Homeschooling in Mississippi

Mississippi is one of the EASIEST states for homeschool compliance. Under Mississippi Code 37-13-91, the ONLY requirement is filing a Certificate of Enrollment annually with the local school attendance officer (SAO) by September 15. There are NO required subjects, NO testing, NO required hours/days, NO teacher qualifications, and NO curriculum approval. ⚠️ ACTIVE LEGISLATION 2026: HB 1512 introduced in 2026 Regular Session would dramatically increase regulation — would require parents to submit an annual 'homeschool academic file' to the Mississippi Department of Education by June 30. Currently NOT law — monitor through MHEA. Compulsory ages 6-17.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: One pathway — Home Instruction (Home Study Program) under Mississippi Code 37-13-91.

Notification: Annual Certificate of Enrollment to local school attendance officer by SEPTEMBER 15 of each year (in BLUE INK)..

Instructional time: NO specific days or hours required..

Required subjects: NO state-mandated subjects..

Testing and evaluation: NO testing required..

What Mississippi families need to know

**CERTIFICATE OF ENROLLMENT (COE)**: ONLY legal requirement. File annually with local School Attendance Officer (SAO) by SEPTEMBER 15. Complete in BLUE INK (specifically required by MDE). One certificate per child age 6-17.

**COE contents**: child's name, address, telephone, date of birth; parent's name, address, telephone; brief description of the type of education the child is receiving; parent's signature.

**Mid-year start**: if you decide to homeschool mid-year, submit COE to your local SAO when you begin — even though you missed the September deadline. You may begin homeschooling at any time.

**'LEGITIMATE HOME INSTRUCTION PROGRAM'**: defined as one that is NOT 'operated for the purpose of avoiding or circumventing the compulsory attendance law.' This is the only quality standard under MS law.

**Within 15 calendar days after the first day of the school year**: parents of children currently enrolled in public school must file COE if withdrawing to homeschool.

**10-day cure period**: if found in violation, parents have 10 days after written notice to comply.

**SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER NOT REQUIRED**: by law, you are NOT required to give your child's Social Security number on the COE.

**Children outside age 6-17 range**: NOT required to file COE. Optional for older students continuing high school.

**No required subjects**: parent has full freedom in curriculum choice. MDE recommends following Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards (MCCRS) as a guide — voluntary, not legally required.

**No teacher qualifications**: any parent permitted to teach own children.

**No required testing or assessments**: state has no testing requirements for home study programs. SAT/ACT recommended for college-bound students.

**No required record-keeping**: MDE recommends keeping (but does NOT require) attendance records, textbook documentation, work samples, correspondence with school officials. The SAO has authority to request information showing student progress.

**Recommended record retention**: keep 2 years' worth of records minimum.

**HB 1512 OF 2026** (currently introduced in regular session): would amend Section 37-13-91 to REQUIRE parents to submit annual 'homeschool academic file' to Mississippi Department of Education by June 30. Bill includes new requirements for academic file contents. NOT YET LAW — monitor through MHEA and HSLDA.

**Sports access**: limited under current law. Homeschool students may participate at district discretion.

**No state ESA, voucher, or tax credit**: Mississippi does not offer state-funded support for homeschool families.

Compulsory attendance: ages 6-17.

Always verify current requirements with the Mississippi Department of Education — Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

Mississippi homeschool parents (Home Study Program) issue their own diplomas. Mississippi public colleges (Ole Miss, Mississippi State, USM) accept homeschool transcripts. Strong ACT scores significantly strengthen applications — Mississippi is ACT-dominant. Document courses thoroughly with credit hours, grades, and course descriptions. Aligning with Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards (MCCRS) helps if your child returns to public school. The GED or HiSET is available for graduates who need a state-recognized credential.

Getting started in Mississippi

If you are new to homeschooling in Mississippi, here is the practical sequence to follow:

1. Read the statute. Visit the Mississippi Department of Education — Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
2. Choose your legal pathway. Mississippi offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
3. Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
4. File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
5. Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
6. Connect with a local homeschool organization. Mississippi has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.

Mississippi homeschool organizations

The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for Mississippi homeschool families:

• Mississippi Home Educators Association (MHEA) — Largest statewide Christian homeschool organization with detailed legal guidance — mhea.net
• Mississippi Homeschoolers — Inclusive statewide network
• HSLDA Mississippi — Legal defense and member support

Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Mississippi homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.

Beyond the legal requirements

Meeting Mississippi's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:

Homeschool360 • Mississippi State Guide