Homeschool Laws in Mississippi: What Parents Need to Know

Mississippi is a relatively permissive state for homeschooling, but it has one hard requirement that trips up a lot of families: you must file an annual enrollment form with your local school district. Skip that step and you are technically in violation of compulsory attendance law, even if your child is learning every day.

Here is a clear breakdown of what Mississippi homeschool law actually requires, what it does not require, and how to stay compliant from day one.

The Core Legal Authority: Mississippi Code §37-13-91

All homeschooling in Mississippi operates under the compulsory school attendance law, Mississippi Code Annotated §37-13-91. The law defines home instruction as a legitimate exemption from mandatory public school enrollment, provided parents meet specific conditions.

Mississippi has no standalone homeschool statute — homeschooling is treated as a form of home instruction that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance, not as a separately regulated category of education. This distinction matters because it means the state has fewer hooks into your homeschool than states with dedicated homeschool registration systems.

Compulsory Attendance Ages

Mississippi requires school attendance for children ages six through seventeen. Once your child turns seventeen or completes high school, the compulsory attendance obligation ends.

If you have a child under six, no legal requirement applies to you yet. However, if you have formally enrolled a younger child in a public or private school program, you may need to formally withdraw them in writing to avoid triggering attendance obligations. Enrollment, not age, is the legal trigger for younger children.

The Annual Enrollment Requirement

This is the most important compliance step in Mississippi and the one most commonly missed.

Every year, by September 15, parents who homeschool must file an "Enrollment of Child for Home Instruction" form (sometimes called the MHEC form or the BOE-86 form, depending on the district). This form is submitted to the attendance officer of the local school district where the child resides.

The form requires:

• The child's full name, age, and grade level
• The parent or guardian's name and contact information
• A confirmation that the child will receive home instruction

You do not need to submit curriculum plans, lesson schedules, or proof of qualifications. The form is a notification, not a request for approval.

If you begin homeschooling after September 15 — such as withdrawing a child mid-year — you must file the enrollment form within six days of beginning home instruction. Late starts do not exempt you from the filing requirement; they simply compress the timeline.

What Mississippi Law Does NOT Require

Once the enrollment form is filed, Mississippi's legal requirements are minimal compared to many other states:

No standardized testing. Mississippi does not require homeschool students to take state assessments or submit test results to any government entity.

No portfolio submission. You are not required to compile or submit academic portfolios to the school district or state.

No teacher qualifications. Mississippi does not require the parent-educator to hold a teaching certificate, college degree, or any specific credential.

No curriculum approval. You choose your own curriculum without state review or sign-off.

No minimum instructional hours. Unlike states such as Missouri (which mandates 1,000 hours annually), Mississippi does not specify a number of hours you must teach. You are responsible for providing an "adequate" home education, but the law does not define that in hourly terms.

No mandatory subjects list. Mississippi law does not enumerate required subjects at the state level. The enrollment form does not ask what you plan to teach.

What Counts as Compliant Home Instruction

Because Mississippi defines home instruction loosely, the main practical obligation is maintaining the ability to demonstrate that education is actually occurring — if you are ever questioned. The state does not conduct home visits, and the local school district has no authority to inspect your homeschool or review your records absent a court order.

In practice, this means keeping reasonable documentation: a log of topics covered, samples of your child's work, and records of any outside classes or activities that contribute to learning. Mississippi law does not specify what records you must keep, but if a truancy complaint ever surfaced, having written documentation of your educational program is what would resolve it.

Withdrawing a Child from Mississippi Public School

If your child is currently enrolled in a Mississippi public school and you are transitioning to homeschooling, the withdrawal process works in two steps:

Step 1: Notify the school of withdrawal. Write a brief letter to the school principal stating that your child is withdrawing from enrollment as of a specific date to begin home instruction. Keep a copy. Delivering by certified mail or getting a signed copy at the school front office gives you a delivery record.

Step 2: File the enrollment for home instruction form. Within six days of beginning home instruction, file the form with your local attendance officer. Do not wait until September 15 if you are starting mid-year — the six-day window applies for mid-year starts.

The combination of these two steps — the withdrawal letter and the home instruction enrollment filing — creates a complete legal paper trail that protects you from truancy allegations.

Private School Students

Withdrawing from a Mississippi private school follows the same basic notification process, but you must also review your enrollment contract for notice requirements and tuition obligations. Private schools can withhold transcripts if outstanding financial obligations exist. Handle those contractually before you need the records for high school coursework or college applications.

High School and Graduation

Mississippi does not have a state-issued homeschool diploma. Homeschool parents issue diplomas directly, typically including a transcript that lists courses, grades, and credit hours. Colleges in Mississippi generally accept homeschool diplomas and transcripts; many will also consider ACT/SAT scores as a supplement.

For students applying to Mississippi public universities, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) has published guidance on homeschool admissions. Generally, a strong ACT score (17 or above for basic admission, higher for competitive programs), a parent-issued transcript, and sometimes a personal interview are the main requirements. Check each institution's specific policy, as they vary.

Comparing Mississippi to Neighboring States

If you have moved to Mississippi from a neighboring state, it is worth knowing the differences:

• Louisiana requires parents to choose from a short list of approved options (enroll in an approved correspondence program, test annually, or file a letter of intent). It is more complex than Mississippi.
• Alabama requires notice of intent and annual testing or portfolio evaluation.
• Tennessee offers multiple legal options and requires annual assessments.
• Arkansas requires annual standardized testing and notification to the local district.

Mississippi's system — annual enrollment form, no testing, no portfolio review — sits at the more permissive end of this regional spectrum.

The Bottom Line for Mississippi Homeschoolers

Mississippi asks very little of you legally. The annual enrollment form is the one non-negotiable step. File it on time, keep reasonable records of your educational activity, and you are operating within the law.

If you are currently in the middle of withdrawing a child from a Mississippi public school and want a step-by-step checklist for the withdrawal letter and enrollment filing, or if you are comparing Mississippi requirements to another state where you are also homeschooling, the post on how to write a homeschool letter of intent covers the core elements that apply in any state.

And if you are looking specifically for Missouri-specific withdrawal guidance — including legally vetted letter templates, the two statutory pathways under RSMo §167.031 and §167.042, and record-keeping requirements — the Missouri Legal Withdrawal Blueprint walks through the entire process in one place.

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