Homeschooling 101
A simple, welcoming guide to help you confidently begin your homeschool journey; with support, clarity, and encouragement every step of the way.
Choosing to homeschool is brave, beautiful, and life-giving; but it can also feel overwhelming. At Renewed Roots, our heart is to support families by making homeschooling simpler, clearer, and more joyful. This guide explains how homeschooling works in Minnesota, what’s required, what you get to choose, and how our Homeschool Enrichment (Forestry School) can support your child’s learning.
You don’t have to do this alone.
How Homeschooling Works in Minnesota & North Dakota
Minnesota
Submit Letter of Intent by Oct 1
Teach core subjects (listed below)
Maintain immunization record
Administer an annual standardized test
Parents choose curriculum
Parents issue transcripts & diplomas
No specific requirement for how often these subjects must be taught or at what grade levels
Does not require a set number of teaching days
Minnesota Required Subjects:
Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health
Physical Education
Fine Arts
Career Exploration (upper grades)
North Dakota
Submit Statement of Intent
Annual standardized test
Parent-led education allowed
Parents choose curriculum
Parents issue transcripts & diplomas
Instruction must have a duration of at least four hours each day for a minimum of one hundred seventy-five days each year
North Dakota Required Subjects:
Language Arts
Math
Science (including agriculture)
Social Studies (including ND-specific history in 4th & 8th Grade)
Health
Physical Education
Fine Arts
Computer science
I live in North Dakota. Do Minnesota laws apply to me, and can my child attend Renewed Roots?
Yes. Families from North Dakota can fully enroll in our Minnesota-based programs.
Minnesota laws apply to the program, not to where you live.
ND families remain legally homeschooled under North Dakota law, while Renewed Roots serves as your child’s tutorial enrichment program.
There are no restrictions on ND residents attending a Minnesota preschool, camp, or homeschool tutorial center.
Enrollment, tuition, schedules, and expectations are exactly the same for ND families.
In simple terms:
Yes, you can attend. We follow MN statutes because we are located in MN. You follow ND homeschool requirements because you live in ND. We help you with both.
How Renewed Roots Supports Homeschool Families
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Academic Support
We guide your child through their chosen curriculum, helping them complete assignments, stay on track, and understand what they’re learning, giving you the freedom to homeschool without carrying the full load alone.
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Enrichment & Outdoors
Hands-on learning, nature exploration, stewardship, art, science, outdoor skills, and faith-centered reflection, all woven into your child’s weekly rhythm.
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Community & Connection
Children learn alongside others, form friendships, and build confidence through healthy interactions and shared experiences.
Your Role as the Parent, Our Role as the Enrichment Program
Parents Handle:
Registering with the state
Administering yearly testing
Issuing transcripts/diploma
Reviewing weekly updates
Weekly one-on-one time with the student
Renewed Roots Handles:
Curriculum Guidance
Daily curriculum support
Nature-based enrichment
Hands-on learning
Community + social experiences
Monthly supervising-teacher curriculum review
Documenting progress for families
Why we use a supervising instructor:
Minnesota allows homeschool tutorial centers like ours to operate with a licensed supervising teacher who reviews curriculum monthly to ensure the subjects required by the state are being covered; either through your home curriculum or our enrichment activities.
This teacher:
Does not control your homeschool choices
Does not approve or deny your curriculum
Does not evaluate your child
Does not take over your teaching role
Instead, they:
Provide simple oversight
Review monthly curriculum flow
Confirm required subjects are touched on
Ensure we remain aligned with MN law
Will my child miss out on milestones… prom, graduation, belonging?
Not at Renewed Roots.
One of our long-term goals is to create a true sense of belonging for homeschoolers. A place where friendships deepen, milestones are honored, and childhood feels full and celebrated.
By 2028, we plan to host:
• A Homeschool Prom in the barn
• A Graduation Ceremony in the meadow
And we won’t stop there. We are committed to adding clubs, seasonal events, leadership opportunities, and social gatherings so homeschool children and teens have a community that feels like theirs; a place to root, rise, and experience every part of growing up.
