How to Comply with Michigan’s Homeschool Law

Parents who are teaching their own children at home under the homeschool statute are required to use an organized educational program covering the following subject areas:

• reading,
• spelling,
• mathematics,
• science,
• history,
• civics,
• literature,
• writing, and
• English grammar.

The statute does not require parents to notify local government or education authorities that they are homeschooling. The statute specifically notes that parents are authorized to give home instruction. If a nonparent is significantly involved in delivering instruction, HSLDA members may contact us for specific guidance.

To homeschool your children by operating as a nonpublic school, you will need to follow these requirements.

1. Ensure that the instructor has the required qualifications.

The instructor in a homeschool operating as a nonpublic school may be either a parent, or another person chosen by the parent. Regardless of who the instructor is, he or she must have a teaching certificate, a teaching permit, or a bachelor’s degree.

Parents who are instructing their children and who have a religious objection to teacher certification do not have to meet any of the above teacher requirements. However, this exception only applies when the parent is the instructor; it does not apply to an instructor who is not the parent.

2. Provide annual notification that you are homeschooling as a nonpublic school.

At the beginning of each school year, you are required to send the following information to the local public school superintendent:

• the name and age of each child enrolled in your school,
• the number or name of the school district and the city or township and county where the parent lives,
• the name and address of the parent, and
• the name and age of any child enrolled in the school who is not in regular attendance.

The Michigan Department of Education is authorized to request, in writing, your nonpublic school’s records of pupil enrollment, courses of study, and qualifications of teachers. You do not need to submit this information unless it is requested in writing.

Michigan State Form SM-4325 has been developed by the state department of education for use in reporting this information. Members may call or email us with any questions.

3. Teach the required subjects.

Children in all grades in nonpublic schools must be taught

• mathematics,
• reading,
• English,
• science,
• social studies,
• health, and
• physical education.

In the high school grades, children must also be taught:

• the US Constitution,
• the Michigan Constitution, and
• the history and present form of civil government in the US, Michigan, and Michigan’s political subdivisions and municipalities.

Required subjects

Both of Michigan’s legal options for homeschooling require that certain subjects be taught (see the lists above). While there are no specific requirements for how often each of the subjects must be taught or at what grade levels, HSLDA’s general recommendation is that each of the required subjects be taught at an age-appropriate level every year during the elementary and middle school years, and at least once at the high school level.