Homeschool lawsMassachusetts
🇺🇸 Homeschool law
Homeschool requirements in Massachusetts
Content last reviewed · Source: www.doe.mass.edu · Not legal advice.
Here's how homeschool record-keeping generally works in Massachusetts, and how FaithSchool keeps your hours, attendance, and portfolio organized so you can prove it when someone asks.
What this jurisdiction expects
Under the HSLDA framework this is a high-regulation state: notice plus testing or evaluation plus additional requirements, such as curriculum or subject details and annual reports.
We show the published HSLDA regulation tier here rather than specific hour, day or filing numbers, because those vary and change. Confirm the exact, current requirements with the official source below and HSLDA before you rely on them.
What to keep on file in Massachusetts
Checked against the official Massachusetts sources listed at the bottom of this page — these are the records those sources describe, not general habits. Rules change; the official regulator stays the arbiter.
- Home schooling is governed by G.L. c. 76, § 1: children of compulsory age (6-16) attend school 'unless otherwise instructed' under an approval framework.
- Obtain advance approval from the district where the child lives — each school committee adopts its own approval policy, so confirm your district's submission and documentation requirements.
- The district approves and oversees home schooling, focusing on whether instruction in all the studies required by law equals in thoroughness, efficiency and progress that of the public schools in the same town.
- DESE does not approve home schooling plans or review district decisions — keep your submitted plan, the district's approval, and any progress reports your district's policy requests on file.
Keep your Massachusetts attendance log in one place — free. Prefer paper? Print the free attendance log.
Primary source
HSLDA homeschool-law tiers — Massachusetts is a high-regulation state. Confirm the current rules at hslda.org/legal and your state Department of Education.
Open the official regulator →Massachusetts DESE — Home Schooling →Massachusetts General Laws c. 76, § 1 (Malegislature) →This is general guidance, not legal advice. Verify your jurisdiction's homeschool requirements with the official regulator or HSLDA.
Review date = the day this page's Massachusetts requirements were re-verified against the official sources listed above. Rules change; confirm with the official regulator before you rely on them.
Keep the year in one place
These tools and briefs sit next to the Massachusetts law page, so your hours, attendance, and evidence pack stay connected.