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.
What's Popular
Minnesota Home School Laws from HSLDA
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Minnesota. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Minnesota.
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...
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.
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...
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...
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.
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 ...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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.
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.
Non-accredited, Nonpublic School Full Report
The person or nonpublic school in charge of providing instruction to a child must submit a Full Report to the superintendent of the school district where the child resides. Information in the Full Report must be submitted by October 1 of the first school year the child receives instruction after reaching the age of seven; with 15 days of when a parent withdraws a child from public school after age seven to provide instruction in a nonpublic school that is not accredited by a state-recognized ac...
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Featured Resources
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The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child: Your Complete Guide to Getting Off to the Right Start
An increasing number of parents are turning to homeschooling. This guide helps those parents to determine what are the best first steps to take, how to define your educational philosophy, and the best approach for your children. Included is a discuss...
Teach Me to Do It Myself: Montessori Activities for You and Your Child
Based on the key Montessori principle that children learn best through active experience, Teach Me to Do It Myself presents simple activities through which children explore and develop their skills. These skill areas include sensory perceptions, body...
Montessori Reading
Montessori Reading is a beginning reading and writing program for elementary aged children. This series of books introduce phonetic letter sounds, phonogram combinations, reading simple sentences, and reading and writing words that name everyday obje...
Veritas Press
Veritas Press offers a history based classical curriculum for kindergarten through twelfth grades.
The Letter Factory Game
Teaches Phonics! The race is on! With two games in one, children play together and learn letter names and sounds with actions and music. Wacky Professor Quigley guides players every step of the way so no reading is required! Games automatically adjus...