Your state guide · 2026
Mississippi homeschool laws
Last verified · View official sources
The short answer
Mississippi counts a legitimate home instruction program as a lawful alternative to school.
Editorial category; see the guide.
Every year by August 15. A child enrolled in public school at the start of the year may move to home instruction later and file the certificate then. A parent found out of compliance has 10 days after written notice to fix it.
See requirements for options and exceptions.
See the full guide for age exceptions.
Regulation level
L · LowView regulation data
| State | Category |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | Low |
Your requirements
A practical checklist
“Not specified” means a single yes/no requirement is not explicit in the supplied information. Read each detail for options and exceptions.
Notice
RequiredA certificate of enrollment, on the state form, with the child's name, address, phone and date of birth; the parent's name, address and phone; the school district where the child lives; a simple description of the type of education; and the parent's signature and date.
Subjects
RequiredNot specified in state law
Hours / days
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
Testing / evaluation
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
Teacher qualifications
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
Records / portfolio
Not specifiedNot specified in state law. MDE recommends, but does not require, a portfolio of work samples, a log of books and materials, and any test results.
Immunizations
Not specifiedNot specified in the home instruction law
At a glance
- Certificate of enrollment due August 15 each year
- Filed with the local school attendance officer
- No state testing, hours or subject rules
- No teacher qualification rule
- Ages 6 to 17 by September 1
Requirements at a glance
Read the details for your chosen homeschooling option below.
Open the full requirements table
| Requirement | What to know |
|---|---|
| Compulsory school ages | 6–17 |
| Notice required | Yes |
| Filing deadline | Every year by August 15. A child enrolled in public school at the start of the year may move to home instruction later and file the certificate then. A parent found out of compliance has 10 days after written notice to fix it. |
| Required subjects | Not specified in state law |
| Instruction time | Not specified in state law |
| Parent qualifications | Not specified in state law |
| Tests & assessments | Not specified in state law |
| Records to keep | Not specified in state law. MDE recommends, but does not require, a portfolio of work samples, a log of books and materials, and any test results. |
| Immunizations | Not specified in the home instruction law |
How to start homeschooling in Mississippi
Each year the parent fills out a short certificate of enrollment and returns it to the local school attendance officer by August 15, a deadline set by a 2026 law. The certificate asks only for contact details, the child's birth date and district, a simple description of the education and a signature, and state law bars the state from supervising home instruction.
Choose your homeschooling option
Home instruction program. A legitimate home instruction program, which the law counts as a nonpublic school, as long as it is not set up to avoid the compulsory attendance law.
Prepare your notice
A certificate of enrollment, on the state form, with the child's name, address, phone and date of birth; the parent's name, address and phone; the school district where the child lives; a simple description of the type of education; and the parent's signature and date.
Open the official notice resource ↗Check when and where to file
When: Every year by August 15. A child enrolled in public school at the start of the year may move to home instruction later and file the certificate then. A parent found out of compliance has 10 days after written notice to fix it.
Where: School attendance officer for the area where the child lives. MDE also accepts the form by email at [email protected].
View steps as a table
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Choose your homeschooling option | Home instruction program. A legitimate home instruction program, which the law counts as a nonpublic school, as long as it is not set up to avoid the compulsory attendance law. |
| 2. Prepare your notice | A certificate of enrollment, on the state form, with the child's name, address, phone and date of birth; the parent's name, address and phone; the school district where the child lives; a simple description of the type of education; and the parent's signature and date. |
| 3. Check when and where to file | Every year by August 15. A child enrolled in public school at the start of the year may move to home instruction later and file the certificate then. A parent found out of compliance has 10 days after written notice to fix it. School attendance officer for the area where the child lives. MDE also accepts the form by email at [email protected]. |
Subjects to teach
- Not specified in state law
Sports & extracurricular activities
Not specified in state law
Official forms & law
Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement ↗
Forms & guidance
- Home School Certificate of Enrollment (PDF) ↗
- State Board of Education Home School Policy, Rule 30.7 (PDF) ↗
Statutes
Questions, answered.
What do I file to homeschool in Mississippi?
A certificate of enrollment, on the state form, with the child's name, address, phone and date of birth; the parent's name, address and phone; the school district where the child lives; a simple description of the type of education; and the parent's signature and date.
When do I file in Mississippi?
Every year by August 15. A child enrolled in public school at the start of the year may move to home instruction later and file the certificate then. A parent found out of compliance has 10 days after written notice to fix it.
What assessments are required in Mississippi?
Not specified in state law
Check the original
Sources and last checked
- Senate Bill 2103 (2026), amending § 37-13-91 ↗Mississippi Legislature
- SB 2103 History of Actions ↗Mississippi Legislature
- Home School ↗Mississippi Department of Education
- Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Dropout Prevention ↗Mississippi Department of Education
Last verified .