; a bachelor's degree; or being the child's parent (with the child tested annually).
What records should I keep when homeschooling in Minnesota?: Documentation that the required subjects are being taught, including class schedules and copies of instructional materials; Descriptions of the methods you use to assess your child's achievement; Proof that the annual standardized test was given (and the scores, which a public school will need if your child later enrolls full time); Immunization records or exemption statement.

Worth double-checking

Minnesota has no single statewide notice form; many districts publish their own. You can use any written report that includes the required information.
Subd. 10 (instructor qualifications) was amended in 2023 and subd. 11 (assessment) in 2024; the requirements above reflect the current posted statute. A 2025 special-session law changed district attendance reporting, not homeschool filings.
We could not load the Minnesota Department of Education's own homeschool page during this check; requirements here come from the statutes and the House Research summary.

Sources

This is a plain-language summary to help you get organized, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the details with your state or school district before you file.