Minnesota requires annual standardized testing for homeschoolers ages 7 to 16 — here's exactly how the testing and evaluation process works.
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Minnesota requires an annual nationally norm-referenced standardized test for each homeschool student ages 7 to 16 (and 16 to 17 only if the first report to the district was filed after age 16), agreed upon by the parent and superintendent. There's no minimum passing score — it's primarily a documentation requirement.
Minnesota Homeschool Requirements (2026)
📋 What Minnesota Does NOT Require
No minimum passing score on the required standardized test — it's a documentation exercise, not a pass/fail gate
No teacher certification required for parents
No curriculum approval by the state or district
Accredited homeschools are exempt from the annual testing requirement entirely
📚 What Minnesota DOES Require
Report to your district superintendent by October 1 of the first year your child is 7 (or within 15 days of withdrawing from public school after age 7): your child's name, birth date and address, the tests you plan to use, the instructors, and evidence of their qualifications
File a letter of intent to continue homeschooling with the superintendent by October 1 every school year
Administer a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test annually for each student ages 7 to 16 (and 16 to 17 only if your first report was filed after age 16), unless your homeschool is accredited
Agree with your district superintendent on the specific test, administration, and testing location
Keep documentation of the subjects you teach and proof the tests were given, such as class schedules, copies of instructional materials, and a description of your assessment methods
If a child scores at or below the 30th percentile, or one full grade level below same-age peers, arrange an evaluation for possible learning difficulties
📚 Required Subjects in Minnesota
Reading and writing
Literature and fine arts
Mathematics and science
Social studies, including history, geography, economics, government and citizenship
Health and physical education
Instruction is given in English
These areas come from Minnesota's compulsory instruction law (Minn. Stat. 120A.22). You choose the curriculum and how to teach it, and the annual standardized test documents progress.
📁 Record-Keeping in Minnesota
Keep your documentation of subjects taught and proof the tests were given (class schedules, copies of instructional materials, assessment-method descriptions) along with your test results
Document the agreement with your superintendent on which test, administration method, and location you used
If a low score triggers a learning-difficulty evaluation, keep that documentation too
Accredited homeschools should keep proof of their accreditation status instead, since it exempts them from the testing requirement
⚠️ Always verify current requirements with your state department of education or the Home School Legal Defense Association (hslda.org). Laws can change and this page is for general reference only.
Getting Started / Withdrawing from Public School in Minnesota
Before your child's testing year (ages 7 to 16), send your report and letter of intent to your local district superintendent by October 1, and agree with them on which nationally norm-referenced standardized test you'll use (options include the Iowa Assessments, Stanford, California Achievement Test/Terra Nova, or Peabody), along with the administration method and location. There's no minimum score required to "pass" — the test is primarily a documentation and progress-monitoring tool. If your child scores at or below the 30th percentile, or a full grade level behind peers, plan for a learning-difficulty evaluation as Minnesota law requires in that situation.
How Lumi Helps Minnesota Homeschool Families
Lumi handles curriculum planning, grading, and progress tracking automatically, so Minnesota families can focus on their kids instead of paperwork — while staying comfortably aligned with state requirements.
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Covers Required Subjects
Lumi covers the core subjects Minnesota expects, plus additional subjects including Coding, Art, Music, and more — all in one flat-price app.
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Attendance Tracker
Built-in attendance logging helps you document instructional time and subject coverage automatically, useful for meeting record-keeping expectations.
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Printable Report Cards
Generate formal report cards automatically — useful for evaluations, re-enrollment in public school, or any situation requiring proof of academic progress.
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Printable Workbooks
Six printable workbooks covering every grade level — great for portfolio documentation and supplemental practice.
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Flat Family Price
$9.99/month covers up to 8 kids — no per-child fees as your family grows.
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Narrated Lessons
Every lesson is narrated aloud by Lumi, so kids can work independently while parents focus on the bigger picture.
Minnesota Homeschool Resources
Minnesota Department of Education — Home-School Q&A — education.mn.gov — Official state guidance document on homeschool testing and requirements.
University of Minnesota Homeschool Testing — homeschool.umn.edu — A well-known resource specifically for arranging Minnesota's required annual standardized testing.
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) — hslda.org — National legal advocacy with Minnesota-specific testing guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions — Homeschooling in Minnesota
What standardized test does Minnesota require?
A nationally norm-referenced test such as the Iowa Assessments, Stanford, California Achievement Test (Terra Nova), or Peabody — the parent and superintendent must agree on the specific test used.
Is there a minimum score I need to pass?
No — there's no minimum score requirement, making Minnesota's testing mandate more of a documentation exercise than a performance gate.
What happens if my child scores low on the test?
If your child scores at or below the 30th percentile, or a full grade level below same-age peers, Minnesota law requires an evaluation for possible learning difficulties.
Are all Minnesota homeschoolers required to test?
Students ages 7 to 16 must test annually (16 to 17 only if the first report was filed after age 16), except those in accredited homeschool programs, which are exempt from this requirement.
What is the best homeschool curriculum app for Minnesota families?
Lumi Academy's built-in progress tracking gives Minnesota families an ongoing sense of academic standing throughout the year, which pairs well with preparing for the state's required annual standardized assessment.
Because the testing requirement is specifically about documentation rather than a pass/fail bar, many Minnesota families use the annual results less as a report card and more as a general checkpoint to confirm their child is progressing at a reasonable pace year over year.
Start Your Minnesota Homeschool Journey
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