Homeschooling in Mississippi? Here’s your plan.

Homeschooling in Mississippi is governed by Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-91(3)(c). The entire legal obligation is an annual Certificate of Enrollment filed with your local school district attendance officer by September 15 each year. The certificate includes your child's name, address, and date of birth, a statement that you are providing a legitimate home instruction program, a brief description of the type of education, and your signature. The district cannot approve or deny your filing — it is notification only.

What makes Mississippi stand out is the sheer absence of requirements beyond that certificate. The statute does not prescribe specific subjects, minimum hours or days, standardized testing, portfolio reviews, or recordkeeping. Content is entirely at the parent's discretion. For families who want maximum autonomy, Mississippi delivers.

Mississippi does offer a special needs ESA — the Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act (Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-92) — providing up to $7,988 per student for the 2025-2026 school year. This is specifically for students with qualifying disabilities who have had an IEP within the last three years. A separate Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship is also available for students diagnosed with dyslexia. Both programs are restricted to students with documented needs, not available to the general homeschool population.

Mississippi has two pathways, but the choice is straightforward. The Legitimate Home Instruction Program (Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-91(3)(c)) is the primary pathway used by the vast majority of families — file the annual certificate with your local attendance officer and you are set. The Non-Public School pathway (Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-91(2)(a)) involves registering with the state and is more suited to micro-schools or co-op settings than individual families. Unless you are operating a group program, the home instruction pathway is the right choice.

No required subjects — but plan wisely. Mississippi law does not mandate specific subjects, but colleges will expect a well-rounded transcript. Build your program with an eye toward admissions requirements at your target schools.

College admissions preparation. Mississippi public universities generally require ACT or SAT scores, a parent-prepared transcript, and a homeschool diploma. Plan for standardized testing even though the state does not require it.

Dual enrollment. Homeschool students may enroll in community college courses. Eligibility varies by institution but typically includes minimum age and ACT sub-score requirements. Contact the college directly.

No Tim Tebow law. Mississippi does not guarantee homeschool students access to public school sports or extracurricular activities. Some homeschool organizations and co-ops run their own sports teams — check with the Mississippi Home Educators Association (MHEA) for options.

Special needs ESA. The Mississippi ESA (Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-92) provides up to $7,988 for students with qualifying disabilities. Your child must have had an IEP within the last three years. Be aware that participating waives the right to FAPE, and the program is currently set to expire July 1, 2028.

Co-ops. Homeschool co-ops are unregulated in Mississippi as long as each participating family files its own Certificate of Enrollment. Co-ops do not need to register as a non-public school.

Re-entry to public school. If your child returns to public school, the district determines grade placement and may administer placement tests. Homeschool credits are not automatically accepted at the high school level.