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Homeschooling in Missouri: what the law requires and who pays

RSMo 167.031 lets parents meet compulsory attendance by enrolling a child in a home school or an FPE school. RSMo 167.012 defines a home school. One state program pays toward a homeschooled student’s costs here, by its official source: MOScholars (Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program).

Quoted from official sources, read October 8, 2026. A law summary, not legal advice.

What Missouri’s law requires

The law that allows it

RSMo 167.031 lets parents meet compulsory attendance by enrolling a child in a home school or an FPE school. RSMo 167.012 defines a home school.

“enrolling the child in a program of academic instruction in a public, private, parochial, parish school, home school, FPE school, or full-time equivalent attendance in a combination of such schools” RSMo 167.031, compulsory attendance

Telling the state or district

The Missouri education department says there is no registration with the state.

“There is no registration required with the state.” Missouri DESE, frequently asked questions (Home Schooling)

If a parent sends written notice of intent to pursue other educational options and asks for the child to be dropped from the public school rolls, the school must remove the child promptly.

“makes a written notification of their intent to pursue other educational options under section 167.031 , and requests that the child be dropped from the public school district rolls” RSMo 167.042, written notification to leave the district rolls

What and how long to teach

At least 1,000 hours of instruction a year, at least 600 of them in reading, language arts, math, social studies, science or related academic courses.

“Offer at least one thousand hours of instruction, at least six hundred hours of which shall be in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, or academic courses” RSMo 167.012, home school defined

At least 400 of the 600 core hours must take place at the regular home school location.

“At least four hundred of the six hundred hours shall occur at the regular home school location.” RSMo 167.012, home school defined

The hours and records rules do not apply to students 16 or older.

“The requirements of subsection 2 of this section shall not apply to any pupil sixteen years of age or older.” RSMo 167.012, home school defined

Records to keep

Parents keep a plan book, diary or other written record of subjects taught and activities, a portfolio of the child's work samples, and a record of evaluations of the child's progress.

“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” RSMo 167.012, home school defined

Ages the law covers

Compulsory attendance starts at age 7.

“between the ages of seven years and the compulsory attendance age for the district” RSMo 167.031, compulsory attendance

It ends at 17, or on completing 16 credits toward high school graduation.

“Seventeen years of age or having successfully completed sixteen credits towards high school graduation in all other cases” RSMo 167.031, compulsory attendance

The state’s own page for families: Missouri DESE, frequently asked questions (Home Schooling section).

State money for homeschoolers in Missouri

MOScholars (Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program)

MOScholars scholarships can be used at an FPE (Family Paced Education) school, a home-based school defined in RSMo 167.013, which the law lists as a qualified school. (RSMo 166.700, MOScholars definitions (qualified school))

An FPE school may enroll children who take part in MOScholars. (RSMo 167.013, FPE school defined)

Programs that do not pay homeschoolers

MOScholars (Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program). A school that meets the law's definition of a home school does not enroll children who take part in MOScholars. (RSMo 167.012, home school defined)

Missouri MOScholars: amount and how to apply Private schools in Missouri

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Missouri next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Missouri?

The Missouri education department says there is no registration with the state. If a parent sends written notice of intent to pursue other educational options and asks for the child to be dropped from the public school rolls, the school must remove the child promptly.

Can a homeschooler in Missouri get state money?

MOScholars (Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program): MOScholars scholarships can be used at an FPE (Family Paced Education) school, a home-based school defined in RSMo 167.013, which the law lists as a qualified school. An FPE school may enroll children who take part in MOScholars.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

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