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's compulsory-school-age rule generally covers a child who is age six by September 1 through a child who is not yet age seventeen by September 1, and it also includes a five-year-old enrolled in a full-day public kindergarten program. A high-school diploma or other statutory exception can end the obligation earlier.

If you have a child under six who is not enrolled in a full-day public kindergarten program, the compulsory-school-age rule generally does not apply yet. If a five-year-old is enrolled in full-day public kindergarten, the child is covered by the rule and the parent should follow the withdrawal and home-instruction procedures.

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 the statutory certificate of enrollment for home instruction. This certificate is submitted to the school attendance officer where the child resides.

The certificate requires:

• The child's name, address, telephone number, and date of birth
• The parent, guardian, or custodian's name, address, and telephone number
• A simple description of the type of education the child is receiving
• The signature of the parent, guardian, or custodian and the date signed

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 — the statute does not create a six-day filing deadline. Send the certificate to the school attendance officer, and if the officer gives written notice of noncompliance, comply within ten days after that notice.

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. Section 37-13-91 does not give the state authority to control, manage, or supervise a home-instruction program, and it does not impose a portfolio or test-submission requirement.

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 certificate of enrollment. Send the certificate to the school attendance officer. The regular deadline is September 15; if the officer sends written notice of noncompliance, comply within ten days after that notice. Do not treat a six-day mid-year deadline as a current Mississippi rule.

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 notice to the local district, but traditional home schools do not have a general annual standardized-testing or test-result-reporting requirement.

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 §167.031 home-school framework, the current written notice under §167.042, and record-keeping requirements — the Missouri Legal Withdrawal Blueprint walks through the entire process in one place.

See more Missouri guides →