Homeschooling in Missouri? Here’s your plan.

Homeschooling in Missouri operates under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 167.012 (as amended effective August 28, 2025). You offer at least 1,000 hours of instruction per year. At least 600 of those hours must be in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, or related academic courses, and at least 400 of the 600 must take place at your regular home school location.

You keep a plan book, diary, or other written record of subjects taught and activities, a portfolio of samples of your child's academic work, and a record of evaluations of your child's academic progress, or other written or credible evidence equivalent to those records. You do not submit them to anyone. Under Section 167.012.4, home school records are subject to review only by the local prosecuting attorney. No testing is required. Under Section 167.012.3, the hour and record requirements do not apply to a pupil 16 or older.

Compulsory attendance applies from age 7 until age 17, or until your child has completed 16 credits toward high school graduation (Section 167.031).

The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program (MOScholars) serves students with an IEP and income-eligible families. Under Section 167.012, a home school may not enroll children who participate in MOScholars. Section 167.013 creates a separate "Family Paced Education" (FPE) school, which may enroll MOScholars students and follows the same hour and record rules.

Homeschooling under Section 167.012 requires no notification and no approval. Some families also enroll with a private umbrella (cover) school while teaching at home. Section 167.012 defines a home school as a school whose primary purpose is private or religious-based instruction, that enrolls no more than four children who are not related within the third degree, and that charges no tuition or fees for instruction. A parent teaching their own children at home meets that definition, so umbrella enrollment does not change the rules: you still offer the 1,000 hours and keep the same records.

No notification required. Missouri does not require you to notify your school district, the state, or anyone else before you start homeschooling.

Withdrawal letter. If your child is enrolled in public school, a withdrawal letter is recommended. Under Section 167.042, if you give the school written notification of your intent to pursue other educational options and ask that your child be dropped from the district rolls, the school must comply and remove your child promptly. Send it to the public school district where your child legally resides, keep a copy, and request your child's academic and immunization records at the same time.

Sports and extracurriculars. Section 167.790 (effective August 28, 2025) gives homeschooled students access to public school activities, including sports. Contact your district about its residency, physical exam, and conduct requirements.

MOScholars ESA. Applications go through the Missouri State Treasurer's office. Because a home school under Section 167.012 may not enroll MOScholars participants, families who use the program at home do so as an FPE school under Section 167.013.

IEP considerations. Your child's IEP ends when you withdraw, but Missouri districts must still find and evaluate children with disabilities through Child Find. MOScholars may help eligible families fund therapies.

High school transcripts. Missouri has no state homeschool diploma. Parent-issued diplomas are recognized, and you create your child's transcript.