Home Education

TYPES OF HOME EDUCATION

ACHIEVEMENT TESTING

LEARNING DISABILITIES

RESOURCES AND LINKS

Every child can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way

George Evans

MNDSA supports the use of home education as an equal, if not superior, form of learning for children with disabilities.

Types of Home Education

Home Education: any type of education conducted at home.
Online/Hybrid schools: typically a public charter school that functions under public education rules and requirements. This means testing and curriculum follows traditional public school timelines, although may be adjusted to the specific charter school focus.
Homebound: Enrollment in a brick and mortar public school, but for medical reasons is unable to attend. The district usually provides a certain number of instruction hours at home, by a teacher or tutor. This also means that testing and curriculum align with the traditional school timelines and follow that specific district rules.
Homeschooling: Falls under specific legal statues and does not follow any district or traditional state school guidelines. To be legally homeschooling, a letter of intent is required to be submitted and annual testing through a nationally normed test. Proof of testing is only to be kept on record, as well as any documentation of subjects taught. No requirement to follow traditional school testing, curriculum, or learning timelines.

Image of open notebook with pen inside sitting on a desk with open laptop in the background

Image of a young adult sitting with a female child. The adult is assisting child with writing in a notebook.

Achievement Testing

MNDSA assists families in identifying tests that qualify to meet Minnesota homeschool requirements. We also offer resource connection and referrals to community testing providers.

Learning Disabilities

One common question or concern within the community is the availability of screenings and assessments for learning disabilities. Currently, learning disability testing is not covered through most insurances and and testing through the IEP process doesn't always provide direction and resource connection in ways that are meaningful to home education families.

MNDSA partners with various agencies and can provide referrals and resource connection for families interested in pursuing screenings and assessments.