Homeschool laws in Missouri
Checked Oct 11, 2026 against 6 sources · General information, not legal advice.
Your Missouri to-do
For “Home school”. 1 other legal way below.
Nothing to file with Missouri. Teach, and keep your own simple records.
Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.
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What Missouri asks
Missouri does not require you to register or send a notice to home school, but you must offer at least 1,000 hours of instruction each school year (600 in reading, language arts, math, social studies and science, 400 of those at home) and keep a plan book or diary, a portfolio of work samples and a record of evaluations. Families using MOScholars scholarship money run the same program as a Family Paced Education (FPE) school, with the same hours and records.
School age: Ages 7–16. From age 7 until the compulsory attendance age of 17, or until the student has completed 16 high-school credits (100+ hours of instruction per course for home school credits). A metropolitan district (St. Louis City) may lower its age to 16 by resolution. Children aged 5 to 6 need not be enrolled.
Missouri has 2 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.
Home school
RSMo §§ 167.012, 167.031 · Level 3: Moderate
- Notice: none required
- Time: 1,000 hours a year, 600 of them in core subjects
- Subjects: reading, language arts, math, social studies, science
- Assessment: none required
- Records: plan book or diary, work samples, evaluations
All the details
- Notice
- No notice to file
- Time
- 1,000 hours a year, including 600 hours of core subjects
At least 1,000 hours of instruction in the school year (July 1 to June 30); at least 600 of them in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science or related academic courses, and at least 400 of those 600 at the regular home school location. The hours and records rules do not apply to a pupil 16 or older. - Subjects
- reading
- language arts
- mathematics
- social studies
- science
- Assessment
- No assessment required
- Portfolio
- Yes, keep a portfolio
- Reports
- No reports to send
- Records to keep
- plan book, diary or other written record of subjects taught and activities
- portfolio of samples of the child's academic work
- record of evaluations of the child's academic progress
- or, instead of these three, other written or credible evidence equivalent to them
- Teacher
- No qualification required
How Homepen helps
Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Report card, Year-end summary.
Another option: Family Paced Education (FPE) school (can enroll MOScholars students)
RSMo §§ 167.013, 167.031 · Level 3: Moderate
- Notice: none required
- Time: 1,000 hours a year, 600 of them in core subjects
- Subjects: reading, language arts, math, social studies, science
- Assessment: none required
- Records: plan book or diary, work samples, evaluations
All the details
- Notice
- No notice to file
- Time
- 1,000 hours a year, including 600 hours of core subjects
At least 1,000 hours of instruction in the school year (July 1 to June 30); at least 600 of them in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science or related academic courses, and at least 400 of those 600 at the regular FPE school location. The hours and records rules do not apply to a pupil 16 or older. - Subjects
- reading
- language arts
- mathematics
- social studies
- science
- Assessment
- No assessment required
- Portfolio
- Yes, keep a portfolio
- Reports
- No reports to send
- Records to keep
- plan book, diary or other written record of subjects taught and activities
- portfolio of samples of the child's academic work
- record of evaluations of the child's academic progress
- or, instead of these three, other written or credible evidence equivalent to them
- Teacher
- No qualification required
How Homepen helps
Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Report card, Year-end summary.
- DESE's district-reporting page still speaks of parents who 'filed a declaration' under § 167.042; since SB 63 (Aug 28, 2025) § 167.042 only describes an optional written notification when asking the district to drop the child from its rolls. Neither makes a notice required to home school.
Sources
- RSMo § 167.012 Home school defined (effective Aug 28, 2025, SB 63) · Statute · checked Oct 11, 2026
- RSMo § 167.013 FPE school defined (effective Aug 28, 2025, SB 63) · Statute · checked Oct 11, 2026
- RSMo § 167.031 School attendance compulsory (effective Aug 28, 2024) · Statute · checked Oct 11, 2026
- RSMo § 167.042 Other educational options, written notification (effective Aug 28, 2025, SB 63) · Statute · checked Oct 11, 2026
- Missouri DESE: Frequently Asked Questions and Educational Topics (Home Schooling, Compulsory Attendance) · State education agency · checked Oct 11, 2026
- Missouri DESE: How do I report home schooled students? (district data reporting) · State education agency · checked Oct 11, 2026
General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Keep your Missouri records without the paperwork
Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Missouri asks for.
Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android