Home School Resources
Considering Homeschool and More About School Choice
We at Little Falls Community Schools believe we can provide an unmatched educational experience for your child, but we are also aware that there are families who seek an alternative when it comes to meeting the State's Compulsory Education Law. Minnesota’s compulsory instruction law requires all children ages 7-17 to attend a public or nonpublic (private) school. Homeschools are considered a type of nonpublic school under Minnesota law.
The decision to homeschool your child should be an ACTIVE one, where you and/or another guardian CHOOSE to be responsible for the education of your child after much reflection, planning, and guidance; this should not be a decision of last resort or a short-term solution for current, temporary issues with your child or with their school.
If you wish to learn more about homeschooling, please refer to the information found on the Minnesota Department of Education’s web pages regarding homeschool rights and responsibilities, and see the attached document titled, Homeschooling Questions and Answers.
Note: Online school is one other form of school choice, but is NOT the same as homeschooling. Online education must be obtained for your child through a list of approved online learning providers from the State of MN.Resources
Current and potential homeschool families, please refer to the information found on the Minnesota Department of Education’s web pages regarding homeschool rights and responsibilities.
The University of MN offers resources to help homeschooling families meet their annual testing requirements. Please check out their site to learn more.
Reports
Follow the links below by clicking on the report title; this will bring you to the MDE Homeschools page; a pdf of each form is located at the bottom of that page.
New Homeschool Students
This form is to be submitted to resident school superintendents by October 1 of the first school year in which the student is being homeschooled or within 15 days of withdrawing a child from public school.
Returning Homeschool Students
This form is to be submitted to the resident school superintendent by October 15 of each year after the instructor has provided the same district with a Full Report. Updated July 2025.
Letter of Intent to Continue to Provide Instruction
Nonpublic Expense Reimbursement
This form is required for those families wishing to access nonpublic aid to reimburse for expenses related to instruction, such as textbooks and other instructional materials of a secular nature, testing, health services, and guidance and counseling services. For the 2024-25 school year, families are eligible to request up to $120.97 for standardized test/instructional materials, $81.07 for health services, and $339.50 for pupil guidance and counseling services per full-time student. To qualify for reimbursement, this form must be completed and turned in to the district no later than October 1. For further information about the form and process, call the district liaison.
Student Report for Aids to Nonpublic Students
District Pupil Health Services Program
The State of Minnesota has authorized local public school districts to allow pupils attending a nonpublic school, (includes home schools), established and operating within the school district boundaries, access to the existing district Pupil Health Services program. These services must be requested by, or on behalf of, the pupil no later than September 15, 2024.
