Minnesota Homeschool Laws: Requirements, Testing, and Compulsory Age

Minnesota has a specific set of homeschool requirements that sometimes surprise families accustomed to lighter-regulation states. The teacher qualification rule in particular catches people off guard. Here's what Minnesota law actually requires — and what it doesn't.

Compulsory Education Age

Minnesota's compulsory education law applies to children ages 7 through 17. Children who turn 7 must be enrolled in some form of approved instruction by that birthday. Children can be withdrawn from formal requirements when they turn 18 or graduate.

Homeschooling is explicitly permitted under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 120A.22 as a form of "other forms of instruction."

Notification and Annual Reporting

Minnesota requires an Initial Registration Form when a child first receives instruction after reaching age 7. It is due by October 1 of that school year, within 15 days of withdrawing a child from public school after age 7, or within 15 days of moving out of a district. In later years, submit a Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction by October 1.

The initial registration or continuation filing provides instructor and student information and, for a non-accredited homeschool, the annual testing plan and other information required by the current Minnesota Department of Education form.

The statement goes to the district, not to a state agency. Most districts accept a standard form available through their website or from the Minnesota Department of Education.

The Teacher Qualification Rule

This is the requirement that surprises many families. Minnesota Statutes § 120A.22, Subd. 10 requires that the instructor meet at least one of these pathways:

1. Hold a valid Minnesota teaching license in the field and for the grade level taught
2. Be directly supervised by a person holding a valid Minnesota teaching license
3. Provide instruction through an accredited or otherwise recognized school
4. Hold a baccalaureate degree
5. Be the parent of a child who is assessed under the statutory annual-assessment procedures

A parent without a teaching license may therefore qualify through a baccalaureate degree or the parent-assessment pathway; direct supervision is another route. Minnesota law does not impose a once-a-week supervision requirement.

In practice, many Minnesota homeschool families use Christian or homeschool co-ops that have a licensed teacher on staff who provides the required supervision. Others hire a licensed teacher for the minimum required supervision. Some families use umbrella school programs that provide a licensed supervisor as part of their service.

A teaching-license pathway requires a valid Minnesota license in the field and for the grade level taught.

Required Subjects

Minnesota law requires that homeschool instruction cover these 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

The law does not specify curriculum or hours, but instruction must cover these areas each year.

Annual Standardized Testing

Minnesota requires each nonpublic or homeschool student in the applicable age range (generally ages 7–17) to take a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement examination annually, unless the school is accredited or otherwise recognized. The superintendent and the person in charge of instruction must agree on the examination and its administration and location.

Testing must use a nationally norm-referenced standardized test. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, and Terra Nova are all used by Minnesota homeschool families. The state does not use a passing score, but a total battery score at or below the 30th percentile or one grade level below same-age peers triggers an additional evaluation requirement.

An ordinary portfolio review is not a substitute for the nationally norm-referenced test. A homeschool that is accredited or otherwise recognized is exempt from the testing requirement.

What the District Can and Cannot Require

Under current Minnesota law, the school district cannot:

• Enter the home to inspect the homeschool
• Approve the curriculum before use
• Set specific grade requirements or test score minimums
• Require students to take district-administered tests

The district may require the registration or continuation information and testing plan identified by statute and the current state forms; do not treat the filing as only a one-line statement.

Homeschool Organizations in Minnesota

The major support organization for Minnesota homeschoolers is the Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE), which hosts an annual convention and provides resources for families navigating state law. For secular families, Homeschoolers of Minnesota (HEM) offers support and advocacy.

Washington Homeschool Organization (in Washington State) is different — don't confuse the two when searching for Minnesota resources.

College Preparation from Minnesota

Minnesota's testing requirement means homeschool families already have standardized assessment records — a built-in asset for college applications. These test results, combined with a professional transcript and ACT/SAT scores, form the evidence package that college admissions offices need.

For high school students preparing for college applications, an outside licensed educator who is involved in the program can write a teacher recommendation letter and provide outside academic context. The US University Admissions Framework covers how to turn the documentation you're already building into a competitive admissions file.

Minnesota Homeschool Support Organizations

The Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE) is the largest Christian homeschool organization in the state, hosting an annual convention in the Twin Cities area and providing legal guidance and curriculum resources.

For secular families, the Minnesota Homeschoolers' Alliance offers a non-religious support network. Regional co-ops operate in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, and St. Cloud.

Dual Enrollment at Minnesota Colleges

Minnesota's Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program allows eligible high school students — including homeschoolers — to take college courses tuition-free at participating Minnesota colleges and universities. The college records the coursework, and transfer depends on the receiving institution's policies.

Homeschoolers can participate in PSEO starting at grade 10 (in some cases grade 11 depending on the college). Requirements include a minimum GPA and placement test scores, and the student must be eligible for 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.

PSEO adds third-party college coursework and can provide an academic reference, but a college instructor does not automatically satisfy any separate homeschool instructor-qualification pathway.

High School and College Admissions from Minnesota

The University of Minnesota system (Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris) and Minnesota's private colleges (Carleton, St. Olaf, Macalester, and others) all have experience admitting homeschool graduates. The combination of Minnesota's required testing, PSEO college transcripts, and a professional homeschool transcript gives Minnesota homeschoolers a documentation package that holds up well in competitive admissions contexts.

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