Homeschool Laws in Missouri
Missouri does not require parents to file any notice or obtain approval from a school district or state agency before beginning to homeschool their child. Under Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.2(2)(b), a home school is recognized as a valid alternative to public school attendance without any registration, notification, or prior authorization process. Parents may begin home instruction without contacting any government office.
Missouri imposes no standardized testing or formal assessment requirement on homeschooled students, and no specific academic credentials are required of parents who provide instruction. The law does, however, establish instructional hour requirements. Under Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.2(2)(b), parents must provide at least 1,000 hours of instruction per year overall. Of those hours, at least 600 must be devoted to instruction in reading, mathematics, social studies, language arts, and science, and that instruction must be consonant with the pupil's age and ability. At least 400 of the 600 subject-specific hours must take place at the regular home school location.
Homeschool statutes are subject to legislative amendment, and most changes in Missouri and other states take effect on July 1 of the year enacted. Families are encouraged to confirm current requirements directly with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education rather than relying solely on any secondary summary. This paragraph and the two preceding it are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
Requirement details
| Required subjects | Parents must provide at least 1,000 hours of instruction per year overall, and at least 600 hours of instruction per year in reading, math, social studies, language arts, and science that are related to the aforementioned subject areas and consonant with the pupil's age and ability. At least four hu |
|---|---|
| Parent qualifications | none |
Statutory source
Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.2(2)(b)
Compare homeschool laws in all 50 states →
Not legal advice. This page summarizes Missouri law in plain English, verified as of June 2026 against the cited statutes. Legislatures amend homeschool law (most changes take effect July 1) — confirm current requirements with the state department of education or a licensed attorney before acting. How we verify this.