Legal/Homeschool Laws
Laws that regulate home education vary from state to state. It is important to understand the legal requirements in your state and to be aware of legislative and other legal issues that affect homeschoolers in your community. We've compiled resources that will help you become informed. Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, and the vast majority of homeschoolers face no problems, you may find that you need legal assistance at some point in your homeschooling career. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the support you need. And if you'd like to become more involved in working towards homeschooling freedoms, we discuss some of the issues facing homeschoolers that we hope you find compelling.
State Laws
Read the laws regulating home education in Minnesota and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
Forms
Which forms do you need to fill out? Where can you get them? Here is a list of useful forms for homeschooling in Minnesota.
Legal Support
If you need legal information or have run into a legal situation regarding your decision to homeschool, these resources will be helpful.
Lobbying Groups
A listing of local and national lobbying groups and information on how you can become involved in the political process to ensure the freedom to homeschool is protected.
Attorneys
When searching for an attorney, it is helpful to know whether he or she has experience working with homeschoolers and is interested in protecting the right to homeschool.
Legal Issues
Is homeschooling legal? Which laws pertain to homeschoolers and which don't? How do homeschoolers protect their rights to freely educate their children and to preserve their privacy?
Government Resources
A listing of local and state government resources, including your state's Department of Education, school districts, and Senate and House of Representative information.
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Letter of Intent to Continue
This is the form homeschoolers can use each year as they continue to homeschool beyond the initial year. This form is in pdf format.
120A.26 Enforcement and prosecution.
g and mediation. If the specified alleged violations of the compulsory attendance requirements are not corrected within 15 days of receipt of the written notification, the superintendent must request fact-finding and mediation services from the commissioner.
Subd. 5.Notice to county attorney. If the alleged violations are not corrected through the fact-finding and mediation process under subdivision 4, the superintendent must notify the county attorney of the alleged violations. The superintend...
School and Enrollment Choices
Did you know that there are more options for your child than traditional public school? In Minnesota, parents have a wide range of meaningful school options for their children. These resources give basic information to parents who wish to educate their children at home.
Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction
Submit a Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction to the superintendent’s office in the school district where the
parent/legal guardian resides. Complete the information
using this form or a written or electronic format of your choice. Information in the Letter of Intent must be submitted
by October 1 of each year after a Full Report has been filed in the same district. If you have moved, you must file
a new Full Report.
Homeschool Full Report
This is a suggested form from the Minnesota Department of Education to submit a Full Report to the superintendent's office in the school district where the parents/legal guardians reside.
Reporting Information for Homeschoolers in the State of Minnesota
Minnesota law requires homeschooling families to report certain information to their school district once a year. The specific statute that addresses reporting, Minn. Stat. 120A.24, subd. 1, is fairly easy to read and understand.
Optional Forms for Homeschoolers
These district forms are optional and include: Student Report for Aids to Nonpublic Students, Graduation Standards Testing Request Form, Secondary Guidance/Counseling services REquest Form, Pupil Health Services Form, Shared Time Policy Form, Eligible Materials for Reimbursement, and Home School Reimbursement Report.
Annual Report to School District
In the summer of 2011, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Homeschool Mandate Reduction bill, improving homeschool reporting and strengthening homeschooling rights in Minnesota. Minnesota law does not specify how home educators should write their annual report, only that it is due by October 1 each year and certain information must be communicated. MÂCHÉ encourages you to use one of these forms or to write your own letter instead of any documents a local school district may send because those u...
Minnesota Department of Education
This is the official website for the Minnesota Department of Education.
Minnesota Education Tax Credit & Deduction
Minnesota has two programs—the education tax credit and the education tax deduction (also called a subtraction)—to help families pay expenses related to their child’s kindergarten through 12th grade education. Both programs lower the taxes you must pay and may even provide a larger refund when you file your Minnesota Individual Income Tax Return.
Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling
This is a suggested form from the Minnesota Department of Education to submit the Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling. Information must be submitted by October 1 of each year after a Full Report has been filed in the same district.
123B.41 Definitions.
Subdivision 1.Application. As used in sections 123B.40 to 123B.48, the terms defined in this section shall have the meanings ascribed to them.
Subd. 2.Textbook. (a) "Textbook" means any book or book substitute, including electronic books as well as other printed materials delivered electronically, which a pupil uses as a text or text substitute in a particular class or program in the school regularly attended and a copy of which is expected to be available for the individual use of each pupil i...
Home Schooling
Minnesota Department of Education summary of the laws regulating home education. This Frequently Asked Questions list covers nonpublic schools, including homeschools unaccredited by a Minnesota-recognized accrediting agency.
123B.42 Textbooks; Individual instruction or cooperative learning material; standard tests
Subdivision 1.Providing education materials and tests. The commissioner of education shall promulgate rules under the provisions of chapter 14 requiring that in each school year, based upon formal requests by or on behalf of nonpublic school pupils in a nonpublic school, the local districts or intermediary service areas must purchase or otherwise acquire textbooks, individualized instructional or cooperative learning materials, software or other educational technology, and standardized tests and...
124D.09 Postsecondary enrollment options act.
Subdivision 1.Citation. This section may be cited the "Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act."
Subd. 2.Purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options to high school pupils by encouraging and enabling secondary pupils to enroll full time or part time in nonsectarian courses or programs in eligible postsecondary institutions, as defined in subdivision 3.
Subd. 3.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms ...
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