My Learning Source Michigan › Homeschooling in Michigan › How to start

🚀 How to Start Homeschooling in Michigan

The first steps for a Michigan family starting to homeschool: what to file, how to leave a public school, and where to find co-ops, classes and help — drawn from our Michigan guide and articles.

Two legal ways to homeschool in Michigan

Michigan requires children to attend public school from age 6 to 18, with exceptions (MCL 380.1561). The law was raised from 16 to 18 for children who turned 11 on or after December 1, 2009, or entered grade 6 in 2009 or later. Two of the exceptions cover homeschooling, and the law says a family may use either one, or both (MCL 380.1561(4)).

Exemption (f), home education: the child is educated at home by a parent or legal guardian "in an organized educational program in the subject areas of reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar." Under this option MDE plays no role, the family doesn't report to MDE, and there are no teacher qualifications except that the teacher must be the child's parent or legal guardian.

Exemption (a), nonpublic school: the child attends a state-approved nonpublic school that teaches subjects comparable to those in the local public schools. A home school operating this way is treated as a nonpublic school and reports to MDE. MDE's home school guide says a parent reporting to MDE must have at least a bachelor's degree to be approved, unless the parent claims a sincerely held religious belief against teacher certification, citing the Michigan Supreme Court's 1993 decision in People v DeJonge. Nonpublic schools teach mathematics, reading, English, science and social studies in all grades, plus the U.S. and Michigan constitutions and civil government in high school.

MDE draws a clear line on what counts as homeschooling. You can only homeschool your own children, in their home, as their parent or legal guardian, and you must teach all of the essential subjects yourself. A grandparent who isn't the legal guardian, or a parent teaching a neighbor's child, isn't homeschooling under the law. Splitting core subjects between home and a school doesn't qualify either. And a free online program that enrolls your child in a public school academy (a charter school) is public school, not homeschooling.

Read the full section in our Michigan guide

Homeschooling in Michigan: the basics

No notice or registration under exemption (f). MDE suggests telling your current school, by phone or note, when you start homeschooling. Otherwise your child may be marked absent and the truancy officer may get involved.
Optional MDE registration: MDE posts a Homeschool Registration Form each year (the 2026–2027 form is linked below). MDE's guidance says registration is optional unless your child will receive public school services, such as special education, shared-time classes or dual enrollment, and that approval requires a bachelor's degree or a religious objection to teacher certification.
What to teach: under exemption (f), an organized program in reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing and English grammar. There is no required curriculum, no required number of days and no accreditation requirement.
Testing: none required. Homeschoolers may take state assessments at their local public school by arrangement with the district.
Records: no law requires homeschool records, and MDE doesn't collect student data from parents. MDE encourages keeping progress records, because a school your child later enrolls in decides grade placement and which credits to accept.
Diplomas: the parent issues report cards, transcripts and the diploma. Michigan Merit Curriculum graduation requirements apply only to public schools, not to home schools.
Special education: a homeschooled child doesn't get an IEP but may receive some services, such as speech therapy, through a Nonpublic School Services Plan. The public district where the child lives handles evaluation through Child Find. Services are set through consultation and limited by the share of special education funds districts must set aside for nonpublic students, so they may be less than a public school student would get. MDE's guidance says to register with MDE first.
Online courses: under Michigan law, homeschooled students can take Michigan Virtual courses to the same extent as district courses. If your district subscribes to Michigan Virtual School, a resident homeschooler can use those services for no more than a district student pays (2026 PA 25, sec. 98(7)).
Work permits: homeschooled students get work permits through their local public school.

Read the full section in our Michigan guide

Official sources

Summarized from our Michigan guide (as of October 2026) and articles. Rules change — confirm on the official pages before you act.

More for Michigan homeschool families

Loading the full Michigan site… If it does not appear, everything on this page is readable above.