Massachusetts requires parents to get approval from their local school district before they begin homeschooling. Unlike many states where you simply file a notice, Massachusetts operates under a prior-approval system rooted in a 1987 state Supreme Judicial Court decision. The process involves submitting an education plan to your school committee or superintendent, waiting for approval, and then providing evidence of your child’s progress each year.
Why Massachusetts Is Different
Most states let parents begin homeschooling after filing paperwork. Massachusetts does not. Under MGL c. 76, ยง 1, children are exempt from mandatory school attendance only if they are “being otherwise instructed in a manner approved in advance by the superintendent or the school committee.” That phrase, “approved in advance,” is what sets Massachusetts apart. You cannot legally pull your child from school and start teaching at home without district approval first.
The legal framework comes from a landmark case called Care & Protection of Charles, decided by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 1987. That ruling confirmed parents’ right to educate their children at home but gave school districts authority to review and approve homeschool plans. It also established what districts may (and may not) consider when evaluating those plans. Districts can look at the substance of your educational program but cannot impose requirements that are more burdensome than what public schools themselves follow.
Submitting Your Education Plan
Your first step is contacting your local school district to request its homeschool policy. Each school committee in Massachusetts sets its own procedures, so the specific forms and submission deadlines vary by town. Some districts have a dedicated homeschool coordinator; others route everything through the superintendent’s office.
Regardless of the district, your education plan will typically need to address six areas:
- Subjects to be taught. Massachusetts law requires instruction in certain core areas, including reading, writing, English, mathematics, science, history, civics, geography, and physical education. Your plan should list the subjects you intend to cover and show they align with what public schools are required to teach under MGL c. 71.
- Instructional materials. List the curricula, textbooks, workbooks, online programs, or other resources you plan to use for each subject. You do not need to use the same materials as public schools, but the district wants to see that your selections are substantive.
- Hours and schedule. Include the number of hours per day and days per year you intend to teach. Massachusetts public schools operate roughly 180 days per year, and districts generally expect a comparable commitment, though the format can be flexible.
- Methods of instruction. Describe how you plan to teach. This can range from traditional textbook-based learning to unit studies, project-based learning, or a mix of approaches. You have wide latitude here.
- Qualifications of the instructor. Districts may ask about your background, but the Charles decision established that parents do not need a teaching certificate to homeschool. A district cannot deny your plan solely because you lack formal teaching credentials.
- Method of evaluation. Explain how you will demonstrate your child’s progress at the end of each year. Common options include standardized testing, a portfolio review, or a progress report from an evaluator. Agree on the evaluation method upfront so there are no disputes later.
Submit your plan before you begin homeschooling. If your child is currently enrolled in public school, do not withdraw them until you have written approval. Most families submit plans over the summer for the upcoming school year, but mid-year submissions are possible if circumstances change.
What Happens After You Submit
The school committee or superintendent reviews your plan and either approves it, asks for modifications, or denies it. Most plans are approved without difficulty, especially if you address all six areas clearly. If the district requests changes, you can negotiate. For example, they might ask you to add a subject you overlooked or clarify your evaluation method.
If your plan is denied, you have the right to appeal. The Charles decision limits what districts can require, so a denial based on unreasonable demands (such as requiring home visits or insisting on a specific curriculum) may not hold up. Homeschool advocacy organizations in Massachusetts can help you navigate a denial, and some families have successfully challenged district overreach.
Approval is typically granted for one school year. You will need to resubmit a new or updated plan annually.
Demonstrating Progress Each Year
Once your plan is approved, you teach your child according to it and then provide evidence of adequate progress at the end of the year. The evaluation method should be the one you and the district agreed upon in your plan. The most common approaches are:
- Standardized testing. Your child takes a nationally normed test such as the Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test, or similar. Results go to the district.
- Portfolio review. You compile samples of your child’s work throughout the year, including writing samples, completed assignments, reading logs, and project documentation. A qualified evaluator (often a certified teacher or someone with relevant credentials) reviews the portfolio and writes a narrative assessment.
- Progress report. Some districts accept a written progress report from the parent or an outside evaluator describing what was covered and how the child performed.
The standard is “adequate progress,” not perfection. Your child does not need to score at grade level on every test or match public school benchmarks exactly. The district is looking for evidence that learning is happening and that your child is moving forward.
Choosing Curriculum and Resources
Massachusetts does not mandate a specific curriculum. You can use a published homeschool program, piece together materials from multiple sources, or design your own. Many families combine textbook work with library resources, online courses, museum visits, co-op classes, and hands-on projects.
Co-ops are particularly popular in Massachusetts. These are groups of homeschooling families that meet regularly so children can take classes together, often in subjects like science labs, art, foreign languages, or physical education. Co-ops are informal and parent-run, not regulated by the state, but they can strengthen your program and give your child social interaction with peers.
For high school students, you may want to incorporate dual enrollment at a local community college, online accredited courses, or AP exam preparation, especially if your child plans to apply to college. Colleges are generally comfortable with homeschool applicants, but having standardized test scores and a well-documented transcript helps.
Record Keeping and Transcripts
Massachusetts does not require you to maintain a specific set of records beyond what you need for your annual evaluation, but keeping thorough records protects you and benefits your child. Save attendance logs, samples of completed work, booklists, and any test results. If you ever move to a new district, re-enroll your child in public school, or apply to colleges, these records become essential.
For high school, you will create your child’s transcript yourself. List courses completed each year, assign grades or credit hours, and note any outside classes or dual enrollment. There is no official state transcript form for homeschoolers, so you can format it however you like as long as it clearly shows course titles, grades, and years completed.
Special Circumstances
If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) through the public school, homeschooling changes how services are delivered. Once you withdraw your child, the district is no longer obligated to provide IEP services, though some districts will allow homeschooled students to access certain programs. Address this with the district before you withdraw so you understand what, if anything, will still be available.
If you move to a new town within Massachusetts, you need to submit a new education plan to the new district. Approval from your previous district does not transfer. Contact the new school committee as soon as possible after moving to avoid any gap in your approved status.
Getting Started Step by Step
The practical sequence looks like this: contact your school district and ask for its homeschool policy and any required forms. Draft your education plan covering subjects, materials, schedule, teaching methods, and evaluation. Submit the plan and wait for written approval. Once approved, begin teaching. Keep records throughout the year. Complete your agreed-upon evaluation at the end of the year and submit results to the district. Then resubmit a plan for the following year.
The process can feel intimidating the first time, especially because Massachusetts gives districts more gatekeeping power than most states. But the legal framework ultimately protects your right to homeschool. Districts can review your plan for substance, but they cannot deny it arbitrarily or impose requirements that go beyond what the law allows. Once you complete the first cycle of submission, approval, and evaluation, the annual renewal becomes routine.