How to start homeschooling in Missouri

Home school: step by step

1. Make sure this option fits your family

   A parent-run school for private or religious-based instruction, with no more than four unrelated children and no tuition. Parents keep records and provide 1,000 hours of instruction a year. No registration with the state.

   Required school ages in Missouri: 7 to 17, or until the child has completed 16 credits toward high school graduation (in a metropolitan district whose board sets 17 by resolution, the credit exception does not apply). Teacher qualification for this option: No parent qualification requirement.

2. 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. Missouri doesn’t require a separate notice under this option, so the letter is the school’s record that your child has left.

   Write the withdrawal letter

3. No notice to file

   Missouri doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.

   DESE: the Department does not regulate or monitor homeschooling and does not require registration. To withdraw a child from public school, the parent gives the school written notification of intent to pursue other educational options under 167.031 and the school removes the child from its rolls (RSMo 167.042).

4. Plan your school year: days and hours

   Missouri sets a minimum.

   No day count; hours-based. School year runs July 1 to June 30 (RSMo 167.031.3). At least 1,000 hours of instruction, of which at least 600 are in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, or related academic courses consonant with the child's age and ability; at least 400 of those 600 hours at the regular home school location. Hours and records requirements do not apply to pupils 16 or older.

   Check your days and hoursMake a school calendar

5. Cover the required subjects

   Reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science.

   These are the core subjects for the 600-hour requirement (or academic courses related to them). State agencies may not dictate a statewide curriculum for home schools (RSMo 167.031.2).

   Find curriculum with lesson counts

6. Testing or evaluation

   Not required under this option.

   No state testing; parent keeps a record of evaluations (see records).

7. Keep the records the state asks for

   Required.

   Maintain (a) a plan book, diary, or other written record indicating subjects taught and activities engaged in; (b) a portfolio of samples of the child's academic work; and (c) a record of evaluations of the child's academic progress; or other written or credible evidence equivalent to (a)-(c). Not required for pupils 16 or older. No retention period stated.

   Printable logsThe record of subjects taught and the hours log

8. 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.

   Start a free plan in My HomeschoolAll free tools

9. High school and graduation

   DESE does not issue diplomas or keep transcripts for homeschooling; the parent/guardian is responsible.

   Keep a transcriptGPA calculatorSample transcript

Family Paced Education (FPE) school: step by step

1. Make sure this option fits your family

   Same structure as a home school (1,000 hours, records, no tuition, no more than four unrelated children), but it may enroll children who participate in the MOScholars program. Effective in current form August 28, 2025.

   Required school ages in Missouri: 7 to 17, or until the child has completed 16 credits toward high school graduation (in a metropolitan district whose board sets 17 by resolution, the credit exception does not apply). Teacher qualification for this option: No parent qualification requirement.

2. 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. Missouri doesn’t require a separate notice under this option, so the letter is the school’s record that your child has left.

   Write the withdrawal letter

3. No notice to file

   Missouri doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.

   No notice to the state found in RSMo 167.013. Withdrawal from public school by written notification (RSMo 167.042).

4. Plan your school year: days and hours

   Missouri sets a minimum.

   Hours-based; school year July 1 to June 30. At least 1,000 hours, at least 600 in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science or related academic courses; at least 400 of the 600 at the regular FPE school location. Not applicable to pupils 16 or older.

   Check your days and hoursMake a school calendar

5. Cover the required subjects

   Reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science.

   Core subjects for the 600-hour requirement; no statewide curriculum may be dictated (RSMo 167.031.2).

   Find curriculum with lesson counts

6. Testing or evaluation

   Not required under this option.

7. Keep the records the state asks for

   Required.

   Plan book/diary or other written record of subjects and activities, portfolio of work samples, and record of evaluations, or equivalent evidence. Not required for pupils 16 or older.

   Printable logsThe record of subjects taught and the hours log

8. 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.

   Start a free plan in My HomeschoolAll free tools

9. High school and graduation

   No state graduation requirements found for FPE schools; parent issues diploma.

   Keep a transcriptGPA calculatorSample transcript

Not confirmed on an official page: Any additional duties imposed on FPE families by the MOScholars program statutes (e.g., testing tied to scholarship accounts) were not 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.