Minnesota vs North Dakota: Homeschool Laws Compared

Minnesota and North Dakota sit in the same tier: both require notice and a periodic assessment. They still differ on 4 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, and compulsory school ages.

Rules compared

9

Differences

4

Same in both

5

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Minnesota to North Dakota

Once you are a North Dakota resident you homeschool under North Dakota's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Start logging from your first day: North Dakota counts 700 hours over 175 days a year, and Minnesota set no minimum.
2. North Dakota's required list adds language arts, social studies, music, art, and computer science and drops reading, writing, literature, fine arts, history, geography, economics, government, and citizenship compared with Minnesota's. Match North Dakota's wording in your records.
3. The assessment rule changes from standardized testing, annually in Minnesota to standardized testing, at specified grade levels in North Dakota.
4. Compulsory school ages are 7-16 in North Dakota against 7-17 in Minnesota, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

Moving from North Dakota to Minnesota

Once you are a Minnesota resident you homeschool under Minnesota's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Minnesota sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
2. Minnesota's required list adds reading, writing, literature, fine arts, history, geography, economics, government, and citizenship and drops language arts, social studies, music, art, and computer science compared with North Dakota's. Match Minnesota's wording in your records.
3. The assessment rule changes from standardized testing, at specified grade levels in North Dakota to standardized testing, annually in Minnesota.
4. Compulsory school ages are 7-17 in Minnesota against 7-16 in North Dakota, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

What stays the same

Minnesota and North Dakota match on notice of intent, the portfolio, progress reports, ESA funding, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Minnesota nor North Dakota takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Florida vs Minnesota 6 rules differ
• Iowa vs Minnesota 5 rules differ
• Minnesota vs South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Minnesota vs Wisconsin 6 rules differ
• Montana vs North Dakota 3 rules differ
• North Dakota vs South Dakota 6 rules differ
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table