Michigan Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Michigan, based on MCL 380.1561(3)(f). Michigan is classified as Low regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home Education, the most common of Michigan's 2 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to school principal or registrar.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
Not legally required but strongly recommended to avoid truancy referrals. Cite MCL 380.1561(3)(f). Send via certified mail or obtain written acknowledgment. Request copies of educational records (transcripts, test results, IEP if applicable) per FERPA. No waiting period; family may begin homeschooling immediately.
Ongoing
Required subjects
reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, English grammar
More details
All nine subjects explicitly enumerated in statute. Must be taught as part of an 'organized educational program.' No specific curriculum, textbooks, or standards prescribed. No differentiation by grade level. Subjects may be integrated (e.g., civics within history, spelling within writing). PE, health, foreign languages, and arts are not required.
Good news
No notification required
Michigan does not require you to notify anyone to begin homeschooling.
No instructional time minimums
No minimum hours or days of instruction required.
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓reading
- ✓spelling
- ✓mathematics
- ✓science
- ✓history
- ✓civics
- ✓literature
- ✓writing
- ✓English grammar
All nine subjects explicitly enumerated in statute. Must be taught as part of an 'organized educational program.' No specific curriculum, textbooks, or standards prescribed. No differentiation by grade level. Subjects may be integrated (e.g., civics within history, spelling within writing). PE, health, foreign languages, and arts are not required.
MCL 380.1561(3)(f) (nine subjects enumerated for organized educational program)
What you don't need to worry about
No notification required
Michigan does not require you to notify anyone to begin homeschooling.
No instructional time minimums
No minimum hours or days of instruction required.
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Other ways to homeschool in Michigan
This checklist covers Home Education, the most common pathway. Michigan offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home Education(this checklist) : You teach nine specified subjects as part of an organized educational program — and that is all Michigan requires. No notification to the state, no testing, no recordkeeping, and no annual filing. The exemption is self-executing: if you meet the criteria, you are compliant. Michigan is one of the least regulated states for homeschooling.
- •Nonpublic School : You register as a nonpublic school with your local intermediate school district, which requires certified teachers and a curriculum comparable to public schools. A religious exemption from the teacher certification requirement is available for schools operated by a religious organization. Rarely used by individual families due to the certification and oversight requirements.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Michigan
Related guides
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Michigan checklistRequirements sourced from MCL 380.1561(3)(f). Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026