Start Here
Welcome!
7 Steps to Start Homeschooling in Minnesota
Determine If Homeschooling is For You
Taking the first step into homeschooling can feel overwhelming, and it is advisable to consider the pros and cons before making such an important decision. We have developed some questions to help you explore if homeschooling is the best decision for your family. Here’s what to do:
- Answer the questions listed below.
- Click on the questions to read Homeschool Minnesota - MÂCHÉ’s responses for additional insight.
If you are married, we encourage you and your spouse to complete the self-evaluation separately. Come together to talk through your thoughts.
Your reasons for considering home education can be numerous:
- You may have friends who home educate and you like what you see, both in the educational training and in the character of their children.
- You may not like the curriculum trends in public/private education, and you would like to choose a curriculum that would be better for your children.
- You may want to impact your children with a strong biblical worldview, which cannot be achieved through public/private schools.
Although home education can be seen merely as an alternative when a child is having difficulties in a public or private school setting, this alone may not be the basis of your reasoning. Having a fervent desire to teach your children yourself opens the door to giving your children the best possible education.
We encourage you to spend time in prayer as you weigh your reasons for home educating. Discuss them together with your spouse and/or a trusted mentor. If you feel comfortable, ask to meet with other homeschooling families. Remember that God commands us to be responsible for our children (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).
In recent years, some have begun to question just exactly what home education is. The following description is the result of thoughtful discussion by our Board of Directors with input from other experienced home educators. We believe the description to be representative of effective, quality home education.
"Homeschool Minnesota-MÂCHÉ believes the traditional family is the foundation of society and that parents have the God-given responsibility to determine the proper education for their children. Home education takes place when children are primarily taught and evaluated under the authority of their own parents in their own home. We believe that parents, not government, should determine the curriculum and standards for their own children. We further believe that home education fulfills its highest calling when parents educate their own children according to Christ-centered, biblical principles."
Homeschooling your children is not something to be taken lightly. It requires dedication and sacrifice. It is an adventure-filled journey — sometimes more difficult than you could imagine, yet at other times the most rewarding of choices you could ever make. You and your spouse are the teacher, principal, counselor, and curriculum advisor. Your family will spend much more time together than is typical in today’s American culture. Therefore, spending some time thinking and discussing your views on homeschooling with your spouse will make it easier for you to "fit" homeschooling to your family and its lifestyle. It will determine your choices in curriculum and activities that your children take part in, who will teach them which subjects, and who is ultimately in authority of their education.
Home education will have a positive impact on your home life whether you are starting from the very beginning of your child’s school years or taking an older child out of a public/private school. We are not saying it will be easy!
There will be adjustments in your family’s routine, and these adjustments can be challenging at times. Parents beginning to home educate may find the transition easier than those families who have to adjust from the routines of public/private school to home education.
Be prepared to spend most of your day with your children—this will require you (and your spouse) to be spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally ready. Everyone is in the trenches on the bad days, and everyone rejoices on the good days — together! Remember, no one loves their job every day. You will teach your children yourself, using curricula of your choice. You will make adjustments to your family lifestyle in order to make home education work for you. Your family will become best friends rather than being pulled in many different directions.
As you consider the effect home education will have on your family, we encourage you to also consider the enormous value it is when you learn to depend on the Lord Jesus Christ during stressful times and learn to praise Him when your family realizes great accomplishments throughout the year.
Understanding the history of the homeschool movement in Minnesota will help you develop your definition of home education and your personal understanding of why you are considering home education. It is our hope you will catch a vision for homeschooling your children. We encourage you to continue carefully guarding the freedom to homeschool.
During the 1980s and 1990s, parents who homeschooled their children were challenged by the public-school districts, social workers, and neighbors. They were charged with truancy and threatened with prosecution for child neglect merely because they were doing what they thought God called them to do. Some families had to hide inside their homes with drapes fully drawn to elude the attention of curious neighbors and intrusive social workers.
The right of Minnesota parents to homeschool their children has been guaranteed by law since 1987. However, we cannot rest on our laurels. Some public-school districts take an adversarial role toward home educators. Other districts offer services to home educators that may draw them back into the governmental system, providing more state 'per pupil' dollars for the local district budget. Each year, legislation is closely monitored to safeguard against legislation by elected officials interested in imposing burdensome regulations upon home educators that could effectively reduce or eliminate the home education freedoms parents have worked so hard to secure.
The freedoms we now enjoy will only remain intact if we do our part to keep them that way through praying for our leaders, keeping abreast of issues on the home education front, and making calls to legislators if necessary. If parents begin without this knowledge, they risk making serious mistakes with the public school district or the state government that will not only make their schooling more cumbersome. This could actually set legal precedent and reduce the current freedoms of Minnesota home educators.
Know Minnesota Homeschooling Laws
Understanding the law is an important part of starting your homeschool journey. Knowing your rights as a parent will give you the confidence to move forward. Be sure to familiarize yourself with Minnesota's homeschooling statutes to stay in compliance.
Watch this brief video to learn how to navigate Minnesota law.
For more detail, refer to the MN Law portion of our website. To read the full Minnesota statutes, visit: www.revisor.mn.gov.
SUBMIT THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK TO YOUR DISTRICT
Homeschool Minnesota-MÂCHÉ has prepared the following forms for your convenience. Simply download, fill out, and submit. We strongly encourage you to use these forms as they include only the necessary reporting requirements:
- Initial Report to the Superintendent
- MN Vaccine Exemption or VSCM-Conscientious-Exemption-Form.pdf
- Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling
The First Year
If your child turns 7 before October 1st and has never attended another school, submit your Initial Report to the Superintendent and an Immunization Record by October 1st to the school district you reside in. Immunization records will be required again the year your child turns 12. Your family physician can provide you with your child's immunization record or you can look it up here. If you choose not to vaccinate, you must submit a Vaccine Exemption form.
Withdrawing a Student to Begin Homeschooling
If you withdraw your student from another school to begin homeschooling in the middle of a school year, you must notify the superintendent, and we advise you to notify their teacher and principal. File your Initial Report to the Superintendent within 15 days after the withdrawal.
If you decide to homeschool over the summer, file your report when their previous school starts in the fall to avoid being reported as truant. Use the Initial Report referenced above and mention to the school that the student’s immunization records are already in their files.
Subsequent Years
You must file a Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling annually by October 1st. Once your child turns 16, reporting is no longer necessary unless they are participating in PSEO.
Per the PSEO statute (124D.09), a nonpublic student must register with the commissioner of education before participating in the PSEO program. The commissioner has decided instead of inventing a new process and/or form, that the Minnesota Department of Education is using the Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling as the way in which nonpublic PSEO students register with the commissioner.
At this point, if you have a 17- or 18-year-old that is participating in PSEO, you will have to file your Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling reporting form. If you have multiple children on the form, then you need not report any changes from the previous year.
Exception
If you begin homeschooling a child at the age of 16, you will need to submit a Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling until they turn 17.
Partner with Homeschool Minnesota-MÂCHÉ and get support
Avoid Panic with Homeschool Planning
Feeling stressed about the upcoming homeschool year? Don’t worry—you’re not alone! Whether you’ve started planning or haven’t even begun, it’s easy to feel like there’s still so much to do.
But here’s the good news: you can finish your homeschool planning without the pressure! We’ve got some great tips to help you get organized, stress less, and still enjoy your summer. You’ve got this, and we’re here to help!
Tips for Yearly Homeschool Planning
- First and foremost, seek the Lord for help and guidance each time you work on planning.
- Schedule a few hours to work on planning each week - THIS IS KEY!
- Evaluate last year and set goals for this next school year.
- Plan for one student at a time.
- Plan for subjects that you can teach all your children together.
- Order curriculum.
- Schedule time to review the curriculum and learn how to use it - setting aside the time is KEY!
- Consider how your yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily schedule will work best.
- Remember to include Bible study and character growth as part of your learning each day.
- Look for ways to integrate your subjects so that assignments and projects will promote learning in multiple subjects.
- Look for ways to help your student become more independent in his/her learning if old enough.
- Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and pray for His help in your planning whenever you feel stressed!
You’re not doing this homeschool journey alone! God wants to help and guide you as you plan and prepare for this next school year. As a believer, you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you, guiding you, and giving you wisdom. Rest in the Lord and know you can do this with HIS help!
Select Curriculum and Teach Required Subjects
As you get to know your children’s unique learning styles, you’ll be able to choose the curriculum that best suits their needs. We encourage you to join us at our annual convention held every spring. It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore various curricula firsthand, attend insightful workshops led by nationally known speakers, and connect with fellow homeschooling parents.
In Minnesota, homeschooling parents are required to teach reading, writing, literature, fine arts, math, science, history, geography, economics, government, citizenship, health, and physical education. However, there’s no specific requirement for how often these subjects must be taught or at what grade levels.
When planning your child’s high school years, it’s a good idea to consider college admission requirements to ensure they’re well-prepared if that is the path they choose. Students can also explore the option of dual enrollment (PSEO), which allows them to take college courses that count for both high school and college credit.
Additionally, Minnesota does not require a set number of teaching days in your calendar. Many homeschool families follow a typical school year of around 180 days, but you have the flexibility to create a schedule that works best for your family.
Suggested Resources to read:
- The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias
- The Ultimate Guide for Homeschooling by Debra Bell
- Cathy Duffy’s 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum
- Homeschooling From Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mckenzie
- Answers for Homeschooling by Israel Wayne.
- The Heart of Homeschooling by Christopher Klicka
- The Spiritual Power of a Mother by Michael P. Farris
- A Sacred Foundation: The Importance of Strength in the Homeschool Marriage by Michael Farris and L. Reed Elam
Join a community of local homeschoolers
It is so important to join hands with other like-minded families who homeschool. Here is a link to support groups and co-ops in our state: Support Groups
These groups come in many forms. Some offer cooperative classes, while others focus on providing support and informational meetings for parents. Joining a group is a wonderful way to make new friends, share community, and give your children opportunities to participate in activities and events with other homeschooling families.
COMMUNICATIONS
MACHÉ is a resource contact for a variety of media. We provide information, articles, spokesmen, and other materials.
Homeschool Minnesota Podcast
Homeschool Now Minnesota quarterly virtual magazine
Facebook:
- MÂCHÉ Facebook page
- Homeschool Minnesota Discussion Group
- MÂCHÉ Convention Facebook group is a public FB group where you can learn more about the MACHE Convention and ask questions.
- MN Homeschool Support Group Leaders: This is a private Facebook group for MN homeschool support group or co-op leaders.
Homeschool Minnesota on Instagram
Homeschool Minnesota MACHE E-Newsletter (1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month)
- Newsletters
- social media
- magazine
SUPPORT GROUPS
Homeschool Minnesota-MÂCHÉ provides regional and local support groups with training, resources, information, intercommunication, and encouragement.
We also sponsor leadership training seminars to serve leaders so they can better serve home educators.
If you would like a representative who can speak on a wide variety of topics to visit your local support group, please email your request to [email protected].