Anchor Homeschooling in Minnesota
medium regulation
What Minnesota requires
- Notice to authorities: Yes. Notice by October 1 annually. Annual assessment via standardized test, portfolio, or other approved method.
- Portfolio: Required as one option (or testing).
- Standardized testing: One option — you may test or submit a portfolio.
- Annual evaluator: Not required.
- Quarterly reports: Not required.
- Filing deadline: October 1 annually
- Accepted assessments: nationally normed test, portfolio review
How to start homeschooling in Minnesota
- File your notice with the state. File your homeschool report with your resident district superintendent by October 1 each year — MDE's Initial Registration Form the first year (or within 15 days of withdrawing from public school), then the Letter of Intent to Continue annually. Annual assessment required via standardized test, portfolio, or other approved method. File online with the state →
- Plan your school year. Minnesota sets no day or hour minimum, so your calendar is yours — most families still sketch one so progress is visible.
- Put assessment on the calendar. Each year you'll submit either standardized test results or a portfolio of work — decide which at the start of the year so you collect the right evidence as you go.
- Keep records from your first day. Attendance, samples of work, and any test or evaluation results — every requirement above is answered from these three, and they're painless to keep daily and miserable to reconstruct in May.
How Anchor helps
Anchor logs every day automatically when you make an activity entry. It builds the portfolio your state expects, generates the attendance PDF, and reminds you about evaluations before they're due.
Common questions about homeschooling in Minnesota
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota requires notice to the authorities before you begin home education. Notice by October 1 annually. Annual assessment via standardized test, portfolio, or other approved method.
How many days or hours of school does Minnesota require?
Minnesota sets no specific number of instructional days or hours for homeschoolers. Anchor counts each day for you as you log activities, and shows how many you have left.
Does Minnesota require a portfolio or standardized testing?
Minnesota requires either a portfolio or standardized testing — you choose which to submit.
Does Minnesota require an annual evaluation?
No. Minnesota does not require an annual evaluator review.
What records should I keep to homeschool in Minnesota?
Keep attendance for every school day, samples of your student's work, and any test or evaluation results Minnesota asks for. Homeschool Anchor builds all three from your daily logs and turns this state's rules into dated checkpoints, so nothing is reconstructed at the deadline.
Stay compliant without the paperwork
Free for 1 student. $8/month for the full family with PDF exports, photo activity logging, and AI-assisted summaries.
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Sources: HSLDA — Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Education · last verified 2026-08-08 · Always verify with your state homeschool association before relying on this.