Adopted: MSBA/MASA Model Policy 611
Revised: Rev. 2022
611 HOME SCHOOLING
[Note: The provisions of this policy substantially
reflect statutory requirements.]
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to recognize and provide
guidelines in accordance with state law for parents who wish to have their
children receive education in a home school that is an alternative to an
accredited public or private school.
II. GENERAL
STATEMENT OF POLICY
The Compulsory Attendance Law (Minnesota Statutes section
120A.22) provides that the parent or guardian of a child is primarily
responsible for assuring that the child acquires knowledge and skills that are
essential for effective citizenship.
III. CONDITIONS
FOR HOME SCHOOLING
The person in charge of a home school and the school
district must provide instruction and meet the requirements specified in Minnesota
Statutes section 120A.22.
IV. IMMUNIZATION
The parent or guardian of a home-schooled child shall submit
statements as required by Minnesota Statutes section 121A.15, Subds. 1, 2, 3,
4, and 12, on the appropriate Minnesota Department of Education form, to the
superintendent of the school district in which the child resides by October 1
of the first year of home schooling in Minnesota and the grade 7 year.
V. TEXTBOOKS,
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL, STANDARD TESTS
Upon formal request, as required by law, the school district
will provide textbooks (including a teacher’s edition, guide, or other
materials that accompany a textbook when the edition, guide, or materials are
packaged physically or electronically with textbooks for student use),
individualized instructional or cooperative learning materials (including
teacher materials that accompany pupil materials), software or other
educational technology, and standardized tests and loan or provide them for use
by a home-schooled child as provided under state law. The school district is not required to expend
any amount for this purpose that exceeds the amount it receives pursuant to state
law for this purpose. If curriculum has
both physical and electronic components, the school district will, at the
request of the student or the student’s parent or guardian, make the electronic
component accessible to a resident student provided that the school district
does not incur more than an incidental cost as a result of providing access
electronically.
VI. PUPIL SUPPORT
SERVICES
Upon formal request, as required by law, the school district
will provide pupil support services in the form of health services and
counseling and guidance services to a home-schooled child as provided under
state law. The school district is not
required to expend an amount for any of these purposes that exceeds the amount
it receives pursuant to state law.
VII. EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
Resident pupils who receive instruction in a home school (in
which five or fewer students receive instruction) may fully participate in
extracurricular activities of the school district on the same basis as other
public school students.
VIII. SHARED TIME
PROGRAMS
Enrollment in class offerings of the school district.
A. A
home-schooled child who is a resident of the school district may enroll in
classes in the school district as a shared time pupil on the same basis as
other nonpublic school students. The provisions of this policy shall not be determinative
of whether the school district allows the enrollment of any pupils on a
shared-time basis.
B. The school
district may limit enrollment of shared-time pupils in such classes based on
the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school building. The school board and administration retain
sole discretion and control over scheduling of all classes and assignment of
shared time pupils to classes.
[Note: The provisions of Article VIII. - Shared
Time Programs do not determine whether Shared Time Programs should be offered
to any pupil. However, home-schooled
children are required to be treated the same as all other nonpublic school
children.]
IX. OPTIONAL
COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
A. Activities
1. Minnesota
State High School League-sponsored activities (in which six or more students
receive instruction in the home school or the home school students are not
residents of the school district).
A home school that is a member of the Minnesota State High
School League may request that the school district enter into a cooperative
sponsorship arrangement as provided in Minnesota State High School League bylaws. The approval of such an arrangement shall be
at the discretion of the school board.
a. The home
school must become a member of the Minnesota State High School League in
accordance with the rules of the Minnesota State High School League.
b. The home
school is solely responsible for any costs or fees associated with its
application for and/or subsequent membership in the Minnesota State High School
League.
c. The home
school is responsible for any and all costs associated with its participation
in a cooperative sponsorship arrangement as well as any school district
activity fees associated with the Minnesota State High School League activity.
2. Non-Minnesota
State High School League activities in which six or more students receive
instruction in the home school.
A home-schooled child may participate in non-Minnesota State
High School League activities offered by the school district upon application
and approval from the school board to participate in the activity and the
payment of any activity fees associated with the activity. However, home school students may not be
charged higher activity fees than other public school students. An approval shall be granted at the
discretion of the school board.
B. Transportation
Services
1. The school
district may provide nonpublic nonregular transportation services to a
home-schooled child.
2. The school
board of the school district retains sole discretion and control and management
of scheduling routes, establishment of the location of bus stops, manner and
method of transportation, control and discipline of school children, and any
other matter relating to the provision of transportation services.
Legal References: Minn. Stat. § 120A.22 (Compulsory Instruction)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.24 (Reporting)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.26 (Enforcement and Prosecution)
Minn. Stat. § 121A.15 (Health Standards; Immunizations;
School Children)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.36 (Authorized Fees)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.41 (Definitions)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.42 (Textbooks; Individual Instruction or
Cooperative Learning Material; Standard Tests)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.44 (Provision of Pupil Support Services)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.49 (Extracurricular Activities; Insurance)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.86 (Equal Treatment - Transportation)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.92 (Transportation Aid Entitlement)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.03 (Enrollment Options Program)
Minn. Rules Ch. 3540 (Nonpublic Schools)
Cross References: MSBA/MASA Model Policy 509 (Enrollment of
Nonresident Students)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 510 (School Activities)