🗽
Under Missouri law (RSMo §167.031), parents are not required to notify anyone, register, or seek approval to homeschool. The core requirement is hitting an annual hours threshold with real record-keeping to back it up.
Missouri Homeschool Requirements (2026)
📋 What Missouri Does NOT Require
- No notification, registration, or approval required to begin homeschooling
- No mandatory standardized testing
- No curriculum approval by the state or district
- No teaching certification required for parents
- Hour and record-keeping requirements don't apply to students 16 or older
📚 What Missouri DOES Require
- Provide at least 1,000 total instructional hours per school year
- At least 600 of those hours must be in the five core subjects, with 400 of those core hours happening at your home location
- Maintain a plan book, diary, or similar written record of subjects taught and activities completed
- Keep samples of your child's academic work and progress evaluations
📚 Required Subjects in Missouri
- Reading
- Language arts
- Mathematics
- Social studies
- Science
These five subjects make up the required 600 "core hours" under RSMo §167.031/167.012. The remaining 400 of the 1,000 total annual hours can cover any educational activities you choose.
📁 Record-Keeping in Missouri
- Missouri law (RSMo §167.012) specifically requires a plan book, diary, or other written record showing subjects taught and activities completed
- Keep a collection of samples of your child's academic work throughout the year
- Maintain a record of evaluations of your child's academic progress
- These requirements no longer apply once a student turns 16
⚠️ Always verify current requirements with your state department of education or the Home School Legal Defense Association (hslda.org). Laws can change and this page is for general reference only.
Getting Started / Withdrawing from Public School in Missouri
Missouri does not require any notification to your school district or the state to begin homeschooling — under RSMo §167.031, parents are not required to notify anyone, submit to testing, or seek approval. If your child is currently enrolled in public school, it's still good practice to inform the school of the withdrawal in writing for your own records, even though the law itself does not mandate a specific notification process.
How Lumi Helps Missouri Homeschool Families
Lumi handles curriculum planning, grading, and progress tracking automatically, so Missouri families can focus on their kids instead of paperwork — while staying comfortably aligned with state requirements.
📚
Covers Required Subjects
Lumi covers the core subjects Missouri expects, plus additional subjects including Coding, Art, Music, and more — all in one flat-price app.
📅
Attendance Tracker
Built-in attendance logging helps you document instructional time and subject coverage automatically, useful for meeting record-keeping expectations.
📄
Printable Report Cards
Generate formal report cards automatically — useful for evaluations, re-enrollment in public school, or any situation requiring proof of academic progress.
📓
Printable Workbooks
Six standards-aligned workbooks covering every grade level — great for portfolio documentation and supplemental practice.
👪
Flat Family Price
$39.99/month covers up to 8 kids — no per-child fees as your family grows.
🗣️
Voice-Guided Lessons
Every lesson is narrated aloud by Lumi, so kids can work independently while parents focus on the bigger picture.
Missouri Homeschool Resources
- Families for Home Education (FHE) — fhe-mo.org — Missouri's primary statewide homeschool advocacy organization, with legal updates and local support.
- Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) — hslda.org — National legal advocacy with Missouri-specific compliance guidance.
- Midwest Homeschoolers — midwesthomeschoolers.org — Regional homeschool community and Q&A resource for Missouri families.
Frequently Asked Questions — Homeschooling in Missouri
How many hours do I need to homeschool in Missouri?
Missouri requires 1,000 total instructional hours per school year, with at least 600 of those hours in the five core subjects (reading, language arts, math, social studies, science), and at least 400 of those core hours completed at your home.
Do I need to notify anyone to homeschool in Missouri?
No. Under RSMo §167.031, Missouri parents are not required to notify the state, their district, or anyone else to begin homeschooling, nor submit to testing or seek approval.
What records am I required to keep in Missouri?
Missouri law (RSMo §167.012) requires a plan book, diary, or similar written record of subjects and activities, a collection of work samples, and progress evaluation records — specifically to help demonstrate you've met the 1,000-hour requirement if ever questioned.
Do the hour requirements apply to all ages?
No — the 1,000-hour and record-keeping requirements do not apply to any student who is 16 years of age or older.
What is the best homeschool curriculum app for Missouri families?
Lumi Academy's built-in attendance tracker logs instructional time automatically across all five of Missouri's core subjects, making it straightforward to demonstrate the 600 core-subject hours Missouri law requires, alongside printable work samples and report cards.
Start Your Missouri Homeschool Journey
Free 72-hour trial access. Full K–8 curriculum from day one.
Try Lumi Free →