How to Start Homeschooling in Michigan

Ready to start homeschooling in MI? 

The first step is getting familiar with your state’s homeschooling laws. Each state has its own laws and requirements when it comes to homeschooling. Luckily for you, homeschooling in Michigan is fairly straightforward and simple. Home educators in the Wolverine State have two options to choose from when beginning their home education journey, which we’ll cover here. 

Homeschooling in Michigan at a Glance

Michigan – The Wolverine State

Option	Non-Public School	Homeschool Statute
Age	6-18	6-18
Standardized Testing	Not required	Not required
Subjects	7 subjects, plus more in high school	9 subjects, plus more in high school
Time Requirements	None	None
Graduation Requirements	Decided by parent or nonpublic school coordinator	Decided by parent
Special Requirements	Instructors must be certified, and parents are required to submit records to the superintendent if they request.	None
Financial Resources Available	None	None

Every family has different needs, lifestyles, and priorities, and these should all factor in when deciding how you will homeschool. There are two options for homeschooling in Michigan: 

Option 1: Non-Public School

This option has more requirements than homeschooling under the homeschool statute, but it can be a great choice for families who aren’t interested in choosing their own curriculum or providing instruction themselves. Many families who want to hire a professional to teach their children at home choose this option.

Option 2: Michigan’s Homeschool Statute

Under Michigan’s homeschool statute, parents have the right to educate their children at home without notifying their local school district. You are free to begin homeschooling your child when you are ready to do so.

Parent Qualifications

If you choose to homeschool as a nonpublic school, you will have to find an instructor who has a teaching certificate, teaching permit, or bachelor’s degree. 

Parents who choose to homeschool under the homeschool statute are not required to have any qualifications.

Notice of Intent

Parents who homeschool as a nonpublic school will have to notify their local superintendent annually. You can request a form from your local district or send a letter with the following information: 

1. Names and ages of each student enrolled
2. Name of the school district, city, and county where the parent lives
3. Name and address of the parent
4. Names and ages of the children who are enrolled in the nonpublic school but who do not attend regularly

The homeschool statute does not require parents to give notice of their intent to homeschool. However, if your child has previously attended a public school or if you are making the switch to homeschool during the school year, it’s a good idea to formally withdraw them to avoid truancy issues.  

Attendance

There are no attendance requirements for students of both nonpublic schools and homeschools in Michigan. Homeschooling families are able to choose a schedule that works best for them.

Homeschool Curriculum

The curriculum for nonpublic schools should be comparable to what is taught in Michigan public schools. Nonpublic school students are required to learn the following: 

Math	Social Studies
Reading	Health
English	Physical Education
Science

High school students are also required to study the United States Constitution, the Michigan Constitution, and the history of civil government in both the U.S. and Michigan. 

Parents who choose the homeschool statute route should be prepared to teach these required subjects: 

Reading	Spelling
History	Civics
Literature	Writing
Grammar	Math
Science

As with the nonpublic school option, high school students must follow the additional subject requirements.

Testing

Homeschool students under both options do not have to participate in state standardized testing. However, students are still able to take state standardized tests, if they would like to. 

To do this, you’ll have to make arrangements with your local school district. Your student’s scores will be reported individually. Testing arrangements will likely take place when the rest of the public schools are testing. For more information about standardized testing for homeschoolers, click here. 

In addition, students are still strongly encouraged to take college readiness exams, such as the SAT. The State of Michigan has offered free SAT testing to public schools since 2016. To claim your free test, be sure to contact your local school district for more information.

Record Keeping

State law doesn’t require parents to submit records, but record keeping is still a good idea! Especially if you are homeschooling as a nonpublic school, it’s important to know that your local superintendent can request academic records at any time. 

Things such as attendance records, courses taken, final course grades, and test scores are all perfect to put into a homeschool portfolio for safe keeping. Having a portfolio available can also be a source of motivation and accomplishment for students.

Graduation Requirements

According to Michigan’s homeschool laws, students must be in school until they are 18. However, there are no graduation requirements. Your student is eligible to graduate from high school whenever you feel that they are ready.

Some parents find it helpful to look to their state’s diploma requirements for guidance. The Michigan Merit Curriculum requires students to earn:

1. 4 Mathematics credits
2. 4 English Language Arts credits
3. 3 Science credits
4. 3 Social Studies credits
5. 1 Physical Education credit
6. 1 Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts credit
7. 2 Foreign Language credits

Financial Resources

Unfortunately, there are no financial resources for homeschoolers from the State of Michigan at this time. 

More Tips & Resources

For more information about homeschooling in Michigan, check out: 

• Michigan Nonpublic and Home School Information
• The Homeschool Mom

If you’re wondering whether Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, please reach out to our customer service team! They’ll be happy to help you find the answers you need.