How to Start Homeschooling in Minnesota

Required hours

No state minimum

Required subjects

13 subjects

Notice

Required

Testing / evaluation

Standardized testing

Recordkeeping

Recommended

Jump to the full Minnesota requirements for plain-English detail on each of these.

Step by step

1. 1

   Understand Minnesota's homeschool law

   Minnesota has light but formal homeschool requirements with no mandated hour or day minimums, and you'll file notice with your local school district.

2. 2

   Withdraw from public school (if enrolled)

   To withdraw your child from public school in Minnesota, send a written withdrawal letter to the principal or registrar, then file a notice of intent with your local school district so the transition is on record before instruction begins. Rather than hand-writing the withdrawal letter, Homeschool Fox produces a pre-formatted PDF ready to send to the district.

3. 3

   File your notice of intent

   Yes, Minnesota requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify your local school district.

4. 4

   Plan your subjects

   Minnesota requires instruction in the following subjects: reading, writing, literature, fine arts, math, science, history, geography, economics, government, citizenship, health, and physical education. Beyond these requirements, you have flexibility to add subjects that interest your family.

5. 5

   Set your hours or days target

   Minnesota does not mandate a specific number of instructional hours. Families have flexibility in determining their own schedule and pace of learning.

6. 6

   Plan for assessment and records

   Minnesota requires an annual nationally norm-referenced achievement test, with the specific test agreed on between you and the superintendent. Results stay with the family — they aren't submitted to the district.

7. 7

   Track your hours and keep records

   Log activities as they happen so hours, attendance, and subject coverage build up automatically. Homeschool Fox lets you log from your phone or by voice and generates a Minnesota-specific compliance report when you need it.

Free tool

Calculate your homeschool pace

Minnesota doesn't mandate a minimum. Use 900 hours/year as a general guide to stay on pace.

What Homeschool Fox tracks for Minnesota

Everything Minnesota expects you to keep, in one place — no spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.

• Required hours or days
• Required subjects & core hours
• Daily activity logs
• Attendance records
• Notes & portfolio records
• Printable PDF reports
• High school transcripts
• State-specific progress tracking

More Minnesota guides

• Minnesota Homeschool Requirements Hours, notice, assessment, and subjects at a glance.
• Homeschooling High School in Minnesota Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
• Record Keeping in Minnesota What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.