Homeschooling in Michigan

Teach an organized program in nine subjects

Michigan requires reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar. MDE states that the state does not require specific content within the basic courses. Families may use Michigan’s content standards if they wish, but the state does not prescribe a curriculum, textbook series, daily timetable, or sequence for those subjects.

Michigan does not apply the public-school 180-day requirement to home schools. MDE’s current manual explains that the Michigan Supreme Court held that the Nonpublic School Act does not require the 180 days imposed on public schools. Exemption F contains no separate minimum number of instructional days or hours.

Testing, records, transcripts, and diplomas

MDE states that no tests are required for a homeschooled student. State testing remains optional, and a family that wants it may contact the resident public school to make arrangements.

Michigan does not prescribe an Exemption F portfolio or state record-submission format. MDE encourages parents to maintain records of progress because a receiving school decides later grade placement and whether it will accept homeschool credits.

The homeschool family is responsible for report cards, transcripts, and diploma issuance using its internal standards. Michigan’s public-school credit requirements do not govern home schools. If homeschooling continues through grade twelve, MDE says the parent issues the diploma. A college, employer, military branch, licensing body, or other receiving organization may apply its own acceptance requirements.

Michigan’s separate Exemption A route

Michigan also permits a home school to operate under Exemption A as a state-approved nonpublic school. This is a separate route governed by the Nonpublic School Act. It carries MDE reporting requirements, including the annual Nonpublic School Membership Report.

The Nonpublic School Act generally requires teachers to hold the applicable teaching certificate. The Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in People v. DeJonge protects a home-educating family from that requirement when sincerely held religious convictions conflict with teacher certification.

Most families seeking the independent, no-reporting parent-directed route should follow Exemption F. Families considering Exemption A or seeking public-school services linked to MDE registration should review the current MDE instructions before choosing that route.

Your home base: SchoolhouseTeachers.com

Michigan gives parents substantial freedom along with responsibility for the educational program and student records. SchoolhouseTeachers.com gives your family curriculum and organizational tools in one HOME BASE.

One online family membership gives every child unlimited access to hundreds of online, self-paced courses from preschool through twelfth grade, all from a Biblical worldview, with graduation and college-preparation resources.

You will also find Virtual School Boxes, self-grading iST courses, World Book Online, and thousands of family-friendly videos.

The Homeschool Records & Compliance Center gives you tools to plan the year, document progress, and organize your Michigan homeschool records:

• Education Plan Builder for mapping each child’s subjects and courses
• Custom Schedule Builder for organizing your school year
• Gradebook and report cards for tracking academic progress
• Portfolio Builder for collecting work samples
• High-school planning resources for organizing courses, credits, and graduation records
• Applecore recordkeeping for grades, attendance, courses, and transcript information
• Certificates of Completion for documenting finished courses

One family membership. Every child in your HOME. No fee per child. No fee per course. No limits.