Missouri Homeschooling Laws
Families in Missouri who choose to homeschool their children are free to decide when to begin and how to conduct the home study program. The law in Missouri does not require the homeschool to be registered and the homeschool program is not subject to regulation by the Education Department. The law in Missouri describes a homeschool as a school:
1. Whose primary goal is to offer private or religious education to students.
2. That provides instruction for free, no payment is required.
3. Provides instruction to children between 7 and 16 years of age. There can only be 4 unrelated students at a time.
The following requirements must be met to homeschool:
· Provide instruction for the time required
· Include the required subjects in the curriculum
· Keep records of all children who are 16 years and below.
This page provides information on the following:
· Requirements to Homeschool in Missouri
· Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Missouri
· Requirements for Graduation
· Switching from Homeschool to Public School
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Missouri
Missouri compulsory school age is 7 years old. Families are required to observe the following guidelines while homeschooling:
· Maintain the student’s work samples
· Maintain evaluation records
· Provide evidence that instruction was given for 1000 hours during the school year. 600 hours of instruction must be for the core subjects:
- Math
- Science
- Reading
- Language arts
- Social studies
For students previously enrolled in a public school, parents are advised to submit a withdrawal letter to avoid truancy complications.
Notice of Intent to Homeschool in Missouri and Evaluation Records
If the student is currently enrolled in public school, it is advisable to notify the school in writing of your intention to homeschool in order to avoid truancy issues.
Although Missouri law does not dictate what tests homeschoolers can take, a national standardized evaluation is one of the tests that allow for year-to-year analyses of the student’s performance. Homeschoolers may be allowed to take part in the evaluation program in Missouri subject to the discretion of each district. Some parents prefer to keep tract of the homeschool hours on a daily basis, while others keep a weekly or monthly log.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Missouri
The following records must be maintained for students below 16 years:
· The student’s work samples.
· Assessment records which could be standardized tests or tests for specific subjects.
· A diary, schedule book or other document that shows the subjects covered and learning tasks accomplished. This can be done by maintaining a regular record of instructional hours.
Parents can keep other written materials or credible proof that is similar to the 3 forms mentioned above. At least two full years’ records must be well maintained for students in elementary school unless the homeschool is new. For secondary school students, the records must be maintained for the 4 years.
Requirements for Graduation in Missouri
Homeschool parents in Missouri are free to set the graduation requirements for their student. Parents also determine if and when their student will graduate and are also able to award a high school diploma under their own terms. Parents are advised to consult with colleges the student may be interested in to know the requirements the child must meet so as to align the homeschool goals and curriculum with those requirements.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Missouri.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Missouri |
To graduate, the student must complete 24 units to be awarded a diploma in Missouri. |
Parents in Missouri have the liberty to determine when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. |
| Testing requirements in Missouri | The student must pass the end of course evaluation in the following units: English 2, Algebra 1, Government and Biology. |
There is no law in Missouri that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. Students may choose to undertake the EOC evaluations with the approval of the school district. |
|
Missouri high school transcripts |
Schools make and maintain the transcripts on file. Information on the credits earned from grade 9 to grade 12 must be included. |
Parents in Missouri can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
|
High school course credits in Missouri |
Students who have completed 16 credits for a high school diploma and are 16 years old and above qualify to take the exam. |
Many parents in Missouri choose to specify or assign academic credits to the courses taken during the homeschooling period as this may aid during the transcript creation process. |
|
Eligibility for GED in Missouri |
To take the Missouri GED test, you must meet the following eligibility requirements: At least 18 years of age or older. Missouri resident. Withdrawn from high school for a minimum of six months |
In order to take the HisET exam, homeschoolers are required to provide a written statement consenting to state’s homeschool rules, as well as a formal consent to take the exam. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Download the transcript template
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Missouri
Each school has different procedures and regulations to be observed while enrolling new students. It is the parent’s responsibility to consult with the school he/she chooses for the student to get the specific procedure on enrollment. Some schools may allow the parent to decide what grade the student should be placed while others may request homeschooling academic records for review. Other schools may require the student to take a placement test.
Lernsys Homeschooling makes it easy to keep a summary of the curriculum used including grades, topics covered, quiz and test scores, teacher credentials, etc.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Missouri
Have other questions about homeschooling in Missouri? You may find the following pages helpful.
