Children between 7 and 17 years of age must receive instruction unless they have graduated. Regardless of age, once a child is enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade at a public school, he or she is subject to compulsory attendance.
A school board may have a policy that exempts children under age 7 from being required to attend school. In any district, a child under age 7 who is subject to compulsory attendance may be withdrawn from enrollment for good cause by a parent. HSLDA members, please contact us if you have specific questions about how the compulsory attendance laws apply to your child.
HSLDA believes that a parent-issued diploma and transcript should be sufficient to demonstrate that a child has completed a secondary education. However, even if your child is beyond compulsory school attendance age, there may be situations where you would want to continue to follow the requirements of a home education option recognized under Minnesota law until your child graduates from high school (filing a home education notice, keeping attendance and other records, etc.).
These records may be requested in some situations, such as obtaining a driver's license if your child is a minor, enlisting in the military, applying to colleges, or demonstrating eligibility for Social Security benefits. If you are a member of HSLDA and would like additional details, please contact us.
Please note: The information on this page has been reviewed by an attorney, but it should not be taken as legal advice specific to your individual situation.