Massachusetts Homeschool Requirements

Under M.G.L. c. 76 §1, attendance is not required for 'a child who is being otherwise instructed in a manner approved in advance by the superintendent or the school committee.' In Care & Protection of Charles, 399 Mass. 324 (1987), the Supreme Judicial Court held that approval must be obtained prior to removal of the children from public school and commencement of the home schooling program. Parents must submit a home schooling proposal (Education Plan) describing the curriculum, instructional materials, hours of instruction per subject, and qualifications of instructors. The superintendent or school committee must provide the parent an opportunity to explain the plan and must communicate a decision within a reasonable period. There is no state-prescribed deadline for submission, but most families submit a few weeks before the school year begins.

Under M.G.L. c.71 §1, schools must provide instruction in orthography, reading, writing, the English language and grammar, geography, arithmetic, drawing, music, the history and constitution of the United States, the duties of citizenship, health education, physical education, and good behavior. Care & Protection of Charles held that these subject requirements under M.G.L. c.71 §§1, 2, and 3 apply equally to home education plans. The DESE standard is whether 'instruction in all the studies required by law equals in thoroughness and efficiency, and in the progress made therein, that in the public schools in the same town' (M.G.L. c.76 §1). The school committee may also require additional subjects beyond this minimum.

Neither M.G.L. c.76 §1 nor Care & Protection of Charles specifies a minimum number of days or total hours for home schooling. However, the SJC in Charles noted that 'primary among these [factors] is the proposed curriculum and the number of hours of instruction in each of the proposed subjects.' The DESE states that public school requirements such as 'structured learning time' do not apply to home schooling, but the plan must demonstrate instruction equal in thoroughness and efficiency to public schools. Districts typically review the proposed duration and frequency of instruction as part of plan approval.

Care & Protection of Charles (1987) established that school officials and parents should agree on a method of evaluation, which can include: standardized testing, a periodic progress report, or dated work samples. Massachusetts DESE guidance indicates that districts typically review evaluation plans as part of approving the home schooling plan and providing ongoing oversight. Families file Education Plans annually and choose their assessment method; the MHLA and AHEM advocacy groups confirm that standardized tests, progress reports, or dated work samples are all acceptable. Brunelle v. Lynn Public Schools, 428 Mass. 512 (1998), held that home visits cannot be required without parental consent as a condition of approval.

There is no statewide statutory recordkeeping mandate for Massachusetts home-schooled students comparable to other states' portfolio laws. Recordkeeping requirements are set locally by each school committee as part of their home schooling policy and the approved Education Plan. Common documentation used in annual assessments includes dated work samples, standardized test results, or periodic progress reports. The AHEM and MHLA organizations note that district-specific forms are not required; what matters is that the family can demonstrate compliance with their approved plan.

Care & Protection of Charles, 399 Mass. 324 (1987) addressed parent qualifications directly: 'While we recognize that teachers in public schools must be certified, certification would not appropriately be required for parents under a home school proposal.' The Court also held that advanced degrees are not required. However, the superintendent or school committee may properly inquire as to the academic credentials or other qualifications of the parent or parents who will be instructing. This means credentials can be considered but cannot be the sole basis for denial; the focus remains on whether the proposed instruction meets the statutory standard.

M.G.L. c.76 §15 and related Department of Public Health regulations govern school immunization. These requirements apply to students attending public and approved private schools. Since Massachusetts home schooling is a private alternative to school enrollment, home-schooled students who do not participate in any public school activities are generally not subject to mandatory school immunization requirements. However, districts may impose immunization requirements for home-schooled students who wish to participate in district-provided courses, programs, or extracurricular activities.

The Massachusetts DESE states that 'under Massachusetts law, home-schooled students have a right to special education services.' School districts must evaluate students suspected of having a disability and re-evaluate eligible students consistent with IDEA and state special education requirements (M.G.L. c.71B). Families whose child has an IEP may need to discuss services with the district or arrange private services, as described in the DESE advisory on provision of special education to home-schooled and privately educated students. The AHEM FAQ notes that most Massachusetts families with special needs children receive homeschool approval with little difficulty.

Under M.G.L. c.76 §1 and Care & Protection of Charles, a parent must submit a home schooling plan for approval and receive that approval before withdrawing the child from public school. Commonwealth v. Renfrew, 332 Mass. 492 (1955) established that home education without prior superintendent or committee approval does not satisfy the statute. The AHEM FAQ notes that parents who withdraw a child from school should submit their Education Plan prior to withdrawal. When re-enrolling in public school, the district evaluates the student and determines appropriate grade placement.

M.G.L. c.76 §1 provides that every child between the minimum and maximum ages established for school attendance by the Board of Education must attend school or receive approved instruction. The DESE states that compulsory school age is 6-16. Families are required to file Education Plans from the year the child turns 6 until the child turns 16. Families may choose to continue filing plans after age 16 for specific purposes, such as maintaining dual enrollment at community colleges or to participate in public high school sports.

There is no Massachusetts home school diploma issued by the state. Students who home school through age 16 and then enroll in public school may earn a public high school diploma upon meeting graduation requirements. The AHEM FAQ notes that a homeschooler aged 16 or 17 can have the public school write a letter stating non-enrollment, which qualifies them to take the High School Equivalency Assessment. Parents may issue their own home school diploma, but it carries no state recognition. Many home-schooled students successfully apply to colleges by demonstrating their educational achievement through portfolios, test scores, and other documentation.

The DESE states that 'home schooling is a private alternative to public school enrollment. Each school district may establish its own policy on whether to allow home-schooled students to participate in its programs...including athletics. This is a local decision, and DESE does not review those decisions.' The MIAA stipulates that home-schooled students are eligible to participate in MIAA-sponsored interscholastic athletics if certain conditions are met. This policy removes obstacles but does not guarantee access; MIAA member schools retain final authority. Some districts freely allow participation; others do not. Families should contact their local district and the MIAA directly for current eligibility standards.