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Minnesota requires an annual nationally norm-referenced standardized test for each homeschool student ages 7-17, 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
- Administer a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test annually for each student ages 7-17 (unless your homeschool is accredited)
- Agree with your district superintendent on the specific test, administration, and testing location
- Keep at least three years' worth of test results on file
- 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
- Language arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social studies
- Additional subjects as appropriate
Minnesota's core academic areas align with typical public school subjects, with the standardized testing requirement serving as the primary compliance mechanism rather than a detailed subject-by-subject mandate.
📁 Record-Keeping in Minnesota
- Keep at least three years of standardized test results on file — this is a specific, explicit Minnesota record-keeping requirement
- 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 7-17), agree with your local district superintendent 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 standards-aligned workbooks covering every grade level — great for portfolio documentation and supplemental practice.
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Flat Family Price
$39.99/month covers up to 8 kids — no per-child fees as your family grows.
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Voice-Guided 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?
All students ages 7-17 must test annually, 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.
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