Homeschooling in Massachusetts? We’ll walk you through it.
detailed requirementsThousands of Massachusetts families homeschool successfully. The process has more steps than some states, but every one is manageable, and we'll walk you through it.
Under M.G.L. c.76 Section 1, Massachusetts requires that home instruction be approved in advance by your local superintendent or school committee, so you get approval before you begin, not just send a notice. The process runs through your own school district, and the state education department describes clear steps every district follows.
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Massachusetts homeschool requirements include conditions and exceptions. Compare the pathways below and read the conditions alongside each supported requirement.
Source: M.G.L. c.76 Section 1 (Compulsory Attendance). Last reviewed October 2026. Current through the Massachusetts legislative session that ended July 31, 2026. State education department page checked for changes October 30, 2026.
- Regulation level
- High
- Compulsory ages
- 6–16
- Notification required
- Yes — approval required to local superintendent of schools or school committee Before beginning home instruction (approval must be obtained in advance). Specific deadlines vary by district.
- Assessment required
- Yes — Other approved method
- Required subjects
- 13 (orthography, reading, writing, English language and grammar, geography, ...)
- Primary statute
- M.G.L. c.76 Section 1 (Compulsory Attendance)
- Attendance begins in September of the calendar year in which the child turns six; the regulation permits district policies within its limits.
- Agency identifies compulsory school age as 6–16. The minimum-age regulation sets the September/calendar-year cutoff.
Conditions and exceptions
Age rules
- Attendance begins in September of the calendar year in which the child turns six; the regulation permits district policies within its limits.
- Agency identifies compulsory school age as 6–16. The minimum-age regulation sets the September/calendar-year cutoff.
Prior Approval by Superintendent / School Committee
- Notify the resident district as the first step; notification alone is not approval. Obtain district approval before removing a child of compulsory age to begin homeschooling.
- Each school committee sets its own approval policy and timeline.
- Whether approval must be renewed each year is set by the school committee's policy.
- The required step is notifying the district and obtaining approval of a home schooling plan before removing the child from school.
- No license or degree is required; a district may consider the parent's competency to teach as part of plan approval.
- Home schooling is measured against "all the studies required by law" (G.L. c. 76, § 1, as applied by DESE); G.L. c. 71, § 1 lists the subjects taught in public schools. The district applies this through its approval policy.
- Public-school structured learning time does not apply; districts review duration and frequency of instruction under their own policy.
- Evaluation is part of the plan the district reviews; the method is set through the district approval process.
- The evaluation method is part of the home schooling plan your district approves under G.L. c. 76, s. 1; neither the statute nor DESE names a required test or method.
- Each school committee has its own home schooling approval policy (DESE Home Schooling page).
- Frequency of evaluation is set by the school committee's approval policy.
- What must be reported and when is set by the district's approval and oversight policy.
- A district approval policy may require attendance records.
- A district approval policy may require progress records.
- A district may accept or require work samples as an evaluation method.
- The scope of district review is set by its approval and oversight policy.
The essentials
- 1Send a approval required to local superintendent of schools or school committee Before beginning home instruction (approval must be obtained in advance). Specific deadlines vary by district. (Each school committee sets its own approval policy and timeline.)
- 2Teach 13 required subjects
- 3Complete the required assessment
- 4Follow the assessment submission requirements
What to know about homeschooling in Massachusetts
Massachusetts does not have a statewide homeschool form. Each school committee adopts its own policy for approving home schooling plans, so the details depend on where you live. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) does not approve plans or review districts' decisions.
The process starts with notifying your district, preferably in writing. Notification alone does not let you begin. The district gives you its policy and asks for your proposed home schooling plan. Districts typically review a plan for its content, instructional materials, duration and frequency of instruction, methods of instruction, and evaluation. The district then approves the plan, asks for changes or more information, or disapproves it, and must tell you its decision within a reasonable time.
Your plan includes how your child's progress will be evaluated, and the method is set through your district's approval process. Educator licensing and public school structured learning time do not apply to home schooling, and no teaching license or degree is required. How often approval is renewed is set by your district's policy.
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Build My Plan →Legislation tracking records
Saved bill activity for Massachusetts. These records may be out of date. Check the linked legislative record for the current status and effective date. A tracking record alone does not update the requirements on this page.
H 5632
Recorded status: activeAn Act relative to school choice
H 5502
Recorded status: activeAn Act relative to school choice
Claims and source coverage
Every fact checked against official state law
- Facts backed by official law
- 39 / 39
- Quoted word for word from the law
- 39
- Confirmed not required by law
- 0
Explore the individual claims and cited sources behind this state's requirements.
21
source records linked
Additional reference links: 3 sources including the state DOE and HSLDA.
Review status
Last reviewed October 2026. We check Massachusetts's official sources for changes twice a week.
Help us stay accurate
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How homeschooling works in Massachusetts
Prior Approval by Superintendent / School Committee
Notification
approval required to local superintendent of schools or school committee Before beginning home instruction (approval must be obtained in advance). Specific deadlines vary by district.
M.G.L. c. 76, §1 (instruction approved in advance by the superintendent or school committee); DESE Home Schooling guidance ·
Required subjects
orthography, reading, writing, English language and grammar, geography, arithmetic, drawing, music, history and constitution of the United States, duties of citizenship, health education, physical education, good behavior
M.G.L. c. 71, §1 (subjects taught in public schools); M.G.L. c. 76, §1 as applied by DESE ·
Testing / assessment
Other approved method
DESE Home Schooling guidance (evaluation is reviewed as part of the district's plan approval) ·
Instructional time
See instructional-time requirements in the cited source
Sourced from M.G.L. c.76 Section 1. Last reviewed October 2026 · 32 individual claims tracked
Forms and filings
Prior Approval by Superintendent / School Committee Application
Issued by: local superintendent of schools or school committee
When due: Before beginning homeschool instruction. Returning families typically submit in spring or summer for the upcoming school year. Specific deadlines vary by district.
Massachusetts-specific tips
Practical guidanceBefore you start. Contact your superintendent's office to notify them and request their home schooling policy. Do this before you withdraw your child. Removing a child of compulsory school age from school without an approved plan would make the child truant.
Subjects. Districts review whether instruction in "all the studies required by law" equals that in the public schools. The subjects listed in M.G.L. c.71 Section 1 are orthography, reading, writing, 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. Your district applies this through its approval policy.
District variation. Because each school committee sets its own policy, ask your district for its written process, deadlines, and how it handles renewals and evaluation.
IEP and special needs. Under Massachusetts law, home-schooled students have a right to special education services. School districts must also evaluate students suspected of having a disability. Contact your district's special education office to ask how services are provided to home-schooled students.
Sports and activities. Each district decides whether to let home-schooled students join its courses, programs, or extracurricular activities, including athletics. Ask your district about its policy.
High school. You create your child's transcript and diploma. There is no state homeschool diploma or transcript template.
What varies by district
Massachusetts delegates homeschool approval to local school committees. Each committee sets its own requirements for education plans, assessment methods, and deadlines. What works in one town may not meet requirements in the next.
General (most districts)
ModerateRequirements follow Care and Protection of Charles guidelines. Most accept a written education plan covering required subjects, proposed assessment method, and basic student information. Many suburban and rural districts take a cooperative, minimal approach.
Boston Public Schools
StrictLarger district with dedicated homeschool staff. Typically requires a detailed curriculum plan and proposed assessment method. Families report varying experiences depending on the assigned coordinator.
Cooperative/minimal districts (common in suburban and rural areas)
CooperativeSimple one-page education plan, quick approval, accept portfolio review. Hands-off approach once approved.
Restrictive districts
StrictExtensive forms, may request (but cannot legally require) home visits per Brunelle v. Lynn. May try to dictate curriculum or demand detailed lesson plans beyond what Charles factors allow. Families may need to assert their legal rights.
Tips
- Contact your school committee or superintendent's office BEFORE filing to learn what they expect
- Connect with Massachusetts Home Learning Association (MHLA) for district-specific guidance
- Know your rights under Charles and Brunelle — the district cannot require home visits or impose requirements that effectively prohibit homeschooling
- If moving to a new town, you must seek approval from the new district — approval does not transfer
- Keep copies of all correspondence with the superintendent's office and send important documents via certified mail
- If a superintendent denies your plan, you can appeal to the school committee, revise and resubmit, or seek support from MHLA or HSLDA
Explore Massachusetts homeschool guides
How to Start
Step-by-step guide to getting started in Massachusetts
Compliance Checklist
Every requirement in one checklist
Documents & Templates
Forms, letters, and what to file
Deadlines & Calendar
Filing dates and assessment deadlines
Assessment Requirements
Testing rules and what scores mean
High School
Transcripts, diplomas, and college prep
Special Needs
IEP services, therapy access, and rights
Compare with Another State
Side-by-side law comparison for relocating families
Your independent resources
Official sources and independent organizations are listed separately below. Check the source and effective date before relying on an unresolved requirement.
Last reviewed October 2026 · How we verify