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How to withdraw from public school to homeschool in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts the district approves your home education plan first. Then you withdraw.

Checked November 2026 against the HSLDA summary for Massachusetts. Not legal advice: confirm with the source before you file.

Before your child’s last day at school

  1. 01

    Get your home education plan approved first

    A yearly notice of intent (a home education plan) to the local superintendent before you start, with the curriculum, hours, materials, your qualifications and an assessment method. The district reviews and approves it. Keep your child in school until the approval arrives, so there is no gap the district could count as absences.

    Write the notice of intent
  2. 02

    Send the school a withdrawal letter

    Tell the principal in writing that your child is leaving to be homeschooled, and the date. Without it, the school may keep marking your child absent. Hand-deliver it or send it by certified mail, and keep a copy.

    Fill in the letter below
  3. 03

    Ask for records and return school property

    Request a copy of the cumulative file (grades, test scores, any IEP or 504 plan, health records). Return the laptop, textbooks and library books so nothing is held against the records.

Massachusetts school withdrawal letter

Fill in the details and the letter updates on the right. Nothing is uploaded: it stays in this browser.

Children

[Parent name(s)]
[Street address, city, state, ZIP]
[Email · phone]

November 5, 2026

[Principal’s name], Principal
[School name]
[School address]

Re: Withdrawal of [child’s full name] to homeschool

Dear Principal,

Please accept this letter as notice that we are withdrawing the following child from [school name] to be educated at home, in accordance with the laws of the State of Massachusetts:

  - [Child’s full name, grade]

Please remove our child from the attendance roll as of that date. Our home education plan has been approved by the district.

We also request a copy of the cumulative school records, including grades, test scores, health records and any IEP or 504 plan, sent to the address above.

Thank you for your help with this transition.

Sincerely,


______________________________
[Parent name(s)]

Keep a dated copy and note how it was delivered. Some districts also have their own withdrawal form.

Your first two weeks at home

  • Start light. A child coming out of a classroom often needs a few days to adjust. Reading together, a library trip and a little math are enough at first.
  • Cover what Massachusetts asks for. Spelling, reading, writing, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, drawing, music, US history and Constitution, citizenship, health (including CPR), physical education and good behavior.
  • Set the calendar. None fixed by statute; the district reviews the hours you propose. Plan the school year.
  • Log attendance from day one. What Massachusetts expects: none by law beyond what your assessment method needs. Open the attendance tracker.
  • Make a simple weekly schedule. Build it here, print it and put it on the fridge.

Questions about withdrawing in Massachusetts

Do I need the school’s permission to withdraw my child to homeschool in Massachusetts?

The school does not approve the withdrawal itself, but in Massachusetts the district reviews and approves your home education plan before you start. A yearly notice of intent (a home education plan) to the local superintendent before you start, with the curriculum, hours, materials, your qualifications and an assessment method. The district reviews and approves it.

Can I withdraw my child in the middle of the school year in Massachusetts?

Yes. Families start homeschooling at any point in the year. File what Massachusetts asks before the last day at school: a yearly notice of intent (a home education plan) to the local superintendent before you start, with the curriculum, hours, materials, your qualifications and an assessment method. The district reviews and approves it.

Will my child be marked truant after I withdraw?

Not if the paperwork is in place first. Keep your child in school until the withdrawal letter is delivered and any required notice is filed, and keep dated copies of both. Most truancy problems come from simply stopping attendance without telling anyone.

What happens to my child’s IEP or 504 plan?

Once your child is no longer enrolled, the school’s IEP or 504 plan stops applying the way it did. Some districts still offer services to homeschooled students, for example speech therapy or part-time enrollment, so ask the district what is available before you withdraw. Request a copy of the plan for your own records either way.

How long does it take to start homeschooling in Massachusetts?

It depends on how long the district takes to approve your plan, so send it as early as you can and keep your child in school until it is approved.

The full Massachusetts requirements

Days, subjects, testing and records are on the Massachusetts homeschool laws page. This page is not legal advice; read the HSLDA summary for Massachusetts before you file.

Withdrawing in another state