How Minnesota Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Minnesota Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; however, with a freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help! 

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Minnesota homeschooling requirements.

 

Minnesota’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance

Does the Parent Need to Notify the State?	No
State Educational Funds	Yes
Academic Calendar Requirement	No
Reporting Age Requirement	7
Instructor Qualifications	Yes
Subjects Required	Yes
Standardized Assessment	Yes - beginning in grade 1
Immunization Requirement	Yes, with exemptions
Keep a Portfolio	Yes
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Minnesota Families	Yes

 

Notifying the State

Enlightium’s school administration informs The Minnesota Department of Education of student attendance. The family does not need to notify the state.

 

State Educational Funds

As a homeschool family, you could be eligible for a tax deduction on homeschooling expenses, but there are exclusions. We recommend that you contact the Department of Revenue for guidance on which expenses may qualify.

 

Age Requirement

Ages six or younger:

Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.

Ages seven through 17:

Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they graduate or turn 17. This includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy.

 

Instructor Qualifications

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, if anyone other than the parent/guardian is teaching the student, they need to have one of the following:

• Receive supervision by a licensed teacher
• A Minnesota teaching license relevant to the grade levels and subjects they are teaching
• Complete the teacher competency exam
• Teach in an accredited school or a school recognized by the state board*
• Hold a baccalaureate degree

*Enlightium teachers fulfill this requirement and may fulfill additional requirements.

If the parent/guardian is teaching their own children, they are automatically qualified.

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields. 

Students in the Homeschool Program (grades PreK-8) can use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program (grades 3-12) can use the digital Christian curriculum, "Ignitia". Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 3-12) can use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and electives courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.

 

Required Subjects

The Minnesota Department of Education requires the following subjects:

• Reading/Writing/Literature
• Math
• History/Geography/Economics/Government/Citizenship
• Science
• Fine Arts
• Health
• Physical Education

The first four bullet points are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor. The latter three bullet points are electives available at Enlightium Academy.

 

Standardized Assessment

The Minnesota Department of Education requires students to have a standardized assessment every year starting in 1st grade. 

Enlightium provides multiple assessment options:

• Grades PreK-8: Iowa Complete Annual Assessment; tests cover the required material, and test scores are provided via email to the parent.
• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the SAT and ACT.

 

Immunization Requirement

Immunization is required in the state of Minnesota; therefore, parents are required to keep their children’s immunization records or exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Minnesota requires that families report immunization to the superintendent of their local school district at age seven and in grade seven. Enlightium Academy does not require student immunization but may request a copy for our records, as we serve homeschooled students but must abide by state regulations. 

You may find the Minnesota state exemption form here. To complete an immunization exemption form, the state of Minnesota requires you to be eligible under one of the following:

1. Medical Exemption: If an immunization is medically contraindicated for a child, or if there is laboratory confirmation that a child is already immune to certain diseases against which immunization is normally required, the student may submit a statement to this effect, signed by a healthcare provider, in order to be considered exempt from the contraindicated or unnecessary immunization.
   
   
2. Non-Medical: If a child's parent or guardian, or the child (in the case of an emancipated minor), wishes to be exempt, based on their beliefs, from one or more immunization requirements, the parent or child may submit a statement to this effect, signed by the submitting person and notarized.

Keep a Portfolio

The Minnesota Department of Education specifically requires your family to show evidence of the following:

• The required subjects listed above are being taken. Enlightium families receive a report card/transcript after each quarter which will show which courses were taken.
• Evidence of required tests being taken. This likely refers to the standardized assessment, which Enlightium administers each Spring and sends families their students’ test scores via email.

You may also need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with weekly progress reports. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
• Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the enrollment/re-enrollment process based on the student’s grade level: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
• Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, and the Presidential Award.
• Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and spelling bees.

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Minnesota Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Minnesota to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements. 

Your family will be added to this group upon enrolling at Enlightium and downloading the Enlightium Parents app (which is provided upon enrollment).

Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website or watch this video about online homeschooling.
2. If you have any questions:
   1. Chat with a team member
   2. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the blue button near the top of the page.

 

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (866) 488-4818, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.

 

Sources reviewed in December 2023:

• https://hslda.org/legal
• https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_1.asp
• https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/basics/exemption.html