Getting Started Index

Getting Started

Plan on giving yourself several hours at the outset, before you make any decisions. Find out everything you can about how homeschooling works. Taking time now to inform yourself will help you to:

Ask better questions
Be comfortable dealing with school officials
Realize you can homeschool without answers to everything, and that you have plenty of time to learn on the job

Step 1: Educate yourself

Know what your local school district can and cannot require of you: Official Requirements
Be familiar with the Court Rulings on Home Education in Massachusetts: Overview
Explore your options for educational resources: read Thoughts on Curriculum , and an article on Buying a Curriculum
What about testing? Homeschoolers and MCAS
Legal representation: Is it needed to homeschool in Massachusetts?
Hear answers from experienced homeschoolers: Resources and Articles
Read the Guide to Homeschooling in Massachusetts: This MHLA publication explores issues related to beginning homeschooling in MA, and can be easily printed for offline reading and reference. (In pdf format - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Step 2: Get connected -- know where you can turn for support

Step 3: Contact your local district

Understand school district policies
Ages to Begin and Stop Reporting to the Local School District
Prepare your letter of intent and educational plan
Review Information for Superintendents, a common sense explanation of Massachusetts regulations written especially for school officials

Massachusetts Home Learning Association

Contact MHLA by email