Homeschooling

The Bedford School Committee recognizes the right of parents/guardians to educate their children outside of a school setting as provided by General Laws Chapter 76, Section 1. Please click here to be directed to Massachusetts DESE Home Schooling website. 

Massachusetts law requires advance approval of home education plans by your local school district Superintendent or their designee. You must submit this plan and receive approval before withdrawing your child from public school or beginning homeschooling each year. The plan must demonstrate that your home education program is equivalent in thoroughness and efficiency to that provided by public schools, and must include instruction in all required subjects. 

For students who are currently homeschooling and plan to continue, the annual proposal must be submitted to the district at least ten (10) days before the first day of the Bedford Public School year. Failure to obtain approval may result in a finding of truancy. 

As part of the initial submission and annual resubmission process, families must use the Registration Documents Checklist to submit supporting proof of residency in Bedford (including documentation from Columns A, B, and C) along with the Home Education Plan Proposal, in order to verify residency in accordance with standard district residency practices.

The parent/legal guardian must file a request of intent to take advantage of homeschooling by completing the Home Education Plan Proposal application. The completed application should be emailed to Dr. Marianne N. Vines, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, or mailed to Student Services at 97 McMahon Road, Bedford MA 01730. 

Hanscom Air Force Base families, please Click Here to be directed to the HAFB School Liaison Office website for additional information.