Homeschooling in Massachusetts
Approval-based state: submit an education plan to your local school committee for approval before starting, and renew annually. Governed by the Charles decision (1987). One of the stricter states.
High regulationNotice of Intent requiredHour trackingAnnual testing
What Massachusetts requires
1
Submit education plan to school committee
Must be approved before instruction begins. Resubmit each year. The committee may require comparable subjects, competent instruction, and an assessment method — but cannot impose unreasonable conditions (Care and Protection of Charles, 1987).
Official resource →2
Plan for 900/990 hours
Your approved plan typically includes 900 hrs (elementary) or 990 hrs (secondary) as a benchmark mirroring public-school minimums. These are not a statutory floor — the requirement is plan approval, not hitting a specific hour count.
3
Annual assessment (locally negotiated)
The assessment method — standardized test, portfolio review, evaluator interview, or other — is negotiated with and agreed by your local school committee. No statewide grade-pegged test.
What Romeschool tracks for you: Hour tracking, portfolio documentation, annual plan approval reminders.