Families choosing to home school students in Minnesota are required to report to the school district on an annual basis, according to the Minnesota Homeschooler's Alliance, a nonprofit organization aiming to support home school families. Families may fill out the Minnesota Home School Report form or write a letter to the school district's superintendent. Additionally, the education department encourages home school families to get the same vaccinations for their children as are required to attend public school. Parents may elect to forgo vaccinations if getting the shots goes against family beliefs, though this information must be reported to the school district. Students in Minnesota home schools are required to pass tests on an annual basis. Tests are administered based on the discretion of the school district's superintendent.
Home school families in Minnesota are not required to adhere to any specific curriculum, as long as students are taught all basic subjects, according to A to Z's Home Cool website. Some popular methods of preparing a home school curriculum include traditional schooling at home, units and projects, interest learning and eclectic method, according to the Minnesota Homeschooler's Alliance. The "traditional school at home" method follows closely to what and how students are taught in public school, while allowing for some adjustments to pace based on the student's learning styles. The units and projects method focuses on one subject at time, often spending a month or more on the project. An interest learning method is perhaps the least like traditional school, allowing students to focus their studies more on the subjects that interest them. The eclectic method follows no clear outline, choosing to adapt and meld together different methods throughout the year.
Social activity for children is often a big concern for both home school parents and those who oppose home schooling. Social activities help students learn to interact with peers and develop social skills. For students and parents who wish to engage in social activities, contacting local Scouting groups, youth clubs and school districts can provide information about enrolling activities with other children.
While home school is not the most traditional approach to schooling, it can be beneficial to a student's academic future. Contact institutions of higher learning where a student wishes to apply to determine the academic requirements for home school applications. Some universities require students to pass a formal GED test or obtain a graduate certification from the local school district. Students in home school programs may also be eligible to begin taking college level courses while continuing to complete high school coursework.