Homeschooling in Michigan: Laws & Requirements (2026)

Michigan exemplifies genuine homeschool freedom. The state requires no notification to any government authority, no testing at any grade level, and no approval from school officials. You simply begin educating your children according to your own standards and judgment.

This autonomy has deep roots. Michigan parents won landmark legal protections in the 1980s and 1990s that established strong precedent for educational freedom. The state recognizes that parents have the constitutional right to direct their children's education without government interference.

What Michigan does require is teaching specific subjects—but how you teach them, what materials you use, and how you assess progress is entirely your decision. This guide covers Michigan's remarkably light legal framework, the subject requirements you should know, and practical considerations for thriving without state oversight.

Michigan Homeschool Requirements at a Glance

Your Homeschool Options in Michigan

Michigan provides two legal pathways for home education. Both offer complete independence—the difference lies in technical classification rather than practical requirements.

Home Education (§380.1561): The standard approach for most Michigan homeschoolers. You're exercising your right to educate your child at home using your own curriculum. There's no registration, no approval process, and no ongoing reporting. You must teach required subjects, but the state doesn't monitor compliance.

Nonpublic School Option: Some families organize their homeschool as a nonpublic school. This is primarily a semantic distinction—you're still teaching at home, but you're technically operating a small private school. Some families choose this for certain legal protections or organizational preferences. Requirements remain minimal.

Practical reality: Most Michigan families simply homeschool under the home education provision without any formal declaration. There's no paperwork to file and no office to contact. You decide to homeschool, select curriculum, and begin teaching. The state has no mechanism to approve or deny your decision.

The absence of bureaucratic requirements doesn't mean absence of responsibility. Michigan trusts parents to provide genuine education. That trust comes with the expectation that you'll take the responsibility seriously.

Required Subjects in Michigan

While Michigan doesn't oversee curriculum implementation, state law does specify subjects that home-educated students must be taught. These requirements apply to all grade levels, with some subjects designated for specific ages.

Required for all students: - Reading - Spelling - Mathematics - Science - History - Civics - Literature - Writing (including English grammar)

Required for students age 14+: - Constitution of the United States - Constitution of Michigan - History and present form of civil government

What "required" actually means: Michigan mandates that you teach these subjects, but there's no testing, no curriculum approval, and no reporting. No one checks whether you're covering civics or how you teach mathematics. The requirement is a legal standard, not an enforced compliance structure.

Practical interpretation: Most comprehensive curricula naturally cover these subjects. If you're using a well-designed homeschool program, you're likely meeting requirements without specifically tracking compliance. The more important question is whether your educational approach prepares your child for their future—college, career, and citizenship.

How to Start Homeschooling in Michigan

Record-Keeping Without Requirements

Michigan requires nothing—no attendance records, no portfolios, no testing. This freedom means you must self-impose the documentation practices that serve your family.

Why keep records anyway:

For your own planning: Tracking what you've taught and how your child responded helps you adjust curriculum, identify gaps, and celebrate progress. Without external assessment, you need your own feedback mechanisms.

For potential transitions: If your child ever returns to public school, enrolls in community college, or applies to universities, you'll need documentation. Schools and colleges want transcripts, course descriptions, and evidence of educational activity.

For legal protection: While rare, truancy allegations do occur. Complete records demonstrating consistent educational activity provide definitive protection if questions arise.

Recommended records: - Attendance log (dates of instruction) - Curriculum documentation (subjects, materials, scope) - Work samples (quarterly or by unit) - Reading list (books completed) - Grades or progress notes - Activities and extracurriculars

High school documentation: Starting in 9th grade (or earlier), maintain detailed records for transcript creation. Include course titles, credit hours, grades, and course descriptions. Colleges expect documentation even from states with no legal requirements.

Recommended Record-Keeping Practices

High School, Graduation & Beyond

Michigan homeschool parents set graduation requirements and issue diplomas. There's no state diploma, no mandated credits, and no exit testing. You determine when your student has completed their education.

Diploma authority: Parents issue homeschool diplomas. There's no approval process and no official form. Many families create formal diplomas and hold graduation ceremonies, but the diploma is valid simply because you issued it.

Transcript creation: You'll create transcripts for college applications. Include course titles, credits (typically 120-180 hours = 1 credit), grades, and cumulative GPA. Michigan colleges are experienced with homeschool applicants and accept parent-issued transcripts.

Michigan college admission: All Michigan public universities accept homeschool applicants. Each institution has specific requirements—typically ACT/SAT scores, transcripts, and possibly portfolios or interviews. Contact admissions offices directly for current homeschool policies.

Dual enrollment: Michigan law allows homeschoolers to participate in dual enrollment at community colleges and universities. You can earn college credit during high school, building both transcript credibility and reducing future costs.

Career and technical education: Homeschoolers can access some career and technical education programs through local districts. Eligibility varies—contact your local intermediate school district for available options.

Sports and Extracurricular Access

Michigan does not guarantee homeschoolers access to public school sports or extracurriculars. Unlike many states, there's no "Tim Tebow law" requiring schools to admit homeschool students to athletic programs.

Current legal status: Access to public school activities is at the discretion of individual school districts. Most districts do not allow homeschoolers to participate in MHSAA athletics. This is a significant pain point for Michigan homeschool families interested in competitive sports.

MHSAA policy: The Michigan High School Athletic Association sets eligibility rules for member schools. Their policies have historically limited homeschool participation. Some flexibility exists for students enrolled part-time in public school, but full homeschoolers typically cannot participate.

Alternatives: Michigan has developed robust homeschool sports leagues and programs in response to limited public school access. Organizations like MHSA (Michigan Homeschool Athletic Association) offer basketball, volleyball, soccer, and other sports. Regional co-ops field teams for various activities.

Legislative efforts: Advocacy for equal access continues. Several bills have been proposed to grant homeschoolers public school sports eligibility, though none have passed as of 2026. Stay connected with state homeschool organizations for updates.

Funding Limitations

Michigan's constitution explicitly prohibits public money from supporting private or religious education—and this includes homeschooling. There are no ESAs, vouchers, or tax credits available for homeschool expenses.

Constitutional barrier: Article VIII, Section 2 of the Michigan Constitution states that no public money may be appropriated to aid any private, denominational, or other nonpublic school. Courts have consistently interpreted this to include homeschools.

What this means practically: You fund all homeschool expenses—curriculum, materials, testing, activities—independently. No reimbursement programs exist, and attempts to create them face substantial constitutional obstacles.

Available resources: While direct funding isn't available, homeschoolers can access some public resources: - Public library programs and materials - Some career and technical education programs (varies by district) - Dual enrollment at public colleges (you may pay reduced rates) - Standardized testing through local schools (often at no cost)

Future outlook: Some advocacy groups continue pushing for constitutional amendment or creative funding structures. Any change would require either constitutional revision (requiring voter approval) or new interpretations of existing law.

Special Situations

Starting mid-year: Michigan allows you to begin homeschooling at any time. Simply withdraw from public school and start teaching. There's no application window or waiting period.

Moving to Michigan: No registration is required. Begin homeschooling according to Michigan's subject requirements. Keep records from your previous state to document educational continuity.

Returning to public school: If your child returns to public school, expect placement assessment. Michigan schools determine grade placement based on demonstrated proficiency. Thorough records support appropriate placement and help avoid unnecessary grade repetition.

Special needs students: Homeschooled students with disabilities may access some services through their local school district. Michigan's intermediate school districts provide evaluation services. Some therapy and support services may be available through a services plan, though comprehensive IEP services require public school enrollment.

Part-time enrollment: Michigan allows homeschoolers to enroll part-time in public school for specific classes. This is subject to school district policy and space availability. Part-time enrollment may affect homeschool status and could trigger additional requirements.

The Bottom Line

Michigan offers homeschool freedom that matches parents' responsibility. No notification, no testing, no approval—just the expectation that you'll teach required subjects and provide genuine education. This autonomy requires self-direction, but thousands of Michigan families thrive under it.

The lack of external accountability means you must create internal systems: curriculum planning, progress tracking, and record-keeping for your own purposes. No one will check your work, which makes your own diligence essential.

Your first step: simply begin. Select curriculum covering Michigan's required subjects, establish a teaching schedule, and start educating your children. Connect with Michigan's active homeschool community for support, co-ops, and resources. The freedom is real—use it thoughtfully.