Missouri Homeschool Laws

Compliance begins at the child’s 7th birthday and ends at the 17th birthday. A child of any age who has earned 16 high school credits is exempt. A child enrolled in public school at 5 or 6 must attend until the parent asks in writing that the child be removed from the rolls (HSLDA: Compulsory School Age in Missouri; RSMo 167.031).

Missouri has one homeschool option. A homeschool has the primary purpose of private or religious-based instruction, enrolls pupils ages 7 to 17 with no more than four unrelated, and charges no tuition or fees (HSLDA: How to Comply with Missouri’s Homeschool Law).

No state testing. For children under 16, keep academic evaluations, such as regular subject tests or annual standardized tests, as part of your records (HSLDA).

At least 1,000 hours of instruction each school term. At least 600 hours must be in reading, math, social studies, language arts, and science, taught consistent with the child’s age and ability, and 400 of those must take place at the regular homeschool location. Parents choose the term dates, and a term may not exceed 12 months (HSLDA; HSLDA).

None (HSLDA: Missouri Homeschool Laws). If your child is enrolled in public school, request in writing that the child be dropped from the attendance rolls (HSLDA).

For each child under 16, keep (but do not submit) a plan book, diary, or other record of subjects taught and activities; samples of the child’s work; and academic evaluations, or other written, credible evidence equivalent to these. HSLDA strongly recommends a daily log of hours and keeping at least two full years of records, with high school records kept indefinitely (HSLDA).

None (HSLDA).

None (HSLDA).

Yes. Homeschool and FPE school students who meet certain requirements may participate in public school athletic and fine arts events and activities in their resident district, plus related extracurricular and integrated co-curricular activities (RSMo 167.790; HSLDA: Public School Access in Missouri).

Classes: State law appears to allow part-time public school enrollment, and public schools may let homeschool students take public school online programs. The state education department says schools must not place “artificial barriers” to homeschool participation in state-approved gifted programs (HSLDA).

None for homeschoolers, according to HSLDA (HSLDA).

If you start midyear or move to Missouri, HSLDA suggests ways to meet the 1,000-hour rule, such as setting your own 12-month term (HSLDA). If you begin formal instruction before age 7, HSLDA advises following the homeschool rules from that point (HSLDA).

• HSLDA: Missouri Homeschool Laws, How to Comply with Missouri’s Homeschool Law, Compulsory School Age in Missouri, and Public School Access for Homeschoolers in Missouri
• Missouri Revised Statutes 167.031 (compulsory attendance) and 167.790 (activities access)

Last reviewed: November 8, 2026