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Massachusetts Homeschool Requirements Detailed regulation
What Massachusetts requires from homeschool families — notification, subjects, hours, testing, and portfolio rules — with links to the current law. This is the same state data FolioKid uses to build your portfolio template.
- Governing law: M.G.L. c.76 § 1
- Required subjects: Reading, Writing, English Language and Grammar, Mathematics, Science, History (including U.S. History and U.S. Constitution), Geography, Civics / Good Citizenship (from Care and Protection of Charles, 1987 — the statute itself enumerates none)
- Annual assessment: method set by your district as a condition of approval — periodic testing, progress reports, or dated work samples
Massachusetts requires prior written approval from the local superintendent or school committee before each school year. Assessment method is at the district's discretion (test, portfolio review, written evaluation, or other). See Care and Protection of Charles, 399 Mass. 324 (1987).
Records you must keep in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is an approval state — your district approves an education plan up front and then sets how your child's progress is assessed, so keep everything that supports both:
- Your written education plan / proposal submitted for approval (subjects, materials, and schedule)
- The written approval from your superintendent or school committee (keep a copy each year)
- Samples of your child's work across the required subjects (worksheets, writing, projects, photos of hands-on work)
- A record of instructional time showing instruction is substantially equivalent to public school
- The annual assessment your district requires (periodic testing, a progress report, or dated work samples)
Your Massachusetts filing timeline
- Before the school year startsSubmit your education plan and obtain written approval from your local superintendent or school committee.
- All year longKeep work samples and your instructional-time record current as you go.
- End of the yearComplete the assessment method your district set — a test, a portfolio review, or dated work samples — and provide the progress report requested.
- Each new school yearRenew your approval before instruction begins.
How FolioKid helps with Massachusetts's requirements
You do the teaching; FolioKid assembles the paperwork Massachusetts districts ask for:
- Snap photos of work as it happens — FolioKid tags each entry by subject against Massachusetts's required-subject list.
- Log instructional time — Massachusetts sets no hour count, only that instruction be "substantially equivalent" to public school, so track your attendance and instruction as you go.
- Assemble the progress report or dated work samples for whichever assessment method your district approved.
- Export a Massachusetts-formatted portfolio PDF — or send your district reviewer a read-only share link (no account needed, expires in 30 days).
Free: the Massachusetts Homeschool Records Checklist
A one-page printable PDF — exactly what to keep, your filing deadlines, and a blank hours log. We'll email it to you.
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Official Massachusetts sources
- 📜 M.G.L. c. 76, § 1 — the statute itself
- 🏛️ Massachusetts DESE — Home Schooling
- 🔎 HSLDA — Massachusetts homeschool law summary
Massachusetts homeschool FAQ
What law governs homeschooling in Massachusetts?
Homeschooling in Massachusetts is governed by M.G.L. c.76 § 1. Massachusetts requires prior written approval from the local superintendent or school committee before each school year. Assessment method is at the district's discretion (test, portfolio review, written evaluation, or other). See Care and Protection of Charles, 399 Mass. 324 (1987). Always verify current requirements with your state department of education.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires: Reading, Writing, English Language and Grammar, Mathematics, Science, History (including U.S. History and U.S. Constitution), Geography, Civics / Good Citizenship (from Care and Protection of Charles, 1987 — the statute itself enumerates none).
Does Massachusetts require testing or a portfolio evaluation?
No — Massachusetts does not require standardized testing or a portfolio evaluation, but keeping a portfolio of your child's work is still the simplest way to document progress.
Keeping records for Massachusetts? Snap photos of your kids' work and FolioKid organizes them into a year-end portfolio PDF — formatted around Massachusetts's requirements.
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