Massachusetts

M.G.L. c. 76, § 1 (Compulsory Attendance Statute)

Massachusetts homeschooling is governed by case law, not a dedicated statute. The compulsory attendance law exempts children "otherwise instructed in a manner approved in advance by the superintendent or school committee."

Key Court Decisions

Important: Massachusetts is an approval state — your local school district must approve your education plan. However, approval cannot be conditioned on requirements that are "not essential" to the state's interest in education.

Note: There is no statewide deadline. Each of Massachusetts' ~350 districts sets its own timeline. Submit your plan well before you intend to begin.

The Four Factors (per Charles Decision)

Districts may consider these four areas when reviewing your plan:

1. Proposed curriculum and hours of instruction

• List of subjects to be covered
• Estimated hours (general statement acceptable)

2. Competency of parents

• No degrees or certifications required
• "Competent ability and good morals"

3. Access to instructional materials

• List of textbooks, workbooks, resources
• Districts cannot require specific materials

4. Method of evaluation

• How progress will be assessed at year end
• Must be agreed upon by parents and district

Districts Cannot Require

• Home visits (Brunelle)
• Specific curricula or approved materials
• Teaching credentials or degrees
• Daily or weekly schedules
• Meetings with school officials
• Reasons for choosing to homeschool
• Immunization records (for homeschool approval)

Submitting Your Plan

• Send via certified mail with return receipt for proof
• Keep a copy for your records
• If district provides a form, you're not required to use it
• Use flexible language: "may include," "topics include but not limited to"

Time Requirement

Hours do not need to match the public school day or calendar.

Required Subjects (M.G.L. c. 71, §§ 1 and 3)

• Orthography (Spelling)
• Reading
• Writing
• English Language and Grammar
• Geography
• Arithmetic (Mathematics)
• Drawing (Art)
• Music
• History and Constitution of the United States
• Duties of Citizenship (Civics)
• Health Education
• Physical Education
• Good Behavior (Character Education)

Total: 13 required subjects

Flexibility

There are no requirements for how often each subject must be taught, at what grade levels, or in what sequence. The standard is instruction "equal in thoroughness and efficiency" to public schools — not identical.

Per the Charles decision, parents and districts agree on one method of evaluation:

Option 1: Progress Report (Most Popular)

A narrative or list showing progress in each subject area.

Minimal format:

"[Student] made satisfactory progress in [subject]. Completed [curriculum/materials]. Progressed from [starting point] to [ending point]."

Key phrases: "made progress," "mastered," "currently working at"

Option 2: Dated Work Samples

Samples of student work with dates showing progression.

• 2 samples per major subject (beginning and end of year)
• Cover major subjects: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies
• Total of 8-12 samples typically sufficient
• This is not a portfolio requirement

Option 3: Standardized Testing

• Not mandatory — one option among several
• Parent arranges testing (not the district)
• Common: CAT, Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement
• Homeschoolers do not take MCAS

Other Methods

Other means may be used if mutually agreed upon:

• Portfolio review
• Third-party evaluation
• Report cards (parent-created)

No State Graduation Requirements

Massachusetts has no specific graduation requirements for homeschoolers:

• Parents determine requirements
• Parents determine when child has met them
• Parents issue the diploma

Transcripts

Parents create transcripts including:

• Courses completed (grades 9-12)
• Credits earned (1 credit = year-long course)
• Grades and GPA (if assigned)

College Preparation

Recommended courses for college admission:

• 4 years English
• 3-4 years Math (through Algebra II minimum)
• 3-4 years Science (including labs)
• 3-4 years Social Studies
• 2+ years Foreign Language

Testing

• SAT/ACT: Register online (College Board / act.org)
• PSAT: Arrange through local school (October)
• AP Exams: Arrange through local school
• MCAS: Homeschoolers do not take MCAS

Compulsory Age

Ages 6-16 — Child must begin in September of the year they turn 6.

• Kindergarten is not mandatory
• Reporting ends the day child turns 16
• May continue reporting for dual enrollment or sports eligibility

Special Education

Massachusetts is an entitlement state:

• Homeschoolers retain the right to special education services
• If you want services, the district must provide them
• If you decline services, you can waive IDEA rights in writing
• Having an IEP does not prevent homeschool approval

Public School Sports (MIAA)

MIAA policy allows homeschooler participation if:

• The local school approves
• Student meets eligibility requirements
• Student tries out like other students

Individual schools have final say.

Dual Enrollment

Homeschoolers may take community college courses:

• Must be MA resident
• Typically need 2.5+ GPA
• Some programs subsidized; others full tuition
• Check individual college policies

If Approval is Denied

1. District must provide written reasons
2. You have opportunity to revise and resubmit
3. If you've submitted a compliant plan and begin, burden shifts to district to prove inadequacy
4. No child has been ordered back to school during the approval process when family was making good-faith efforts

Why This Matters

Higher district variation: Each MA district interprets case law differently. What works in Boston may not work in Worcester. Know your local district's requirements.

Approval-based: You cannot start homeschooling until approved (or until you've submitted a compliant plan and begun in good faith). Plan ahead.

More flexibility: No mandatory testing, no evaluator requirement, no portfolio. The trade-off is navigating district approval each year.