Minnesota

A report must be filed with the local superintendent by October 1 of the school year after the child reaches age seven, within 15 days of withdrawing a child from public school after age seven, or by October 1 after moving to a new school district (parents must notify their previous district within fifteen days of moving away). This report must include the child’s name, birth date, address, the name of each instructor and evidence that they meet the instructor qualification requirements, and the annual test intended to be used. Parents must then file a “letter of intent to continue to provide instruction” by October 1 of each following school year, noting any changes to what was previously reported. A parent of a homeschooled child must also submit by October 1 of the first year of their homeschooling in Minnesota and the grade 7 year immunization report. See Minn. Stat. Ann. § 121A.15.

A homeschool instructor must meet one of the following requirements: 1) hold a valid Minnesota teaching license in the field and for the grade taught; 2) be directly supervised by a person holding a valid Minnesota teaching license; 3) successfully complete a teacher competency examination; 4) provide instruction in a school that is accredited by an accrediting agency; 5) hold a bachelor’s degree; or 6) be the parent or legal guardian of the child.

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Instruction must be provided in reading, writing, literature, fine arts, math, science, history, geography, economics, government, citizenship, and health and physical education. Instruction must be in English.

Parents must maintain both records indicating that the required subjects are being covered (this must include class schedules, copies of materials used for instruction, and descriptions of the methods used to asses student achievement) and proof that the required nationally standardized tests are being administered. Parents must submit this documentation when enrolling a previously homeschooled child in public school and must make it available to the county attorney in case of prosecution.

Homeschooled students must take an annual nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement examination agreed upon by the parent and superintendent. The results of this test do not need to be submitted to the school district. Unless a parent has a teaching license, has passed the teaching competency exam, or is homeschooling under the supervision of a certified teacher, the parent must assess the student in subject areas required by law but not covered by the test.

If the results of the assessments . . . indicate that the child’s performance on the total battery score is at or below the 30th percentile or one grade 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.” See Minn. Stat. Ann. § 120A.22 (11).If parents are out of compliance with the reporting or assessment requirements, the superintendent will notify the family and attempt to resolve the issue. Should this not succeed, the superintendent must request that the Minnesota Department of Education become involved; that department will then contact the family by mail. If this does not succeed, the superintendent will refer the issue to the county attorney.

Failure to educate is included in the state’s definition of neglect; anyone suspecting educational neglect of a homeschooled child may report it to the local county social services office; as mandatory reporters, superintendents are required to report suspected educational neglect.

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