Home Schooling Requirements for Your State
Home School Rquirements
Home school requirements vary from state to state. Here are links to each state’s requirements so that you may have an idea of the steps you will have to take in becoming a homeschooler.
Disclaimer: I am not a legal professional, nor do I claim to be giving legal advice! I am only providing information to help you get started on researching this topic. Enough said, you get the idea.
Home schooling law was passed by each state individually according to their interpretations of what would be the minimum requirements for a sound home schooling program. The laws will vary in their complexity, with some being easier to understand and implement than others. It is always a good idea to consult your local and state authorities for any interpretation or clarification of these laws. A wonderful source might be your local librarian who has surely fielded similar questions from potential homeschoolers in the past. Another source might be from any state home schooling association that you might find information for online.
Please pay particular attention to how your state defines what is or is not a home school. Sometimes an online group is still state sponsored, and therefor is considered to be an extension of the public school system.
–Sarah
Home Schooling Requirements for Massachusetts
Home schooling requirements for Massachusetts are listed below. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all laws or regulations regarding homeschooling in Massachusetts. Law makers may change or add to laws at any time, so I do not represent this list as necessarily complete. This list should be a starting point for you to do further research and it is not offered in any way by me as legal advice. If you are to run a successful home schooling program, you should take the time to verify your requirements with your state authorities to be sure you are following all of the pertinent laws and regulations.
In Massachusetts, there is not one simple, short answer to the question of what your local district may require of you. The answers are contained in two court cases from the Commonwealth’s highest court.
Overview of requirements: Court Rulings
Related Questions:
* Do I need legal representation to homeschool in Massachusetts?
* Do homeschoolers take the MCAS?
* How do I evaluate my local district’s policy (if there is one)?
Know what your school may require (and not require) of you. For an in-depth understanding of Massachusetts regulations, we suggest you:
1. Understand the Massachusetts Compulsory Attendance Law
In the United States, rules governing education are generally determined at the state level. In Massachusetts, the General Laws contain provisions that require school attendance of all children between the ages of six and sixteen, and also prescribe what subjects are to be taught.
Massachusetts General Laws – portions relevant to homeschoolers
Lawmaking in Massachusetts – background information on the Commonwealth’s website
Ages to Begin and Stop Reporting to the Local School District – MHLA information on age-related reporting guidelines
2. Know what “Charles” is
The 1987 Care and Protection of Charles decision of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (SJC) provided parents and school officials with guidelines for the process of approval of home education. The town of Canton filed a petition for care and protection, with respect to education, of two homeschooled children. The details of the case are spelled out in the decision itself. The Court, after providing guidelines by which school officials might evaluate home education plans, required Canton and the parents to “proceed expeditiously in a serious effort to resolve the matter by agreement.” Since 1987, homeschooling parents and school officials have been guided by the Charles decision.
The Charles decision of the SJC
Perspectives on the Charles decision: Thirteen Points
About the Supreme Judicial Court — background information on the Commonwealth’s website
3. Know what “Brunelle” is
The Charles decision left the door open on the question of whether or not home visits might be required as a condition of approval of a home education plan. In 1998, in the Brunelle vs. Lynn Public Schools, that question was settled: home visits could not be deemed “essential” in determining if education was taking place; therefore, home visits could not be required as a condition of approval. (The Court did not exclude the possibility that such visits might be required in exceptional cases.) In this decision the Court acknowledges that ” while the State can insist that the child’s education be moved along in a way which can be objectively measured, it cannot apply institutional standards to this non-institutionalized setting.”
The Brunelle decision
4. Know the role of your local superintendent and school commmittee
In Massachusetts, local school districts set their own policies on home education. These policies are not laws, but rather tools for the administrative convenience of school officials. See above to understand what the General Laws and the Court’s decisions indicate about what school officials may and may not require.
District Policies
5. Read Information for Superintendents
Information for Superintendents is a 14 page document aimed at providing information for Superintendents (and for homeschoolers who are dealing with school officials). It represents a “common sense explanation of Massachusetts regulations.”A good summary of the General Laws and the relevant court decisions
