Homeschooling in Missouri

Missouri is one of the MOST homeschool-friendly states in the nation under RSMo 167.012 and 167.031 — no notification, no registration, no approval, no testing, no submitted records, no oversight. The state has no registry of homeschool families. Recent legislative changes effective August 28, 2024 (changed 'and' to 'or' in subject hour allocation) and August 28, 2025 (RSMo 167.042 replaced, RSMo 167.790 sports access NOW LAW) further enhanced flexibility and access. The Missouri school year runs July 1 through June 30. Families maintain three types of records at home but never submit them anywhere.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: One pathway — Home School under RSMo 167.012 and 167.031.

Notification: NO notification, NO registration, NO approval, NO oversight required. Simply withdraw from public school in writing (if applicable) and begin..

Instructional time: 1,000 hours of instruction per school year, with at least 600 hours in core subjects. At least 400 of the 600 core hours must be at the 'regular' home school location..

Required subjects: 5 core subjects: reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science (or academic courses related to such subject areas, consonant with the child's age and ability). Per RSMo 167.031..

Testing and evaluation: NO testing required. Parents must maintain an annual record of evaluation, but the form of evaluation is the parent's choice (could be standardized test, portfolio review, parent-created assessment, etc.)..

What Missouri families need to know

**NO NOTIFICATION REQUIRED**: Missouri does NOT require homeschool families to file Notice of Intent, register with the state, or notify any agency. Families simply withdraw from public school (if applicable) in writing and begin. The state has no registry of homeschool families.

**1,000 HOURS PER SCHOOL YEAR**: required by RSMo 167.031. School year runs July 1 to June 30 (12-month window). Families set their own schedule — year-round, public school calendar, or other custom approach. Summer activities and weekends count.

**600 HOURS IN CORE SUBJECTS**: of the 1,000 total hours, at least 600 must be in the 5 core subjects: reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science (or academic courses related to such subject areas, consonant with the child's age and ability).

**400 OF 600 CORE HOURS AT 'REGULAR' HOME LOCATION**: required by RSMo 167.031. The 'regular' location is not specifically defined in law — for most families, this is their home. The remaining 200 core hours can be elsewhere (co-ops, community classes, libraries, museums).

**EFFECTIVE AUGUST 28, 2024**: 'and' changed to 'or' in the subject hour allocation. This means parents now have FLEXIBILITY in how they allocate the 600 core hours among the 5 subjects — you can log all reading hours under language arts if you wish, or focus heavily on one subject area. There is no minimum hours per subject — only the 600 total in core subjects.

**EFFECTIVE AUGUST 28, 2025**: RSMo 167.042 was REPLACED with new verbiage, and RSMo 167.790 (Tim Tebow law / sports access) became LAW. Homeschool students now have legal access to public school extracurricular activities and sports. Previously, partial enrollment was required for MSHSAA sports — this new law changes that landscape.

**3 TYPES OF RECORDS REQUIRED** (RSMo 167.012, kept at home, never submitted): (1) a plan book, diary, or other written record indicating subjects taught and educational activities engaged in; (2) a portfolio containing samples of the student's academic work; (3) a record of evaluation of the student's academic progress (could be tests, parent-written report cards, transcripts, evaluations, etc.). Alternatively, 'other written, credible evidence' equivalent to these three is acceptable.

Records access: no one can view your records EXCEPT the local prosecuting attorney IF an educational neglect charge is filed against you. You do NOT submit records to anyone — not the state, not the school district, not the truant officer.

Daily log of hours: while not explicitly required by law, FHE recommends keeping one as your first line of defense if educational neglect is ever alleged. A simple spreadsheet of hours by date works.

**LEGAL PROTECTIONS**: State v. Spivey and State v. Davis (Missouri appellate cases) have upheld homeschool freedoms. RSMo 43.060.1 and other statutes provide protection for homeschool graduates applying for state employment, including the Highway Patrol.

Hour computation rules (per FHE): time-based, not lesson-based. A 20-minute lesson is 20 minutes (not 'one hour'). 1,000 hours = 1,000 60-minute units of instruction. Special needs therapies often count toward Language Arts (speech, reading) or life skills (physical therapy).

**MOSCHOLARS PROGRAM**: education tax credit program providing scholarships through Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs). Provides up to ~$6,375 per student annually for qualifying families (2025-26). Eligible expenses include curriculum, textbooks, tutoring, therapies, testing fees. Income limits apply (200% of free/reduced lunch threshold). Apply through the Missouri State Treasurer's office.

Parent qualifications: NONE required. No teaching credentials needed.

Mid-year start: families may use a 'balance brought forward' strategy or a prorated approach when starting mid-year (HSLDA recommendations). The 1,000-hour requirement is for the year (July 1-June 30), not semester.

Compulsory attendance: ages 7-17 (NOT 6 — many parents start formal instruction at 5 or 6 but compliance with hour/record requirements only begins at 7). HiSET (state-issued equivalency exam) is available for graduates.

Always verify current requirements with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

Missouri homeschool parents issue their own diplomas. Missouri's homeschool law explicitly grants parents the authority to determine when their student has graduated. The state does NOT issue homeschool diplomas. Recommended college prep route (per FHE): 4 credits English, 3-4 credits Math (4 for MO state universities), 3 credits Science, 3 credits Social Studies, 1 credit each of PE/Fine Arts/Practical Arts, semester each of Health and Personal Finance, 2 credits same Foreign Language, electives, totaling 24+ credits (1 full year credit = 120+ hours / Carnegie credit standard; semester = 60 hours). Missouri public colleges (Mizzou, Missouri State, UMKC, UMSL) accept homeschool transcripts. The HiSET equivalency exam is available for graduates who need a state-recognized credential.

Getting started in Missouri

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

1. Read the statute. Visit the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) 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. Missouri 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. Missouri 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.

Missouri homeschool organizations

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

• Families for Home Education (FHE) — Largest statewide inclusive homeschool advocacy organization, with extensive legal resources and 'First Things First' compliance guide — fhe-mo.org
• Midwest Parent Educators (MPE) — Statewide network and conference organizers — midwesthomeschoolers.org
• HSLDA Missouri — Legal defense and member support

Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Missouri 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 Missouri'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 • Missouri State Guide