Homeschooling in Missouri

The homeschool rules in Missouri, from official sources: your options, any notice, what to teach and record, testing, official forms, the law and who to contact.

Homeschooling? Classfern Family keeps your plans, tutors’ lessons and records in one place – £40 (about $50) a year for your whole family. What’s in Family

Last checked: October 25, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice – check your state’s official page: Missouri official page.

Broad level: No notice – our own rough summary, what the levels mean.

Your options

Home school: a private or religious-based school for ages 7 to compulsory age, with no more than 4 unrelated children and no tuition (RSMo 167.012). Other options: FPE school, private school.

Notice or letter of intent

None to the state. The optional declaration of enrollment was REPEALED by SB 63 (2025). Now, written notice of intent to pursue other options to the public school removes the child from its rolls (167.042).

Need a letter? See our letter of intent and withdrawal letter templates – but use the official form below if there is one.

Subjects, time, assessment and records

Subjects: Reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science (core).
Days or hours: 1,000 hours per year, at least 600 in core subjects, of which at least 400 at the regular home school location (not required for age 16+).
Testing or assessment: None required (a 'record of evaluations' must be kept).
Records: Plan book, diary or other written record of subjects and activities; portfolio of work samples; record of evaluations (or other credible evidence). A daily log is a defense to prosecution.

Parent qualifications

None.

Other rules

Compulsory attendance (167.031). The daily log is a defense against educational neglect charges (ch. 210).

Official forms

None statewide (declaration of enrollment repealed).

The law

RSMo 167.012, 167.031, 167.042, 167.790 (as amended by SB 63, 2025, eff. 8/28/2025) – read the law

Who to contact

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) – DESE (no homeschool office; Office of Special Education listed)[email protected] · 573-751-4212 · Official pageWho handles notices: Nobody (written notice to the public school only when withdrawing)

Special education and public school classes and sports

From 8/28/2025 (167.790): home school students may try out for and take part in district and charter events and activities if they prove residency, provide a sports physical, follow the same conduct, performance and fee rules, and are not required to attend classes. There is a 12-month bar if they disenrol to avoid eligibility rules. Special ed: home-schooled children with disabilities (ages 5–21) have no individual right to services; they are served from the district's IDEA proportionate share after consultation with home-school representatives, which must cover Child Find (dese.mo.gov/…).

Federal rules on Child Find and evaluations apply in every state – see special education.

Going back to public school in Missouri

To enroll your child in a public school in Missouri, contact the enrollment or registration office of your local school district or public school. Ask how it decides grade placement and whether it accepts credits from homeschooling before your child starts, and bring the records you choose to share. We didn’t find a state rule on this for Missouri in the official sources we checked – see the Missouri official page and ask the district.

See going back to school after homeschooling for what to bring, placement, credits and special education.

Last checked: October 25, 2026. Report a change to this page

Official sources

Last checked against these sources: October 25, 2026.

This is general information, not legal advice – check your state’s official page. This page sums up official sources in our own words. Homeschool laws differ from state to state and can change. Check your state’s official page and your local school district’s guidance, and get qualified advice for your situation. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, any state education agency, school district, College Board, ACT, the GED Testing Service, HiSET, CLT or the Common App.