Homeschooling in Michigan

Your options

(f) Home education: parent educates at home in an 'organized educational program' (MCL 380.1561(3)(f)); MDE has no role. (a) Nonpublic school: the home school operates as a state-approved nonpublic school (MCL 380.1561(3)(a)). A child may qualify under both.

Notice or letter of intent

None required for (f). Optional annual registration via the Nonpublic School Membership Report / Homeschool Registration Form (2020 memo: by Oct 31). Registration is required to receive public school services. Telling the current school is suggested, not required.

Need a letter? See our letter of intent and withdrawal letter templates – but use the official form below if there is one.

Subjects, time, assessment and records

Subjects

Reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, English grammar.

Days or hours

None stated.

Testing or assessment

Not required; testing is optional via the local district.

Records

Not required to submit anything; parents encouraged to keep progress records.

Parent qualifications

(f): none beyond being the parent or guardian. MDE documents say registration approval needs a bachelor's degree, or a religious objection to certification (People v DeJonge).

Not yet confirmed: MDE documents link a bachelor’s-degree rule to registration approval, while MDE’s page for exemption (f) says no qualifications are needed. Check your state’s official page: Michigan official page.

Other rules

Compulsory age 6 to 18 (6 to 16 for children who turned 11 before 1 Dec 2009). Parents are responsible for gradebooks, transcripts and diplomas.

Official forms

2026–2027 Homeschool Registration Form: mdoe.state.mi.us/… (listed at https://www.michigan.gov/nonpublicschool)

The law

MCL 380.1561(1), (3)(a), (3)(f) (last amended 2016 PA 532, eff. 9 Apr 2017); MCL 388.1766b; MCL 380.1296 – read the law

Who to contact

• Michigan Department of Education (MDE) – MDE Nonpublic and Home Schools[email protected] · 517-241-5385 (Nonpublic and Home School Office, 2020-21 guide) / 833-633-5788 MDE · Official pageWho handles notices: Nobody for exemption (f) (local districts enforce attendance); optional MDE registration

Not yet confirmed: the email and office phone come from MDE’s 2020–21 guide and are not re-confirmed as current. Check your state’s official page: Michigan official page.

Special education and public school classes and sports

Child Find: a parent may request an evaluation from the local district where the home school is located. There is no IEP; eligible children get a Nonpublic School Service Plan (registration required). Evaluation contact (OSE 1-888-320-8384, [email protected]). Registered homeschoolers may take nonessential courses (band, choir, etc.) at public schools, and districts must offer them. MHSAA sports rules not confirmed. (Not confirmed – check the official page)

Federal rules on Child Find and evaluations apply in every state – see special education.

Going back to public school in Michigan

To enroll your child in a public school in Michigan, contact the enrollment or registration office of your local school district or public school. Ask how it decides grade placement and whether it accepts credits from homeschooling before your child starts, and bring the records you choose to share. We didn’t find a state rule on this for Michigan in the official sources we checked – see the Michigan official page and ask the district.

See going back to school after homeschooling for what to bring, placement, credits and special education.