Homeschooling in Massachusetts: what the law requires and who pays
Massachusetts law (General Laws chapter 76, section 1) excuses a child from school attendance when the child is otherwise instructed in a way approved in advance by the superintendent or school committee. We have not found an official source saying a Massachusetts program pays homeschooled students.
What Massachusetts’s law requires
- The law that allows it
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Massachusetts law (General Laws chapter 76, section 1) excuses a child from school attendance when the child is otherwise instructed in a way approved in advance by the superintendent or school committee.
“of a child who is being otherwise instructed in a manner approved in advance by the superintendent or the school committee” Massachusetts General Laws chapter 76, section 1, school attendance requirements and exceptions
The state education department says home schooling is governed by this section and needs advance approval by the child's school district under the school committee's policy.
“For children of compulsory school age (6-16), home schooling requires advance approval by the district in which the child lives, under the policy that the school committee has adopted.” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling
- Telling the state or district
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Parents notify their school district, preferably in writing, as the first step toward approval.
“Parents planning to educate their child at home must notify (preferably in writing) the district in which they live as the first step in the approval process.” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling
Notifying the district does not by itself allow a parent to start home schooling.
“Notification alone does not authorize a parent to begin home schooling.” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling
The district approves the plan, asks for changes or more information, or disapproves it.
“Upon receipt of a proposed home schooling plan, the school district evaluates it and then either approves it, requests modification or additional information, or disapproves the proposed plan.” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling
- What and how long to teach
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Districts focus on whether instruction in the required studies equals the local public schools in thoroughness, efficiency and progress.
“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.” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling
Districts typically review the plan's content, instructional materials, duration and frequency of instruction, teaching methods and evaluation.
“Districts typically review a proposed home schooling plan for the content, instructional materials, duration and frequency of instruction, methods of instruction, evaluation” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling
- Who may teach
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Public school rules such as educator licensing and structured learning time do not apply to home schooling.
“The requirements that apply to public schools, such as educator licensing or structured learning time, do not apply to home schooling.” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling
- Ages the law covers
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The department gives compulsory school age as 6 to 16.
“For children of compulsory school age (6-16)” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling
The state’s own page for families: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Schooling.
State money for homeschoolers in Massachusetts
We have not found an official source saying a Massachusetts program pays homeschooled students.
School choice in Massachusetts Private schools in Massachusetts
Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Massachusetts next to every other state.
Questions parents ask
Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Massachusetts?
Parents notify their school district, preferably in writing, as the first step toward approval. Notifying the district does not by itself allow a parent to start home schooling. The district approves the plan, asks for changes or more information, or disapproves it.
Can a homeschooler in Massachusetts get state money?
We have not found an official source saying a Massachusetts program pays homeschooled students.
Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.
Homeschool law in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming