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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121A.15 health standards; immunizations; school children
Subdivision 1.School and child care facility immunization requirements. Except as provided in subdivisions 3, 4, and 10, no person over two months old may be allowed to enroll or remain enrolled in any elementary or secondary school or child care facility in this state until the person has submitted to the administrator or other person having general control and supervision of the school or child care facility, one of the following statements:
(1) a statement from a physician or a public clinic...
144.3351 Immunization data.
Providers as defined in section 144.291, subdivision 2, group purchasers as defined in section 62J.03, subdivision 6, elementary or secondary schools or child care facilities as defined in section 121A.15, subdivision 9, public or private postsecondary educational institutions as defined in section 135A.14, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), a board of health as defined in section 145A.02, subdivision 2, community action agencies as defined in section 256E.31, subdivision 1, and the commissioner of h...
123B.36 Authorized fees.
Subdivision 1.School boards may require fees. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "home school" means a home school as defined in sections 120A.22 and 120A.24 with five or fewer students receiving instruction.
(b) A school board is authorized to require payment of fees in the following areas:
(1) in any program where the resultant product, in excess of minimum requirements and at the pupil's option, becomes the personal property of the pupil;
(2) admission fees or charges for extracurricula...
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.
171.39 Exemptions.
(a) The provisions of sections 171.33 to 171.41 do not apply to any person giving driver training lessons without charge; to employers maintaining driver training schools without charge for their employees only; to a home-school within the meaning of sections 120A.22 and 120A.24; or to schools or classes conducted by colleges, universities, and high schools as a part of the normal program for those institutions.
(b) Any person who is a certificated driver training instructor in a high school dr...
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.
Minnesota Statutes Regarding Home Schools
A comprehensive list of all statutes that pertain to home schools in the state of Minnesota.
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...
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.
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...
102A.26 Enforcement and Prosecution
Subd. 3.Notice to parents. The superintendent must notify the parent, in writing, if a child is alleged to be receiving instruction in violation of sections 120A.22 and 120A.24. The written notification must include a list of the specific alleged violations.
Subd. 4.Fact-finding 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 medi...
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 ...
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.
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.
Looking for Another State?
Featured Resources
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Spell to Write & Read
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