While Mike and I were deciding if we could Homeschool, one of the first things we did was look into what the state of Mississippi’s Homeschool laws. Where is the first place you go when you need to know the answer to a question? Google! After doing some research, I knew I could Homeschool in the State of Mississippi and so can you!
The State of Mississippi Homeschool Laws and Requirements are as follows. All children between the ages of 6 and 17 on or before September 1st must start school. Every year on or before September 15, you are required to submit a Certificate of Enrollment with your public school’s Attendance Officer for the school age children you are homeschooling. The State of Mississippi does not require any teacher qualifications, standardized testing, subject requirements, and a specific number of days or hours of homeschooling.
All of this information come from Homeschool Legal Defense Association, aka HSLDA.
Mississippi is referred to a Homeschool Friendly State. When homeschooling in the State of Mississippi you are only required to register your child or children with the Attendance Office every year and that is it.
What is a Certificate of Enrollment?
A Certificate of Enrollment is a form that must be filled out every year and turned into your Public School’s Attendance Officer. This form only ask for the following information:
- Child’s name
- Child’s Date of Birth
- Phone number
- Child’s Address, Parent, Guardian or Custodian’s Name
- Parent, Guardian or Custodian’s Address
- Type of Education Program, (Home Instructional Program, Private School (State Approved) or Private School (Non-Accredited)
- A simple description of educational program for home instruction
- Signature of Parent, Guardian, or Custodian
- Date and Signature of School Official.
Below you will see an example form. Please keep in mind they may look different from year to year, but will still ask the same information.
What is Mississippi’s School Attendance Age?
The State of Mississippi considers all children between the ages of 6 and 17 on or before September 1st must start school whether is it by Homeschool, Public School or Private School. That is considered Kindergarten age to age of 12th grade. Mississippi only requires you to complete a Certificate of Enrollment for 1st Grade through 12th grade.
What are Mississippi Homeschool Graduation Requirements?
The State of Mississippi does not have any requirements for Homeschool Graduation. However if you child plans to attend college I would suggest following what is required for Public High School Graduation. That information can be found on the Mississippi Department of Education Website.
How to Withdraw Your Child or Children from His or Her Current School?
If your child or children are currently enrolled in a Public or Private school, you must formally withdraw them from their current school before you can start homeschooling them. You will need to check with your current school to see what their formal withdrawal process is.
If you wish to homeschool your child or children when his or her next school years starts, you will still have to formally withdraw them from their current school. Then you will have to register them as a Homeschooler by completing A Certificate of Enrollment with your child’s Public School’s Attendance Officer.
Should you do Homeschool Recordkeeping?
In the State of Mississippi you are not required to keep any form of Homeschool Records. But I highly recommend that you do. I use a My Father’s World as our Homeschool Curriculum. This is what is considered a Boxed Homeschool Curriculum. When you buy the curriculum, it provides you with all of the material you will need to teach your child that year. That helps me stay organized and keep records. I use what some would call the Note booking System. That is when you keep all of your child’s work for the year in a 3 Ring Binder. I do this by subjects. I also keep a calendar showing what day we homeschooled and a spiral notebook with all grades from oral and written tests.
What are some other Homeschool Friendly States?
According to the HSLDA the following states are also Homeschool Friendly States:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Utah
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
I have been a homeschool mom for 7 years and I enjoyed every year of it so far. If you are currently or plan to homeschool, I suggest that you check all Mississippi Homeschool Laws and Requirements every year to make sure nothing has changed and you are still following all law and requirements.
