The Massachusetts rules in plain English - notice, testing, records, and the dates families actually miss. Verified against the official sources below on 2026-10-18.
Before anything else: this is orientation, not legal advice. Requirements change and local offices have their own habits. The sources at the bottom are the authority - check them before you file.
Advance approval required. Notify your district (in writing, preferably), then submit a home schooling plan under the school committee's policy. Notification alone does not authorize you to start.
Where it goes: Local school district / school committee
Progress evaluation per district policy - commonly a standardized test, portfolio review, or other agreed measure set in your approved plan.
Subjects: The studies required by law (spelling, reading, writing, English, geography, arithmetic, drawing, music, US history/constitution, civics, health, PE, good behavior)
Records: Whatever the approved plan requires - typically the plan itself plus evaluation evidence.
[Your name]
[Address]
[Date]
Dear your local school authority,
I am writing to notify you of my intent to home educate for my child, [student name], grade [X], for the [20XX-XX] school year.
Included: the required information.
Respectfully,
[Your name] · [phone] · [email]
Want this handled? The Records Office drafts your Massachusetts notice or filing every year, keeps the deadline calendar, and builds the transcript and course descriptions colleges expect. Founding families: $99/year.
VERIFIED 2026-10-18 AGAINST THE SOURCES ABOVE · HOMESCHOOL RECORDS OFFICE · YOU ARE THE SCHOOL OF RECORD · THIS GUIDE IS ORIENTATION, NOT LEGAL ADVICE