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Homeschooling in Missouri

A year-round Missouri homeschool marketplace — curriculum, tutoring, therapy, STEM, arts and enrichment providers, plus a plain-English guide to Missouri's 1,000-hour home school law, MOScholars and the home-based FPE school route, sports and activities access, MOCAP, dual credit and college aid.

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Missouri Homeschool Options at a glance

Notice to the state: None. DESE says there is no registration with the state and no program to inspect, approve or accredit home schools. If your child is enrolled in public school, give the district a written notice that you intend to pursue another educational option and ask that your child be dropped from the rolls; the school must remove your child promptly (RSMo 167.042, effective August 28, 2025). The old optional "declaration of enrollment" filed with the recorder of deeds is no longer in the law.
Hours and records: Offer at least 1,000 hours of instruction, at least 600 of them in reading, language arts, math, social studies, science or related academic courses, with at least 400 of the 600 at your regular home school location. Keep a plan book, diary or other written record of subjects and activities, a portfolio of work samples and a record of evaluations, or other written or credible evidence of the same (RSMo 167.012). These two requirements don't apply to a pupil 16 or older.
Compulsory school age: 7 to 17, or until the child has completed 16 credits toward high school graduation (RSMo 167.031). For a home school, a credit is 100 hours or more of instruction in a course. A 5- or 6-year-old enrolled in public school must attend regularly unless the parent asks in writing for the child to be dropped from the rolls. A metropolitan school district may set 17 by board resolution and may lower it to 16.
MOScholars: who qualifies: A Missouri resident K–12 student who has an IEP under the federal IDEA (the Treasurer's FAQ also accepts an IDEA service plan for a parentally placed student; plans must be dated within 36 months), or who lives in a household with income up to 300% of the free and reduced-price lunch standard and either attended public school full time for at least one semester in the past 12 months, is eligible to start kindergarten or first grade, or is a sibling of a current recipient (RSMo 166.700; Treasurer's FAQ).
MOScholars amount and window, 2026–27: Awards are set by statute as a share of the State Adequacy Target (SAT): up to 175% of the SAT with an IEP, 160% for an English learner, 125% for a student eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and up to 100% for others, depending on available funds (RSMo 135.714). For 2026–27, 10,235 students were funded with $68.7 million, and 1,735 were on the waitlist. The 2026–27 first window ran October 1, 2025 to April 3, 2026 at 5 p.m., with a summer 2026 window. 2027–28 dates had not been announced as of October 30, 2026.
Homeschool status (the FPE route): A traditional home school (RSMo 167.012) can't enroll a MOScholars student. An FPE school (RSMo 167.013) is defined the same way — private or religious-based instruction, ages 7 to compulsory age, no more than four unrelated children, no tuition, the same hours and records — but may enroll MOScholars students. An eligible homeschooled child applies through an Educational Assistance Organization (EAO) that works with FPE students. Account money can't be paid to the parent or any relative. The Treasurer counted 350 family paced education participants in 2026–27.

Read the full guide: Missouri Homeschool Options — Home School Law, MOScholars and FPE Schools, Activities Access, MOCAP and College Aid

Coming up in Missouri

Fri, Nov 13, 2026 – Sun, Nov 15, 2026 · MNEA Foundation Fall Conference
Columbia · Stephens College · No cost
Missouri NEA's member-led fall conference: opening session and keynote Friday, member-led professional learning workshops Saturday.
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · CLT (Classic Learning Test) Remote Test Date (November 2026)
Online · Remotely proctored (at home) · CLT registration fee (see cltexam.com)
Remotely proctored CLT administration; registration deadline Nov. 5, 2026.
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · Victorian Christmas Crafts at Watkins Woolen Mill
Lawson · Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site, 2660 Park Road N. · Free
Free 10 a.m.–2 p.m. drop-in: make Victorian Christmas crafts to keep, hear Christmas stories read by Mrs. Claus, and try a Watkins Mill cookie baked on the historic woodstove.
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · Homeschool Picture Day
St. Peters · The Family Vision
Classic, timeless school portraits for homeschool families, offered in partnership with Jennifer K. Powell Photography. Sibling photos are included and the event is for kids of all ages.
Tue, Nov 17, 2026 – Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · Homeschool EdVentures: Venomous Ventures, Lewis & Clark, Thankful Origins
Springfield · Wonders of Wildlife, 500 W Sunshine St · $35 per child
Drop-off homeschool science mornings (9 a.m.–noon) on Nov. 17 and 19: Venomous Ventures (grades 1–3), The Lewis and Clark Expedition (grades 4–6) and Thankful Origins (grades 7–12).
Tue, Nov 17, 2026 · Storytelling in the Museum
St. Louis · Missouri History Museum · Free
An in-person storytelling event at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum, with engaging stories on themes such as Grandparents Day, Disability History, Baking and Homes Around the World.
Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · Conservation Kids: Wild Cats vs. Wild Dogs
Jefferson City · Runge Conservation Nature Center, 330 Commerce Dr.
Interactive MDC program (5:30–7:30 p.m.) comparing Missouri's wild canines and felines, with indoor and outdoor parts.
Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · Homeschool Introduction to Archery (Powder Valley)
Kirkwood · Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Rd
MDC archery program for homeschool families (2–3:30 p.m.) covering safety, shooting fundamentals, maintenance and storage with hands-on practice. Equipment provided; held outdoors.
Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · Toddler Thursday: Indigenous Americans
Imperial · Mastodon State Historic Site, 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive · Free
Story time and a craft for toddlers and their grown-ups at 10 a.m. (up to an hour), on the theme of Indigenous Americans. The December session (Dec. 17) covers animals in winter.
Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · Homeschool EdVenture (1st-3rd): Venomous Ventures
Springfield · Wonders of Wildlife · $35 per child
A morning of scientific exploration for 1st-3rd grade students, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with experiments and hands-on activities. Pre-registration is required.

See all 110 upcoming Missouri events

Missouri homeschool & school choice news

Conway, Mo., teen switches to homeschooling to support best friend through cancer treatment — KY3
Federal scholarship for private school and homeschooling opens in 30 states, including Missouri — KOMU
More than 10,000 MO students funded in school choice program — KOMU
First MOScholars performance report exposes gaps in state oversight — Missouri Independent
First test scores from Missouri-backed private school scholarships near national average — Beacon: Missouri

All news & regulations

Co-ops, groups and vendors

354 homeschool co-ops, support groups, microschools and hybrid schools across Missouri — browse the list. Homeschool vendors serving Missouri.

Homeschooling by city

Kansas City · St. Louis · Springfield · Columbia · Joplin · Hannibal · Blue Springs · Branson · Moberly · Wentzville · Buffalo · Cape Girardeau · Jefferson City · Lebanon · Liberty · Ozark · Republic · Rolla · St. James · Warrensburg · Warrenton · West Plains · Arnold · Belton · Billings · Bolivar · Camdenton · Cameron · Chesterfield · Clinton · Eldon · Fredericktown · Fulton · Harrisonville · Kearney · Lake St. Louis · Lancaster · Marshfield · Mountain Grove · Neosho · all cities

Articles for Missouri families

MOScholars in Plain English: What Missouri's Scholarship Account Means for Homeschool Families

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