School Board Policy 611 -
Homeschooling

Adopted: August 27, 2001
REVISED: May 9, 2005
revised: december 10, 2012
revised: July 15, 2019
Revised: January 13, 2020
Revised: January 9, 2023

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 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 Homeschooling

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 immunization 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 by October 1 of the grade 7 year.

V. Textbooks, Instructional Material, Standard Tests 

Upon formal request as required by law, the school district will loan or 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 students use), individualized instructional or cooperative learning materials (including teacher materials that accompany student materials), software or other educational technology and standardized tests 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. 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. Student Support Services 

Upon formal request as required by law, the school district will provide student support services in the form of health services and counseling and guidance services to a home- schooled child as provided by Minnesota Statutes section 123B.44 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 3540. The school district is not required to expend an amount for any of these purposes that exceeds the amount it receives pursuant to Minnesota Statutes sections 123B.40 to 123B.48 for any of these purposes.

VII. Extracurricular Activities 

Resident students who receive instruction in a home school (where 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 student 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 students on a shared-time basis.

B. The school district may limit enrollment of shared-time students 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 students to classes.

IX. Optional Cooperative Arrangements

A. Activities.

1. Minnesota State High School League sponsored activities where 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.  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.

d. 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 where 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 non regular transportation services to a home-schooled child.

2. The School Board  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 Chapter 3540 (Nonpublic Schools)

Cross References:
WBLASB Policy 509 (Enrollment of Nonresident Students)
WBLASB Policy 510 (School Activities)