Homeschooling in Missouri.

Statute citation

Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) § 167.012 (home school rules), § 167.013 (FPE schools), § 167.031 (compulsory attendance) and § 167.042 (leaving public school). Sections 167.012 and 167.042 were last updated August 28, 2025.

Compulsory ages

Ages 7 to 17, or until your child has earned 16 high school credits. For a home school, a credit means 100 or more hours of instruction in a course. In a metropolitan school district, the district board can set the upper age at 16 or 17, so check with your district. If a child age 5 or 6 is enrolled in public school, they attend regularly unless you ask in writing for them to be dropped from the rolls.

Notification

None. Missouri has no registration or yearly notice. The optional declaration of enrollment was repealed on August 28, 2025, so there is nothing to file with the county recorder of deeds or your superintendent.

Leaving public school

If your child is enrolled in public school, you can tell the district in writing that you're pursuing other educational options and ask that your child be removed from its rolls. The school must do so promptly (RSMo § 167.042).

Who counts as a home school

A home school teaches children from age 7 to the compulsory attendance age, with no more than four children unrelated by blood or marriage within the third degree, and charges no tuition or fees for instruction.

A second category

A home school can't enroll children in the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. A school that does is what the law calls an "FPE school" (§ 167.013). The hours, records and review rules are the same.

Instruction hours

Offer at least 1,000 hours of instruction. At least 600 must be in reading, language arts, math, social studies, science or related academic subjects, and at least 400 of those 600 must happen at your regular home school location.

Required subjects

There's no separate subject list. Your 600 core hours go to reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, or related academic courses suited to your child's age and ability.

Records to keep

A plan book, diary or other written record of subjects taught and activities; a portfolio of your child's work samples; and a record of evaluations of their progress, or other written or credible evidence that is equivalent.

Who may review

You don't send your records to anyone. A daily log showing qualifying instruction is your defense if attendance is questioned, and only the local prosecuting attorney may review your records. School districts refer home school concerns to that office.

Assessment

No state test or outside evaluation is required. You keep your own record of evaluations of your child's academic progress.

Ages 16 and up

The hours and records rules don't apply once your child turns 16, though compulsory attendance continues until age 17 or 16 high school credits.

Parent qualifications

None. Missouri law sets no teaching credential or education requirement for parents.