Massachusetts is one of the more demanding states. Massachusetts asks for more than most. It is entirely manageable once it is written down in one place, which is what this page is for. Nothing here is harder than it looks; there is just more of it.

What you file, and by when

Yes, and uniquely, PRIOR APPROVAL, not just notice. Parents must submit an education plan to the local superintendent or school committee and obtain approval before beginning. There is no statewide form or deadline; each of 350+ districts sets its own process and timeline. This is court-made law: Care and Protection of Charles, 399 Mass. 324 (1987), which construed the M.G.L. c. 76, § 1 'otherwise instructed in a manner approved in advance' clause. Charles also limits districts: they may NOT require home visits, a specific curriculum or teaching method, a parent's college degree or teaching certificate, or MCAS testing, and may not deny a plan merely because it differs from the district's curriculum or is 'too burdensome.'

Days or hours

No statute-specified homeschool minimum. Under Charles, the district may consider the number of hours/days proposed, measured against the public-school standard of 900 hours (elementary) / 990 hours (secondary) over 180 days (603 CMR 27.04). Most approved plans reference these figures; they are a benchmark, not a hard homeschool mandate.

Subjects you must cover

M.G.L. c. 71, § 1 subject list, which districts apply to homeschool plans: orthography (spelling), reading, writing, the English language and grammar, geography, arithmetic, drawing, music, the history and constitution of the United States, the duties of citizenship, health education (including CPR), physical education, and good behavior.

Records you keep

No explicit statutory recordkeeping mandate. In practice the approved plan usually specifies what the family will produce (progress reports, dated work samples, attendance log). Keep whatever the approved plan commits you to, since approval is annual in most districts.

Testing or evaluation

Assessment method must be mutually agreed with school officials as part of the approved plan. Options include standardized testing OR alternatives such as periodic progress reports, a portfolio, or dated work samples. Under Charles, the district cannot unilaterally impose standardized testing (including MCAS) as the only acceptable method. The review standard is whether the education is equal in 'thoroughness and efficiency, and in the progress made therein' to the district's schools.

Diplomas and transcripts

No state-recognized homeschool diploma; districts do not issue diplomas to homeschooled students and are not obligated to grant credit for home study. Parents issue their own diploma/transcript. Some districts will accept partial re-enrollment or dual enrollment but credit-transfer policies vary district to district, get it in writing before senior year. No state ESA/voucher for homeschoolers. Because approval is district-by-district, high-school compliance is the least predictable part of MA homeschooling.

Where this comes from

Statute: M.G.L. c. 76, § 1 (compulsory attendance; 'otherwise instructed in a manner approved in advance'); Care and Protection of Charles, 399 Mass. 324 (1987); subject list at M.G.L. c. 71, § 1

Source: https://hslda.org/post/how-to-comply-with-massachusettss-homeschool-law

Last reviewed: July 2026 · our confidence in this entry: medium

Homeschool law changes, and a page like this goes stale without announcing it. Check the statute above against your own reading before a filing deadline. If we are out of date, we would rather hear it from you than have you find out at the district office.

Keeping the records is the other half of this. Our Records System has the editable transcript with the GPA already wired, 131 course descriptions, and this same statute-cited summary for all fifty states and DC. Thirty-nine dollars, one household, however many children you have.