Homeschooling in Minnesota
Everything you need to know about homeschooling in Minnesota. Covers notification, required subjects, annual testing, tax credits up to $1,625, and extracurricular access.
At a Glance
Minnesota homeschool law overview
- Compulsory Ages
- 7-17
- Notice Required
- Yes, annual to superintendent
- Teacher Qualifications
- None for parents teaching own children
- Annual Testing
- Required (nationally normed)
- Tax Credit Available
- Yes, K-12 Education Credit
- Extracurricular Access
- Yes, by state law
Important Notice
Requirements
What you need to know to start homeschooling in Minnesota
Legal Framework
Homeschooling in Minnesota is governed by Minnesota Statute 120A.22 (Compulsory Instruction) and Minnesota Statute 120A.24 (Reporting). The law recognizes a home school as a "nonpublic school" where a Minnesota resident may legally fulfill compulsory instruction requirements. Every child between ages 7 and 17 must receive instruction unless they have already graduated.
Annual Notification
You must file an annual notice with the superintendent of your resident school district by October 1 each year (or within 15 days of withdrawing your child from school, if starting mid-year). Your notice must include:
- The name, age, and address of each child being homeschooled
- The name of the instructor for each child
- Evidence of teacher qualifications (if the instructor is not the child's parent)
- A quarterly report listing the subject areas covered during each quarter
There is no approval process — you are providing notice, not seeking permission.
Required Subjects
Minnesota Statute 120A.22 specifies that instruction must include the following areas:
- Basic communication skills — reading, writing, literature, and fine arts
- Mathematics and science
- Social studies — including history, geography, and government
- Health and physical education
You have full freedom to choose your curriculum, textbooks, and teaching methods. The law requires coverage of these broad subject areas but does not dictate specific content or grade-level standards.
Teacher Qualifications
If you are the parent teaching your own children, there are no qualification requirements. You do not need a teaching certificate, college degree, or any specific credential.
If the instructor is someone other than the child's parent, they must be directly supervised by the parent and must meet one of these qualifications: hold a valid Minnesota teaching license, be directly supervised by a licensed teacher, or have successfully completed a teacher competency exam.
Record Keeping
Minnesota requires you to maintain records, but you only need to submit them when enrolling a previously homeschooled child in a public school. Keep records of your child's immunization status (or a notarized statement of exemption), your quarterly subject reports, and your annual test results. Organized records also help if you ever need to demonstrate compliance.
Evaluations
Annual evaluation and assessment options
Annual Testing Requirement
Minnesota is one of the states that requires annual standardized testing. Under Statute 120A.22, each homeschooled student must be assessed annually using a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement examination.
Key details about the testing requirement:
- The specific test, administration method, and location must be agreed upon by both the parent and the local superintendent
- Popular test options include the Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10), California Achievement Test (CAT), and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT)
- The test must be a nationally normed, standardized achievement exam
- Results are shared with the superintendent but there is no minimum score requirement — Minnesota does not mandate that students achieve any particular percentile or grade level
What If Test Results Are Low?
Minnesota law does not specify consequences for low test scores. The testing requirement is about accountability and progress monitoring, not about meeting a performance threshold. That said, if results consistently show very low performance, a superintendent may have concerns — keeping good records of your instructional approach and your child's overall progress provides helpful context.
Alternative Assessment
If you and the superintendent cannot agree on a specific test, you should work toward a resolution. The law envisions a cooperative process. Some families have found success offering multiple assessment options to their district as a way to find common ground.
Financial Resources
Vouchers, scholarships, and tax credits
Minnesota K-12 Education Tax Credit and Subtraction
Minnesota is one of the most financially supportive states for homeschoolers, offering two meaningful tax benefits under Statute 290.0674:
Education Subtraction (Available to All Incomes)
You can subtract qualifying education expenses from your taxable income with no income limit:
- Up to $1,625 per child in grades K–6
- Up to $2,500 per child in grades 7–12
This is a subtraction from taxable income, meaning it reduces the amount of income subject to tax. The actual tax savings depends on your marginal tax rate.
Education Credit (Income-Limited)
Lower-income families may also qualify for a refundable tax credit of up to 75% of qualifying expenses:
- Maximum credit of $1,000 per child
- Phases out when income exceeds $77,550 (for tax year 2026)
- Fully phased out at $83,550 for families claiming one or two children
What Expenses Qualify?
Qualifying expenses for both the subtraction and credit include:
- Textbooks and curricula (must not be primarily religious in nature for credit purposes)
- Educational equipment — musical instruments, calculators, computers
- Transportation costs for field trips
- Instructional materials
Private tutoring fees and instructor fees qualify for the subtraction only (not the credit).
No ESA or Voucher Program
Minnesota does not currently have an Education Savings Account (ESA) or voucher program. The K–12 tax credit and subtraction are the primary state-level financial tools available to homeschool families.
Extracurricular Access
Minnesota law guarantees homeschooled students access to public school extracurricular activities, including sports, fine arts, speech and debate, drama, and music. Your child must reside in the school district, tryout on the same basis as enrolled students, and follow the same rules. Districts cannot charge homeschool families higher fees than public school students pay. Participation is limited to your resident school district — you cannot open enroll in another district for extracurriculars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about homeschooling in Minnesota