Education funding in Mississippi
5 programs in Mississippi. Each links to the program’s official sources.
Charitable tax credits for business donations to education organizations and special-purpose schools (ECO, ESCO, ESPS)
Program doesn’t say whether homeschoolers qualify From official sources October 7, 2026
These credits go to businesses that donate to approved organizations and schools. The Department of Revenue page describes no payment to families and does not say whether any of these organizations help homeschool families.
Dates and status: Ongoing. For calendar year 2027, the Department of Revenue begins accepting credit applications online on Monday, January 4, 2027.
Education Scholarship Account (Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act)
Not open to homeschoolers From official sources October 7, 2026 Applications open
No. Parents agree not to file a home instruction (homeschool) enrollment certificate and not to enroll the child in public school, and since 2024-25 applicants must show the child has been accepted into an eligible private school. The money can then also pay for other approved services such as tutoring.
Dates and status: The Department of Education has posted the 2026-2027 ESA application, and current participants do not need to reapply each year. New awards go by waitlist order and are limited by funding. For 2026-27, reimbursement requests are due by August 31 and November 27, 2026 and February 26 and May 31, 2027. A 2026-27 award amount is not posted; the ESA amount was $7,089 in 2023-24.
Federal Tax Credit Scholarship (state opt-in)
Program doesn’t say whether homeschoolers qualify From official sources October 7, 2026 Not open yet
Scholarships pay for 'qualified elementary or secondary education expenses' tied to a 'school' as determined under state law, and federal rules published so far do not say directly whether homeschool costs qualify in Mississippi. The Governor's announcement covers eligible K-12 students with family income below 300 percent of area median income and does not mention homeschooling.
Dates and status: Governor Tate Reeves opted Mississippi in on January 19, 2026; the program begins in federal tax year 2027, and the IRS lists Mississippi among states that made the advance election for 2027.
Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia Program
Not open to homeschoolers (so far) Confirm current details with the program
No. This scholarship pays tuition for a child with dyslexia to attend another public school or an approved nonpublic school. It covers tuition only and does not pay for homeschooling.
Dates and status: A December 2024 legislative review describes the scholarship as available to children diagnosed with dyslexia, with no cap on the number of scholarships and a maximum equal to the base student cost in the state's education funding formula. Current 2026-27 application dates and amounts were not found on a Department of Education page.
Mississippi Speech-Language Therapy Scholarship for Students with Speech-Language Impairments (Nate Rogers Scholarship)
Not open to homeschoolers (so far) Confirm current details with the program
No. The scholarship pays tuition for a child in kindergarten through grade 6 with a speech-language impairment to attend a nonpublic school. It covers tuition only and does not pay for home education.
Dates and status: Mississippi has offered this scholarship since 2013 for kindergarten through grade 6, with no cap on the number of scholarships; the maximum equals the state's base student cost. Current-year application dates are not posted; contact the Department of Education's Office of Special Education.