How to start homeschooling in Mississippi
Everything Mississippi asks of a homeschool family, in order, from the state’s own sources, checked October 1, 2026. Each step links to a free tool that does it, and there’s a checklist to print at the end.
Step by step
Know what Mississippi requires
A compulsory-school-age child is exempt from public school attendance when educated in a legitimate home instruction program. Parents file a certificate of enrollment with the local school attendance officer each year.
Required school ages in Mississippi: Children who have attained age 6 on or before September 1 and have not attained age 17 on or before September 1 of the school year. Teacher qualification for this option: No parent qualification requirement found.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Mississippi also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
When: On or before September 15 of each year.
What it includes: Certificate of enrollment returned to the school attendance officer of the district where the child resides. Contents: child's name, address, telephone number and date of birth; parent/guardian name, address and telephone number; a simple description of the type of education the child is receiving; signatures. If notified of noncompliance, the parent has ten (10) days after written notice to comply. A legitimate home instruction program is one not operated or instituted to avoid or circumvent the compulsory attendance law.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Mississippi doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.
No day requirement found in the official sources reviewed. No hour requirement found in the official sources reviewed.
Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.
Cover the required subjects
Mississippi doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
No required subjects found in the official sources reviewed.
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
Keep records anyway
Mississippi doesn’t require records under this option.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
No state graduation requirements for home instruction found; the parent sets requirements and issues any diploma.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: The full text of Miss. Code §37-13-91 could not be read on an official site. The MDE homeschool report quotes only the exemption, 'legitimate program', September 15 certificate and 10-day compliance language. Any 180-day school-year definition or record-keeping language in §37-13-91 is NOT confirmed. Statements that there are no day, hour, subject, testing or record requirements reflect only the official excerpts reviewed. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Your Mississippi checklist
Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Mississippi · homeschoolcorral.com
- Read Mississippi’s rules for “Legitimate home instruction program”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice (On or before September 15 of each year)
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
Questions Mississippi parents ask
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Mississippi?
Yes. When: On or before September 15 of each year. What to file: Certificate of enrollment returned to the school attendance officer of the district where the child resides. Contents: child's name, address, telephone number and date of birth; parent/guardian name, address and telephone number; a simple description of the type of education the child is receiving; signatures. If notified of noncompliance, the parent has ten (10) days after written notice to comply. A legitimate home instruction program is one not operated or instituted to avoid or circumvent the compulsory attendance law.
How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Mississippi?
No day requirement found in the official sources reviewed. No hour requirement found in the official sources reviewed.
Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Mississippi?
No testing requirement found in the official sources reviewed.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Mississippi?
No parent qualification requirement found.
What subjects are required in Mississippi?
Mississippi doesn’t list required subjects.
What records do I need to keep in Mississippi?
Mississippi doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Keep going
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
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