Minnesota · Some paperwork

Homeschooling in Minnesota

Minnesota asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.

VerifiedMarch 2026

Notice of intentFile every yearBy October 1 each year after the child turns 7 (or within 15 days of withdrawing from public school). Annual letters of intent must continue until the child turns 16. Minn. Stat. § 120A.24.

Yearly assessmentYes, each year

Instruction time170 days a year

RecordsYour choice

How to start homeschooling in Minnesota

Written from Minnesota's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.

Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
Minnesota asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: By October 1 each year after the child turns 7 (or within 15 days of withdrawing from public school). Annual letters of intent must continue until the child turns 16. Minn. Stat. § 120A.24. You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).
Cover the subjects the state names
Minnesota names 5 subject areas to teach. How you teach them, in what order, and with which materials is entirely up to you.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Minnesota does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.
Plan the yearly assessment early
Minnesota asks for an assessment each year. You can choose from: Nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test (annually, grades as required by district); Testing location and specific test must be mutually agreed upon by parent and district superintendent; Exemption: If homeschool is accredited by a recognized Minnesota accrediting association, annual testing is waived. Deciding in the autumn which route you will take saves a scramble in the spring.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) — education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/. Checked March 2026.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)
When it is due: By October 1 each year after the child turns 7 (or within 15 days of withdrawing from public school). Annual letters of intent must continue until the child turns 16. Minn. Stat. § 120A.24.
How often: Every school year
Notarized?: No
Official form: education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/
Ongoing reporting: Yes, once a year

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) — education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/. Checked March 2026.

Testing, portfolios and reviews

Assessment: Required each year
Ways to meet it: Nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test (annually, grades as required by district)
Testing location and specific test must be mutually agreed upon by parent and district superintendent
Exemption: If homeschool is accredited by a recognized Minnesota accrediting association, annual testing is waived
Named tests: Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10)CAT/5 (California Achievement Test)Terra NovaAny nationally norm-referenced test agreed upon by parent and superintendent
Portfolio: Not required

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) — education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/. Checked March 2026.

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects: Basic Communication Skills (reading, writing, literature, fine arts)MathematicsScienceSocial Studies (history, geography, government)Health and Physical Education
Instruction time: 170 days a year
Who may teach: Minnesota requires that the instructor be 'qualified.' Under Minn. Stat. § 120A.22, subd. 10, parents teaching their own children are automatically deemed qualified — no degree or license is required. However, if a non-parent instructor is used, they may need to be a licensed teacher.
Keeping records: No retention period is set. Keeping a simple folder is still worth doing.
Legal routes: Compulsory Instruction exemption under Minn. Stat. § 120A.22 — annual notice to superintendent
Nonpublic school exemption (recognized accrediting association — waives testing requirement)
Umbrella / cover schools: Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE) and Minnesota Homeschoolers Alliance list accredited umbrella programs. Accreditation eliminates the annual testing mandate.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) — education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/. Checked March 2026.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Public school sports: Minnesota statute allows homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities (including sports) on the same basis as enrolled students. Access is broadly available by state law, though individual district policies may add eligibility requirements.
Dual enrollment: Minnesota's Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program is available to eligible homeschooled students in grades 10–12. Students can take courses at colleges and universities tuition-free. Notification to the district by May 30 is required.
Diplomas: No state diploma for homeschoolers. Parents issue transcripts and diplomas. Minnesota does not have a state homeschool diploma pathway. Students may pursue the GED or enroll in an accredited program for an official diploma.
College admissions: University of Minnesota and Minnesota State system schools accept homeschool graduates. Typical requirements include ACT/SAT scores, a transcript, and possibly a portfolio or interview. PSEO credits from college courses transfer directly.
Support for additional needs: Minnesota homeschool students may be eligible for special education services through their resident district as equitable participants. Federal IDEA funding rules require districts to conduct child find activities and offer services to private/homeschool students. Contact the local special education director.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) — education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/. Checked March 2026.

Money your family can claim in Minnesota

No program on file yet

We do not have a verified Minnesota education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) directly.

See the states where funding is confirmed →

Questions parents ask about Minnesota

Is homeschooling legal in Minnesota?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Minnesota. Minnesota has moderate homeschool regulation — some requirements apply but they are generally manageable. Koydo can track your compliance automatically.

Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Minnesota?

Yes. Minnesota requires families to file a Notice of Intent by By October 1 each year after the child turns 7 (or within 15 days of withdrawing from public school). Annual letters of intent must continue until the child turns 16. Minn. Stat. § 120A.24.. This notice must be renewed annually.

How many instruction days are required in Minnesota?

Minnesota requires 170 days a year.

What subjects are required by law in Minnesota?

Minnesota requires instruction in the following subjects: Basic Communication Skills (reading, writing, literature, fine arts), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies (history, geography, government), Health and Physical Education.

Does Minnesota require annual assessment for homeschoolers?

Yes. Minnesota requires annual assessment. Accepted methods include: Nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test (annually, grades as required by district), Testing location and specific test must be mutually agreed upon by parent and district superintendent, Exemption: If homeschool is accredited by a recognized Minnesota accrediting association, annual testing is waived.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Minnesota?

Minnesota has teacher qualification requirements: Minnesota requires that the instructor be 'qualified.' Under Minn. Stat. § 120A.22, subd. 10, parents teaching their own children are automatically deemed qualified — no degree or license is required. However, if a non-parent instructor is used, they may need to be a licensed teacher.

Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Minnesota?

Yes. Minnesota has a law (sometimes called a "Tim Tebow" law) allowing homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. Minnesota statute allows homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities (including sports) on the same basis as enrolled students. Access is broadly available by state law, though individual district policies may add eligibility requirements.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) — education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/. Checked March 2026.

Worth knowing about Minnesota

Minnesota has moderate regulation: annual notice to the superintendent, annual nationally norm-referenced testing (with mutual agreement on which test), and 5 required subject areas. If a child scores at or below the 30th percentile, additional evaluation is required. Accredited umbrella programs eliminate the testing mandate entirely.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) — education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/. Checked March 2026.

Who to ask in Minnesota

Regulator: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)
Official site: education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/
Forms: education.mn.gov/mde/fam/nphs/home/

Free tools for your first year

Everything below works whether or not you ever pay us a penny. Use what helps with Minnesota's requirements and ignore the rest.

Transcript builderBuild a clean high-school transcript with GPA and credits, ready to send to a college.Paperwork generatorFill in your details and get the letter or affidavit your state expects, already worded for it.Printable worksheetsPrint practice pages by grade and subject for the days a screen is the wrong answer.Instruction day logTick off days as you go so the count is already done when your state asks for it.State fundingSee whether your state puts education money in your hands, and how to claim it.Starting guideThe whole first year in five steps, written for someone who has never done this before.

Other states

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii All 51 →

This page was written from Minnesota's published rules and last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). This is information for families, not legal advice.

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