Minnesota Education Code For Homeschooling
This is not intended to be legal advice and is distributed
for information purposes only. Check for updates at your public
library. You may also verify Minnesota statutes through the linked
code numbers below.
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Compulsory attendance - between 7 and 16 years of age.
Parental Qualifications - Parents who do not hold baccalaureate
degrees or hold a teaching credential must provide quarterly
report cards. Note that if one parent holds a teaching credential
or passes the PPST,
many of the testing and reporting requirements are not required.
Testing - Mandatory. Reporting of scores: not. [Test Resources]
Curriculum - In English covering the basic subject
areas. (See below.)
Reporting - By October 1 each year, report
childrens' name, birth date, and address, instructors names and
qualifications, an annual instructional calendar. Parents who
do not hold baccalaureate degrees or hold a teaching credential
must submit a report
card quarterly. Parents who hold teaching credentials need
not have their children assessed. [Sample
Report]
Minnesota Statutes
120A.22 Compulsory instruction.
Subd. 5. Ages and terms.
(a) Every child between seven and 16 years of age must receive
instruction. Every child under the age of seven who is enrolled
in a half-day kindergarten, or a full-day kindergarten program
on alternate days, or other kindergarten programs shall receive
instruction. Except as provided in subdivision 6, a parent may
withdraw a child under the age of seven from enrollment at any
time.
Subd. 9. Curriculum.
Instruction must be provided in at least the following subject
areas:
(1) basic communication skills including reading and writing,
literature, and fine arts;
(2) mathematics and science;
(3) social studies including history, geography, and government;
and
(4) health and physical education.
Instruction, textbooks, and materials must be in the English
language. Another language may be used pursuant to sections 124D.59
to 124D.61.
Subd. 10. Requirements for instructors.
A person who is providing instruction to a child must meet
at least one of the following requirements:
(1) hold a valid Minnesota teaching license in the field and
for the grade level taught;
(2) be directly supervised by a person holding a valid Minnesota
teaching license;
(3) successfully complete a teacher competency
examination; [the PPST.]
(4) provide instruction in a school that is accredited by
an accrediting agency, recognized according to section 123B.445,
or recognized by the commissioner;
(5) hold a baccalaureate degree; or
(6) be the parent of a child who is assessed according to
the procedures in subdivision 11.
Subd. 11. Assessment of performance.
(a) Each year the performance of every child who is not enrolled
in a public school must be assessed using a nationally norm-referenced
standardized achievement examination. The superintendent of the
district in which the child receives instruction and the person
in charge of the child's instruction must agree about the specific
examination to be used and the administration and location of
the examination.
(b) To the extent the examination in paragraph (a) does not
provide assessment in all of the subject areas in subdivision
9, the parent must assess the child's performance in the applicable
subject area. This requirement applies only to a parent who provides
instruction and does not meet the requirements of subdivision
10, clause (1), (2), or (3).
(c) If the results of the assessments in paragraphs (a) and
(b) indicate that the child's performance on the total battery
score is at or below the 30th percentile or one grade level below
the performance level for children of the same age, the parent
must obtain additional evaluation of the child's abilities and
performance for the purpose of determining whether the child
has learning problems.
(d) A child receiving instruction from a nonpublic school,
person, or institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency,
recognized according to section 123B.445, or recognized by the
commissioner, is exempt from the requirements of this subdivision.
[Note that Minnesota families are NOT required to provide
test scores to superintendents.]
120A.24 Reporting
Subd 1. Reports to superintendent.
The person in charge of providing instruction to a child must
submit the following information to the superintendent of the
district in which the child resides:
(1) by October 1 of each school year, the name, birth date,
and address of each child receiving instruction;
(2) the name of each instructor and evidence of compliance
with one of the requirements specified in section 120A.22, subdivision
10;
(3) an annual instructional calendar; and
(4) for each child instructed by a parent who meets only the
requirement of section 120A.22, subdivision 10, clause (6), a
quarterly report card on the achievement of the child in each
subject area required in section 120A.22, subdivision 9.
Subd. 2. Availability of documentation.
The person in charge of providing instruction to a child must
make available documentation indicating that the subjects required
in section 120A.22, subdivision 9, are being taught. This documentation
must include class schedules, copies of materials used for instruction,
and descriptions of methods used to assess student achievement.
Other Resources
In Minnesota the teacher competency exam
that is offered to satisfy that requirement is the Pre-Professional
Skills Test (PPST). It is offered in Central Minnesota at
St. Cloud State University
at the Testing Center two times per day Monday-Friday for $130.00.
- Krista
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