Everything you need to know about homeschooling in Missouri - one of the most homeschool-friendly states in America. No notification, no testing, no curriculum approval. Just 1,000 hours of instruction in 5 subjects with records kept at home. Updated for the 2025-2026 school year.
Missouri is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in America. The state takes a hands-off approach with virtually no government oversight of home education. Under Section 167.031 RSMo, parents are not required to notify anyone, submit to testing, or seek approval to homeschool their children.
Missouri's requirements are minimal and straightforward: provide 1,000 hours of instruction per year (with at least 600 in core subjects), teach 5 required subjects, and maintain basic records at home. You never submit these records to anyone - they stay in your possession unless a formal truancy investigation occurs, which is extremely rare.
Homeschools in Missouri are not classified as private schools. They operate under their own separate statutory framework, giving families significant freedom and protection from regulation.
Missouri has no notification requirement at all. You do not need to tell the state, the school district, or anyone else that you are homeschooling. If your child has never been in public school, you simply start teaching. No forms, no filings, no permission needed.
Missouri has a single homeschool framework under Section 167.031 RSMo. There are no multiple compliance paths or complex options to navigate. Your homeschool operates under its own statutory category - separate from both public and private schools.
| Requirement | Missouri Homeschool |
|---|---|
| Legal Basis | Section 167.031 RSMo |
| Notification | None required |
| Attendance | 1,000 hours/year (600 in core subjects) |
| Teacher Qualification | None required |
| Required Subjects | 5 subjects (reading, math, social studies, language arts, science) |
| Curriculum | No approval required - parent chooses |
| Testing | None required |
| Record-Keeping | Keep at home - never submit |
A "home school" in Missouri is defined as a school that has no more than four unrelated students enrolled, does not charge or receive consideration for education, and is exempt from certification by the State Board of Education. This definition gives homeschools a distinct legal status separate from private schools.
Missouri strongly protects parental rights in education. Officials cannot enter your home to inspect homeschooling, cannot approve or deny your curriculum, and cannot require testing. Your records are private and only need to be produced if there is a formal legal proceeding.
If contacted by school officials, you are not required to provide records, allow home visits, or prove anything. You may simply state that you are homeschooling per Section 167.031 RSMo. The burden of proof in any truancy allegation is on the state, not on you.
Starting to homeschool in Missouri is remarkably simple because there are no formal filing requirements.
No action is required. When your child reaches compulsory school age (7 in Missouri), simply choose your curriculum, set up your record-keeping system, and begin teaching. You do not need to notify anyone.
While not legally required, it is strongly recommended to send a withdrawal letter to the school. This prevents the school from marking your child as truant.
If withdrawing from public school, begin homeschooling immediately after withdrawal. Do not leave a gap where your child is neither enrolled nor being homeschooled. While Missouri has no notification requirement, a withdrawal letter prevents truancy questions from arising.
Keep a copy of your withdrawal letter and any confirmation from the school. Send it via certified mail or email so you have proof of delivery. Blue Folder can generate a withdrawal letter for you, pre-filled with your information. Try it free →
Blue Folder handles this for you
Generate your withdrawal letter, track your hours, and stay organized automatically.
Missouri requires 1,000 hours of instruction per year, with at least 600 hours in the five core subjects. The remaining 400 hours can be any educational content. There is no minimum days requirement and no daily hour minimums - scheduling is completely flexible.
| Category | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Total Annual Hours | 1,000 hours |
| Core Subject Hours | 600 hours minimum |
| Elective Hours | 400 hours (any educational activity) |
Track your hours throughout the year using a simple log. At 1,000 hours per year, that works out to roughly 5 hours per day over 200 days, or 4 hours per day year-round. Many families find they easily exceed 1,000 hours when they count all educational activities. Blue Folder makes hour tracking automatic. Try it free →
Missouri requires you to maintain three types of records, but critically, these records never leave your home. You do not submit them to anyone. They are kept solely for your own use and would only be relevant in the extremely unlikely event of a formal truancy investigation.
Keep your records until your child reaches age 18. Some families keep records indefinitely for documentation purposes. Records may only be requested by authorities if there is an actual truancy investigation, which is extremely rare for families maintaining their records.
Even though your records never leave your home, keeping them organized saves headaches later - especially for college applications, returning to public school, or your own peace of mind. Blue Folder tracks hours, subjects, and work samples automatically. Try it free →
Missouri does not require any annual evaluation, testing, or assessment of homeschool students. There are no portfolio reviews, no standardized tests, and no progress reports to submit to anyone. You are the sole judge of your child's educational progress.
While not required, some families choose to administer standardized tests for their own purposes. Common options include:
While Missouri requires no testing, college-bound students will need ACT or SAT scores for admissions. Missouri public universities generally accept homeschool applicants with parent-created transcripts and standardized test scores. Some institutions may weight test scores more heavily for homeschool applicants.
Missouri requires instruction in five core subjects. At least 600 of the 1,000 required hours must be spent in these subjects. There is no specific curriculum required, no grade-level standards to meet, and parents choose all materials and methods.
The following subjects are not legally required in Missouri, but many families choose to include them for a well-rounded education:
Religious instruction may be included in your homeschool program but does not count toward the 600 core subject hours. The remaining 400 elective hours can include virtually any educational content, including religious studies, music, art, physical education, and life skills.
Missouri has no mandatory deadlines for homeschool families. Since there is no notification requirement, no annual filing, and no evaluation, your timeline is entirely self-directed. This is one of the simplest compliance calendars in the country.
| When | What | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Before withdrawing | Send withdrawal letter (recommended) | Not legally required, but prevents truancy inquiries if child is currently enrolled in school. |
| Ongoing | Track 1,000 hours | Log instruction hours throughout the year. At least 600 hours in core subjects. |
| End of year | Verify hour total (recommended) | Review records to confirm you met the 1,000-hour requirement. Keep records at home. |
| When you decide | Graduation | Parents determine when the student has met graduation requirements and issue the diploma. |
Most states have mandatory filing deadlines, annual evaluation due dates, and attendance reporting periods. Missouri has none of these. The only concrete requirement is accumulating 1,000 hours of instruction per year, on your own schedule.
Missouri currently does not offer ESA programs, vouchers, tax credits, or tax deductions for homeschool families. All homeschool costs are borne by the family.
Missouri does not have a "Tim Tebow law" requiring public schools to allow homeschooler participation. Access to public school sports and extracurricular activities is entirely at each district's discretion. Some districts allow participation while many do not.
Missouri homeschoolers may be able to take college courses while in high school. Policies vary by institution, but community colleges are generally more accessible. Credits can count toward both high school and college.
Since public school access is not guaranteed, many Missouri homeschool families participate in homeschool co-op teams, community leagues (YMCA, recreational), club sports, and church leagues. Check with local homeschool groups for organized sports in your area.
Missouri homeschool law is very simple, but new families still run into avoidable problems. Here are the most common ones.
Your primary legal protection in Missouri is your hour log. Track your 1,000 hours diligently, noting which hours are in core subjects. This simple record is the most important thing you can do for compliance. Blue Folder tracks hours automatically so you never fall short.
Don't lose track of your hours
Blue Folder tracks every hour automatically and keeps your records organized in one place.
Track Missouri ComplianceNo. Missouri requires no notification to any government entity. You simply begin homeschooling. If withdrawing from public school, a withdrawal letter is recommended but not legally required.
No. Homeschooling is a legal right in Missouri. Districts have no authority to approve or deny your decision to homeschool.
State that you are providing home instruction per Section 167.031 RSMo. You are not required to provide records or allow home visits. The burden of proof in any truancy allegation is on the state.
No. You set your own schedule as long as you provide 1,000 hours per year. Many families school year-round, take breaks when they want, or follow any calendar that works for them.
Yes. Parent-issued diplomas are legally recognized in Missouri for college admission, military enlistment, and employment purposes.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Homeschool laws can change. Always verify current requirements with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or consult a qualified attorney. For additional support, see Families for Home Education and HSLDA Missouri page. Last updated February 2026.