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Homeschooling in Missouri

Homeschool rules in Missouri, in plain English

Missouri does not require you to notify the state or your school district before you homeschool. Your child must get at least 1,000 hours of instruction in each school year, with at least 600 of those hours in reading, language arts, math, social studies and science, and you must keep written records at home. Children from age 7 through 16 are covered by the requirement.

See another state

This explains each state's homeschool rules in plain English, from the state's own published sources. It isn't legal advice, and we aren't lawyers. Laws change and every family is different, so check with your state, your school district or a lawyer before you rely on it.

How much it asks
Some paperwork
School age
7 through 16 (the duty ends at age 17, or earlier once the child has completed 16 credits toward high school graduation)
Time
1000 hours a year

Option 1

Home school under the Missouri compulsory attendance law (RSMo 167.031)

Parents who teach their own children at home for private or religious reasons, without tuition, and who teach no more than four unrelated children.

  1. Before you startGood to know

    Check that your home school fits the legal definition

    The home school's main purpose must be private or religious instruction. It may enroll no more than four children who are unrelated to each other, and it may not charge or receive tuition, fees or other payment for instruction.

  2. Before you start, if the child is enrolled in public schoolPaperwork

    Withdraw a child aged 5 to 7 from public school in writing

    A child aged 5 through 6 who is enrolled in a public school is treated as required to attend until a parent makes a written request to drop the child from the school's rolls. Send a written withdrawal letter to the school.

  3. Within 30 days of starting (optional)Paperwork

    Optional: file a declaration of enrollment

    You may give a signed, written declaration of enrollment to the recorder of deeds in your county or to the chief school officer of your public school district. It lists each child, the home school's address and phone number, each person who teaches, and the signatures of the parent making the filing. The law says filing is optional, and a filing alone is not a reason to investigate.

  4. Ongoing, across each school yearTime

    Provide 1,000 hours of instruction

    Give at least 1,000 hours of instruction in the school year. At least 600 hours must be in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science, or in courses related to those subjects that fit your child's age and ability. At least 400 of those 600 hours must take place at the home school location.

  5. Ongoing, daily and yearlyRecords

    Keep your required records at home

    For each child under 16, keep a plan book, diary or other written record of subjects taught and activities, a portfolio of samples of the child's work, and a record of evaluations of the child's progress. Other written, credible evidence of equal value can be used in place of these. You do not send these records to anyone.

  6. Every year by September 1 (optional)Paperwork

    Renew the optional declaration each year

    If you choose to file, file a new declaration of enrollment each year by September 1.

  7. Ongoing; have it ready if contactedRecords

    Keep a daily log if a truancy question arises

    A parent who shows a daily log of a course of instruction that meets the law has a legal defense to a prosecution for truancy or a claim of educational neglect.

Option 2

Part-time or combined enrollment with a public, private or parochial school

Families who want to attend a school for some subjects or part of the day and teach the rest at home, or who want an online public or full-time equivalent program.

  1. Before you startGood to know

    Choose the combination of schools

    Missouri law lets a child attend a public, private or parochial school in the morning and be homeschooled in the afternoon, or combine schools in other ways, to meet the compulsory attendance law. Enroll the child in each school you use.

  2. Before the school year beginsGood to know

    Meet the school's own enrollment and attendance rules

    Each school sets its own enrollment steps and attendance rules. Full-time equivalent programs are counted as school attendance under the law.

  3. OngoingRecords

    Keep home-instruction records for the home part

    For the part of the day or subjects taught at home, the home school rules still apply, including the record-keeping duties for children under 16.

Subjects to teach

  • Reading
  • Language arts
  • Mathematics
  • Social studies
  • Science

Tests and reviews

Missouri does not require a state test, a portfolio review or an evaluation by any official. You must keep a record of evaluations of your child's academic progress at home.

Records to keep

  • A plan book, diary or other written record of subjects taught and activities (a daily log can serve this purpose)
  • A portfolio of samples of the child's academic work, or other written, credible evidence of equal value
  • A record of evaluations of the child's academic progress

About time

The law sets 1,000 hours per school year, with at least 600 in the core subjects and 400 of those 600 at the home school location. It does not set a number of days. You may choose a school year that runs up to 12 months. The hour requirement does not apply to a student older than 16.

Also good to know

  • The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not regulate or monitor home schools, and there is no state registration or approval process.
  • A parent may not be required by state agencies to use a particular curriculum. The law says no state agency may set a statewide curriculum for home schools.
  • Children aged 5 to 6 who are enrolled in public school must be withdrawn in writing to stop the attendance requirement.
  • Children who attend special educational services offered by their public school district during the day remain in compliance with the compulsory attendance law, and a child in a home school may not be denied those services because of home schooling.
  • Home-schooled students may be allowed to attend a public school part-time under the compulsory attendance statute.
  • Home-schooled students may enroll in MoVIP, the state's online K-12 course program, up to age 21, under state law on the program.

What we couldn’t confirm

  • How long records must be kept. The statute requires records to be maintained but does not state a retention period.
  • Whether the school year definition in the attendance statute (July 1 to June 30) controls, or whether the parent may choose a 12-month term. Sources disagree.
  • Whether a 2025 House bill (HB 31) changing the declaration of enrollment section was enacted. I could not confirm the final enacted text.
  • Whether a school district must accept credit from home schooling or what diploma a home school can issue. The state department says local boards decide credit acceptance.
  • Whether a home-schooled student may take part in public school sports and activities, and on what terms.
  • Whether an excuse for a child's mental or behavioral health appears in the current attendance statute as amended in 2025.

From Missouri’s own sources

Last checked against these sources on November 7, 2026. We check every state each week.

How Study Naturally helps in Missouri

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  • Set each child’s lessons, in the subjects you teach
  • A patient tutor teaches every child at their own level
  • A learning record counts days and time against what the state asks
  • Print it, save it as a PDF, or download a spreadsheet for your files

Homeschooling in Missouri

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