Homeschooling in Massachusetts: Guidance for Getting Started

Massachusetts is one of the five states identified by HSLDA as having strict homeschool laws along with New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. But this simply means that Massachusetts provides more oversight of homeschool families than many states do. It doesn’t mean that the actual act of homeschooling is any different. It simply means that you’ll have a few extra hoops to jump through, a bit of recordkeeping to handle, and some forms to file. It’s totally doable! So don’t let the “high regulation” label frighten you from choosing to homeschool in the Pilgrim State. 

The state Department of Education website states that

The requirements that apply to public schools, such as educator licensing or structured learning time, do not apply to home schooling.”

So officially, the state of Massachusetts does not outline homeschooling hour requirements. However, your local district will probably ask you how many school days you plan to fulfill. 

To minimize friction between your homeschool and the district, it makes sense to match your proposed homeschool days to the public school requirements—180 days , 900 (or 990) hours per school year. In public schools, a total of 900 instructional hours are required for elementary grades and 990 at the secondary level. Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts, Inc. has some great tips for how to word this in your official documents.

Since homeschooling is vastly more efficient than public school, you may wonder how you can possibly demonstrate so many instructional hours. It’s quite easy when you remember that instructional hours aren’t just bookwork. They can include field trips, educational games, watching documentaries, co-op classes, extracurriculars, many life skills activities, etc. 

Instead of detailed statewide guidelines, in Massachusetts, homeschool requirements are set at the local school district level. 

Thus you’ll need to cooperate with the school district where you reside, filing paperwork and crafting a homeschool plan. Your district will provide you with a list of criteria for that plan. More than likely it will ask you to outline your intent for these key areas:

• content
• instructional materials
• duration and frequency of instruction
• methods of instruction
• evaluation
• adequate progress 

Follow the guidelines provided and ask the district questions if you’re unsure. If your plan is not deemed acceptable, you will have a chance to modify it and submit it again. AHEM has great tips for how to word your plan in a way that will satisfy the educators evaluating it. 

Massachusetts homeschooling requirements also outline specific subjects to be taught (at all grade levels): spelling, reading, writing, English language and grammar, geography, arithmetic, drawing, music, United States history and the Constitution, duties of citizenship, health, physical education, and good behavior. Your homeschool plan should probably include this list and the materials/experiences you will use for each topic.

The superintendent of your school district may require periodic standardized tests to ensure the progress of your child. In some cases there may be alternate ways to show progress instead of a standardized test. This is something you may be able to negotiate with your district. 

MA Home Learning has an excellent guide for homeschooling requirements in Massachusetts. Just remember to always use the material your local district provides as the ultimate authority.

Your Massachusetts district will ask you what instructional materials you’ll use to teach the thirteen required subjects:

1. spelling
2. reading
3. writing
4. English language and grammar
5. geography
6. arithmetic
7. drawing
8. music
9. United States history and the Constitution
10. duties of citizenship
11. health
12. physical education
13. good behavior

Thus curriculum isn’t required per se, but it is expected that you’ll use something to teach. That is, you might be able to teach some topics outside of a formal curriculum, but you’ll still need some type of material or experience.

Certainly, using a ready-made curriculum is preferred to taking a DIY approach. Not only is a curriculum easier on you (no planning), but it is also more smoothly communicated to your district. When you mention what program you’re using, it gives the assessor a sense of confidence in your homeschool plan. 

When you choose a Sonlight All-Subjects Package, you can customize a program that not only fulfills the Massachusetts requirements but also fits your child to a tee. 

See the scope and sequence of each program here. If you have concerns about your Sonlight choices not fulfilling the MA requirements, reach out to an Advisor who can walk you through exactly what’s included in each program.

The pandemic made it clear that children, especially young students, learn best when they are in the presence of their teacher, getting direct instruction. Online learning simply isn’t an adequate way for little kids to master the skills they need. So as you consider different homeschooling programs in Massachusetts, know that an at-home curriculum that relies on you and your child enjoying physical books together is far superior to online homeschooling. 

In the Codfish State, a district superintendent may require periodic standardized testing as a means to measure adequate progress. However, in many districts, the need for assessing progress can be done via alternate means such as a portfolio review. Check with your local school system to find out if standardized testing is mandatory or if you can reach the same objective via other means.

Because the school district forms you’re required to file ask about what materials you’ll be using, it’s important to sort out the curriculum question before you even file an intent to homeschool. Use these three extensive guides to figure out your preferred homeschool style and the materials you’ll need to get started.

Homeschool Options & Types

Homeschooling Resources, Printables, FAQs: Tips for Getting Started

How to Choose Your Sonlight Curriculum

While Massachusetts does not require any specific records as proof of homeschooling, it’s good practice to keep your own file of documents:

Homeschooling is regulated in Massachusetts through the school district where the family lives instead of at the state level. So the details will vary. But in all cases you’ll be filing both an intent to homeschool and a homeschool plan. In some cases, this is a single form. In most cases, this is an annual document. 

For the most accurate information, find the official website for your school district. Then search that site for the homeschool (or home school, two words) page. From there you can identify if the district has specific homeschooling forms to file, what the homeschool plan must include, and who to contact with questions. 

For example, here are three of the largest school districts in the state and their rules for how to enroll in homeschooling:

Boston Public Schools

Visit the official homeschool page.

Boston Public Schools provides online forms for three grade divisions: grades 1-5, middle school, and  high school. Among other things, this form asks for a list of instructional materials and how you’ll fulfill the end-of-year assessment. 

Springfield Public Schools

Visit the official homeschool page.

Springfield Public Schools provides one PDF form which you fill out and email (or mail) back. It’s fairly open ended and asks for attached documentation of background on the instructor, a description of the proposed curriculum, the number of hours of instruction, a description of the methods to be used, and the type of end-of-year assessment.

Worcester Public Schools

Visit the official homeschool page.

Worcester Public Schools allows parents to submit answers to these four questions in any format. 

1. What is the proposed curriculum and number of hours of instruction per subject?
2. What is the competency of the individuals who will be instructing the student?
3. What textbooks, workbooks, and instructional materials will be used?
4. What procedures will be used to assess student progress and maintain a student record?

For convenience, there are two PDF forms: one for grades 1-6 and another for grades 7-12. These forms are provided in seven languages besides English. This school system has also assembled a very helpful slidedeck with examples and guidance. 

No matter what school district you’re in, if you’re switching from public to homeschooling in Massachusetts, be sure to first get your homeschool plan approved prior to withdrawing your child from public school. 

Massachusetts law requires compulsory schooling from ages 6 to 16. 

To meet this requirement as a homeschooler, be sure to have your intent to homeschool and your homeschool plan squared away with your local school district before September of the calendar year when your child turns 6. In subsequent years, your district probably will require the form to be submitted anew. 

Since mandatory schooling starts at age 6 in Massachusetts, yes, you can skip kindergarten and start formal homeschooling with first grade at age 6. Or you can provide preschool or kindergarten at home without filing an intent to homeschool.  

Homeschooling kindergarten or preschool in Massachusetts can be done at home with ease by using one of the three excellent programs below.

Read more here to figure out which one is best for your child. And reach out to an Advisor for free assistance if you’re still unsure.

You can homeschool for an entire education from preschool through high school graduation. Or you can opt to homeschool for just one year and then return to public school. It’s not uncommon for families to homeschool for a season of 2-5 years and then switch to other choices like private school or public school. But there are plenty of other families who feel called to homeschool and navigate this educational choice all the way from early education to a teen’s senior year of high school. The choice is up to you!

Here’s a short list of the possible field trips available to Massachusetts homeschoolers

1. All the National Parks in Massachusetts.
2. The Freedom Trail which includes the Paul Revere House and the USS Constitution AKA Old Ironsides, among multiple other renown spots from American History
3. John F. Kennedy: Presidential Library and Museum
4. Battleship Cove: Fleet Museum
5. Old Sturbridge Village
6. Plimoth Patuxet Museums
7. Peabody Essex Museum
8. Massachusetts Science Center
9. Museum of Science- Boston
10. New England Aquarium
11. Massachusetts Air and Space Museum
12. New Bedford Whaling Museum
13. New England Pirate Museum