MASSACHUSETTS

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Massachusetts Homeschool Laws

Overview

Children between age 6 through 16
Officials may ask about the curriculum, although there are no requirements.
Parents must have prior approval before homeschooling.
Officials expedite approval of home education plans that meet the statutory standard.
Parents give prior notification to school authorities of their home education plan, which equals the local public school’s in thoroughness and efficiency.
Comply with an evaluation program mutually agreed upon by school and parents.
School officials may ask for information regarding qualifications of the parent or parents who will be instructing the children.
Parents are not required to have any specific educational credentials. General Laws provides that teachers shall be of competent ability and good morals.
School officials may inquire about subjects the child will study, length of the homeschool year, and hours of instruction in each subject. While school officials may consider hours of instruction in each subject, they may not dictate the manner in which the subjects will be taught.
In practice this means that parents may calculate hours of instruction based on the manner in which they homeschool, which does not have to replicate the public school’s offering, only equal it in thoroughness and efficiency. Additionally, following a schedule is not an important consideration in a home school where …the perception and use of time… are different.
School officials may identify teaching materials, but only to determine subject and grade level… school officials may not… use this access to dictate the manner in which the subjects will be taught. For example, travel, community service, visits to educationally enriching facilities and places, and meeting with various resource people, can provide important learning experiences apart from the four corners of a text or workbook.
School officials and parents should agree on a method of evaluation that may include one of the following approaches: standardized testing, periodic progress report, or dated work samples.
Home visits may not be required as a condition of approval.