Your state guide · 2026
Missouri homeschool laws
Last verified · View official sources
The short answer
Missouri does not require families to register a homeschool with the state, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not regulate or monitor home schools.
Editorial category; see the guide.
Not specified in state law
See requirements for options and exceptions.
See the full guide for age exceptions.
Regulation level
N · NoneView regulation data
| State | Category |
|---|---|
| Missouri | None |
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
Not requiredNo notice to the state is required. A parent leaving a public school can give the district written notice of the plan to use another education option and ask that the child be dropped from the rolls, which the school must do promptly.
Subjects
RequiredReading; Language arts; Mathematics; Social studies; Science
Hours / days
Not specifiedAt least 1,000 hours a year, with at least 600 hours in the core subjects (or closely related academic courses), and at least 400 of those 600 hours at the regular home school location. The hour rules do not apply to students 16 or older.
Testing / evaluation
Not specifiedNot specified in state law. Parents keep a record of evaluations of the child's academic progress, but no standardized test is required.
Teacher qualifications
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
Records / portfolio
RequiredKeep a plan book, diary, or other written record of subjects taught and activities, a portfolio of samples of the child's academic work, and a record of evaluations of academic progress, or other written or credible evidence equivalent to these. A daily log showing the required instruction is a defense to truancy or educational neglect charges.
Immunizations
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
At a glance
- No registration with the state is required.
- 1,000 hours a year, including 600 in core subjects.
- At least 400 core hours must happen at home.
- Keep a plan book, a work portfolio, and progress evaluations.
- Homeschoolers can join their local district's sports and activities.
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 | 7–17 |
| Notice required | No |
| Filing deadline | Not specified in state law |
| Required subjects | Reading; Language arts; Mathematics; Social studies; Science |
| Instruction time | At least 1,000 hours a year, with at least 600 hours in the core subjects (or closely related academic courses), and at least 400 of those 600 hours at the regular home school location. The hour rules do not apply to students 16 or older. |
| Parent qualifications | Not specified in state law |
| Tests & assessments | Not specified in state law. Parents keep a record of evaluations of the child's academic progress, but no standardized test is required. |
| Records to keep | Keep a plan book, diary, or other written record of subjects taught and activities, a portfolio of samples of the child's academic work, and a record of evaluations of academic progress, or other written or credible evidence equivalent to these. A daily log showing the required instruction is a defense to truancy or educational neglect charges. |
| Immunizations | Not specified in state law |
How to start homeschooling in Missouri
The law does require 1,000 hours of instruction a year, at least 600 of them in core academic subjects, plus written records of what was taught and how the child is progressing. Parents taking a child out of public school can send the district a written notice so the child is removed from its rolls.
Choose your homeschooling option
Home school. Private or religious-based instruction for children from 7 to the compulsory attendance age, with no more than four unrelated students and no tuition or fees charged, meeting the hour and record rules in RSMo 167.012.
FPE (Family Paced Education) school. A separate category defined in RSMo 167.013, with its own definition and daily log rules.
Check the notice rules
No notice to the state is required. A parent leaving a public school can give the district written notice of the plan to use another education option and ask that the child be dropped from the rolls, which the school must do promptly.
Check when and where to file
When: Not specified in state law
Where: The public school district where the child lives, when withdrawing a child.
View steps as a table
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Choose your homeschooling option | Home school. Private or religious-based instruction for children from 7 to the compulsory attendance age, with no more than four unrelated students and no tuition or fees charged, meeting the hour and record rules in RSMo 167.012. FPE (Family Paced Education) school. A separate category defined in RSMo 167.013, with its own definition and daily log rules. |
| 2. Check the notice rules | No notice to the state is required. A parent leaving a public school can give the district written notice of the plan to use another education option and ask that the child be dropped from the rolls, which the school must do promptly. |
| 3. Check when and where to file | Not specified in state law The public school district where the child lives, when withdrawing a child. |
Subjects to teach
- Reading
- Language arts
- Mathematics
- Social studies
- Science
Sports & extracurricular activities
Allowed. Home school students may try out for and take part in activities run by the district or charter school where they live, without having to attend classes, as long as they prove residency and meet the same conduct, performance, and fee standards as enrolled students (RSMo 167.790).
Official forms & law
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ↗
Statutes
Questions, answered.
What do I file to homeschool in Missouri?
No notice to the state is required. A parent leaving a public school can give the district written notice of the plan to use another education option and ask that the child be dropped from the rolls, which the school must do promptly.
When do I file in Missouri?
Not specified in state law
What assessments are required in Missouri?
Not specified in state law. Parents keep a record of evaluations of the child's academic progress, but no standardized test is required.
Check the original
Sources and last checked
- RSMo 167.031, School attendance compulsory ↗Missouri Revisor of Statutes
- RSMo 167.012, Home school defined ↗Missouri Revisor of Statutes
- RSMo 167.042, Other educational options, written notification ↗Missouri Revisor of Statutes
- RSMo 167.790, Activities participation ↗Missouri Revisor of Statutes
- Frequently Asked Questions and Educational Topics ↗Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Last verified .