How to Start Homeschooling in Massachusetts

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Massachusetts. Two court decisions protect your right.

The first is Care and Protection of Charles (1987). The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that parents have a constitutional right to homeschool. The court set four areas a school committee can review in your plan. Your qualifications as a teacher. The subjects and hours you propose. The materials you will use. And how you will assess your child's progress. The court also said superintendents cannot use "unbridled discretion" to deny a plan. A denial must point to a real problem. It cannot be based on personal opposition to homeschooling.

The second case is Brunelle v. Lynn (1998). This added a key protection. Districts cannot require home visits. They can offer them. You can agree if you want. But they cannot make a visit a condition of approval. Brunelle also said that assessment methods must be agreed upon by both the family and the district. The district cannot simply tell you which test to take.

The word "homeschool" does not appear anywhere in Massachusetts law. Homeschooling falls under the compulsory attendance statute, M.G.L. c.76 Section 1. That law says children must attend public school unless "otherwise instructed in a manner approved in advance by the superintendent or the school committee." That phrase is your legal foundation.

Massachusetts requires education for children ages 6 through 16. This comes from M.G.L. c.76 Section 1. That is a narrower range than many states.

Your child must start in the calendar year they turn 6. There is no single statewide cutoff date. Each district may set its own kindergarten age cutoff. If your child is under 6, you do not need to file anything.

Once your child turns 16, the school requirement ends. You no longer need superintendent approval to keep homeschooling. If your child is over 16, you are generally free to continue without formal approval. Practices may vary by district, so check with yours.

Here is how to start homeschooling in Massachusetts, step by step.

Step 1: Call your superintendent's office. Ask for their homeschool packet or approval process. Say something like: "I am planning to homeschool my child and would like to know your district's process for submitting an education plan." Ask about forms, deadlines, and what they want to see. Write down the name of the person you speak with. Every district handles this differently. Some have their own forms. Others just accept a letter.

Step 2: Write your education plan. This is the heart of the process. Your plan should cover six things. The subjects you will teach. The materials you will use, such as textbooks, curricula, or online programs. Your approximate hours of instruction. Your teaching methods. A short note about your background as the teacher. And your proposed way to assess your child's progress. You can choose standardized testing, portfolio review, a teacher evaluation, or a mix of these.

Step 3: Submit your plan before you start teaching. Send your education plan to the superintendent or school committee. Write the words "Prior Approval Requested" at the top. Do this before you begin homeschooling. Your child is required to attend public school until the plan is approved. Some districts offer interim approval while they review. Ask about this when you submit.

Step 4: Get written approval. Wait for a letter approving your plan. Save it in a safe place. If you do not hear back within two to three weeks, send a polite follow-up in writing. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

Step 5: Withdraw from school. Once you have approval in hand, send a written withdrawal notice to your child's school. Use certified mail or hand-deliver it and get a receipt. Request copies of your child's records under FERPA. That includes transcripts, test scores, and any IEP documents.

Step 6: Start teaching. Follow your approved plan and begin your homeschool year.

Step 7: Renew every year. Each year, submit an updated education plan. Include evidence of the prior year's progress using your agreed-upon assessment method. Most families submit in the spring or summer for the coming school year.

There is no statewide homeschool form in Massachusetts. Under M.G.L. c.76 Section 1 and the guidelines from Care and Protection of Charles, 399 Mass. 324 (1987), you write your own education plan. Here is what to include:

• Your child's name, age, and grade level
• The subjects you will teach
• The materials and curricula you plan to use
• Your approximate hours of instruction
• A short note about your qualifications (no teaching credential is needed)
• Your proposed method for evaluating progress

File everything with your local superintendent or school committee. Nothing goes to the state. There is no reporting to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Everything stays between you and your district.

Keep a simple binder with your submitted plan, the approval letter, and all correspondence. You will need these for annual renewal and they are your proof of compliance.

Massachusetts does not list specific homeschool subjects in the statute. But districts expect your plan to cover the core subjects from M.G.L. c.71 Section 1 and M.G.L. c.69 Section 1D:

• Reading, writing, and English grammar
• Mathematics
• Science
• History, including U.S. history and the U.S. Constitution
• Geography
• Civics and good citizenship

Some districts may also want to see physical education, health, arts, or foreign language. This is more common at the high school level. These extras are not required everywhere.

Your district cannot tell you which textbooks to use. They cannot make you follow the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. They cannot dictate the order you teach subjects. Your plan just needs to show you are covering the core areas. You pick the how.

Assessment is required in Massachusetts. But you have real choices about how it works.

The Charles decision says districts cannot force standardized testing as the only option. You and the district agree on the method together. Here are the options most districts accept:

• Standardized testing (Iowa Test, Stanford, CAT, or MAP)
• Portfolio review of your child's work samples
• Written evaluation by a licensed teacher
• A progress report you write yourself
• A combination of any of these

Your child does not have to take the MCAS. That is only for public school students. And your district cannot require home visits as part of the evaluation. Brunelle v. Lynn settled that in 1998.

Assessment is usually annual. You submit results to the superintendent as part of your yearly re-approval. When you submit your first education plan, include your preferred assessment method. If the district wants something different, you negotiate. Neither side gets to dictate.

Your district matters more than the state. This is the most important thing about homeschooling in Massachusetts. The law gives approval power to local superintendents. So the experience changes from town to town. Districts generally fall into three categories. Cooperative districts use simple forms, approve quickly, and accept portfolio review. Moderate districts want detailed plans and prefer standardized testing. Restrictive districts use extensive forms and may push boundaries. Connect with the Massachusetts Home Learning Association (MHLA) at mhla.org or MassHOPE at masshope.org. They can tell you what to expect in your specific district.

Know your rights and use them politely. If a district asks for a home visit, say: "We respectfully decline. Per Brunelle v. Lynn, home visits cannot be required." If they insist on standardized testing as the only assessment, say: "Per Care and Protection of Charles, the assessment method must be mutually agreed upon." If your plan is denied, you have five options. Appeal to the school committee, which can overrule the superintendent. Revise and resubmit addressing the specific concerns. Contact HSLDA or MHLA for legal support. File a complaint with DESE. Or go to court. A superintendent cannot deny your plan out of personal opposition to homeschooling.

Moving towns means starting over. Your approval does not transfer. When you move, contact your new superintendent right away. Submit a fresh education plan. The new district may have different forms, deadlines, and expectations.

Plan for high school early. You are your child's school. You create the transcript and issue the diploma. There is no state homeschool diploma or transcript template. Start organized recordkeeping by 9th grade at the latest. Track courses, grades, and credits. Massachusetts colleges accept homeschool students. Most want parent-created transcripts. Some ask for SAT or ACT scores.

Special needs families have strong rights here. Massachusetts is one of the best states for homeschooling children with special needs. State law says your homeschooled child is entitled to special education services through the public schools. That includes speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral support. Your child's IEP ends when you withdraw from school. But you can request new evaluations and services. Contact your district's special education office and ask for an evaluation under M.G.L. c.71B. The district must respond.