Mississippi · Light-touch

Homeschooling in Mississippi

Mississippi asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.

VerifiedMarch 2026

Notice of intentFile every yearCertificate of enrollment returned to the local school attendance officer by August 15 each year (the date was September 15 before July 1, 2026)

Testing or assessmentNot required

Instruction timeNo minimum set

RecordsYour choice

How to start homeschooling in Mississippi

Written from Mississippi's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.

Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
Mississippi asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: Certificate of enrollment returned to the local school attendance officer by August 15 each year (the date was September 15 before July 1, 2026) You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Dropout Prevention; the certificate goes to your local School Attendance Officer.
Choose what to teach
Mississippi does not name required subjects, so your curriculum is your own decision. Most families still cover reading, writing, and math daily, and let interest lead the rest.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Mississippi does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Dropout Prevention; the certificate goes to your local School Attendance Officer
When it is due: Certificate of enrollment returned to the local school attendance officer by August 15 each year (the date was September 15 before July 1, 2026)
How often: Every school year
Notarized?: No
Official form: mdek12.org/ocsa/home-school/
Ongoing reporting: Yes, once a year

Testing, portfolios and reviews

No testing or assessment

Mississippi does not require a standardized test or an evaluator's review. Plenty of families still keep a folder of work through the year — not because the state asks, but because it makes a transcript or a college application far easier to put together later.

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects: Mississippi does not name required subjects — the curriculum is yours to choose.
Instruction time: Mississippi sets no minimum number of days or hours.
Who may teach: No teaching certificate, degree, or credential is required of you.
Keeping records: No retention period is set. Keeping a simple folder is still worth doing.
Legal routes: Home Instruction Program — return an annual certificate of enrollment to your local school attendance officer by August 15; the form asks for the child's name, address, phone and date of birth, the parent's name, address and phone, the school district, and a simple description of the education; the program must not be operated 'for the purpose of avoiding or circumventing the compulsory attendance law'
Private or church school: enroll in a nonpublic school; the school official completes the certificate of enrollment for its students
Umbrella / cover schools: Mississippi's enrollment page does not describe a state umbrella school system. Families file the certificate of enrollment directly, or enroll in a private or church school, whose official completes it. The page lists the Mississippi Home Educators Association among its resources.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Dual enrollment: Whether a homeschooled student can take college courses while still in high school depends on the college. Check with the college's admissions office.
Diplomas: Check with the colleges you are interested in about diplomas and transcripts for home instruction. The state's home school page suggests keeping a portfolio of samples, assignments, projects and assessments, and a log of books and materials.
College admissions: College admissions requirements vary by institution. Check each college's current admissions page for its homeschool applicant requirements.
Support for additional needs: Special-education eligibility and services after withdrawal from public school depend on your circumstances and the applicable rules. Confirm with your school district or your state education agency.

Money your family can claim in Mississippi

No program on file yet

We do not have a verified Mississippi education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Dropout Prevention; the certificate goes to your local School Attendance Officer directly.

See the states where funding is confirmed →

Questions parents ask about Mississippi

Is homeschooling legal in Mississippi?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Mississippi. Mississippi is considered one of the easiest states for homeschoolers — minimal regulation, no notice required, and maximum family freedom.

Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi requires families to file a Notice of Intent by Certificate of enrollment returned to the local school attendance officer by August 15 each year (the date was September 15 before July 1, 2026). This notice must be renewed annually.

How many instruction days are required in Mississippi?

Mississippi does not mandate a minimum amount of instruction time.

What subjects are required by law in Mississippi?

Mississippi does not mandate specific subjects, giving families complete freedom to design their own curriculum.

Does Mississippi require annual assessment for homeschoolers?

No. Mississippi does not require formal annual assessment. Families may voluntarily track progress for college application purposes.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Mississippi?

No. Mississippi does not require parents to hold a teaching certificate or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.

Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Mississippi?

Rules about homeschooled students taking part in public school sports and activities differ by state and by district. Check with your local school district and your state athletic association.

Worth knowing about Mississippi

Mississippi asks home instruction families to return a certificate of enrollment to the local school attendance officer each year by August 15 (September 15 before July 1, 2026, per SB 2103). The state's home school page lists that form as the only requirement and recommends, but does not require, keeping a portfolio. You can also email the form to homeschool@mdek12.org.

Who to ask in Mississippi

Regulator: Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Dropout Prevention; the certificate goes to your local School Attendance Officer
Official site: mdek12.org/ocsa/home-school/
Phone: 601-359-5743
Forms: mdek12.org/ocsa/home-school/

Tools for your first year

The free tools below work whether or not you ever pay us a penny; each tile says what it needs. Use what helps with Mississippi's requirements and ignore the rest.

Transcript builderBuild a clean high-school transcript with GPA and credits. Free copies carry a small Koydo watermark.No account needed Starting guideThe whole first year in five steps, written for someone who has never done this before.No account needed Printable worksheetsPrint practice pages by grade and subject for the days a screen is the wrong answer. A few free pages every day.Free with a Koydo account State fundingSee whether your state puts education money in your hands, and how to claim it.Free with a Koydo account Paperwork generatorFill in your details and get the letter or affidavit your state expects, already worded for it.Needs HomeSchool Premium Instruction day logTick off days as you go so the count is already done when your state asks for it.Needs HomeSchool Premium

Other states

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii All 51 →

Last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Dropout Prevention; the certificate goes to your local School Attendance Officer. This is information for families, not legal advice.

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How to start homeschooling in Mississippi

Written from Mississippi's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.

Withdraw from the school your child attends now

If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.

Send your notice of intent

Mississippi asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: Certificate of enrollment returned to the local school attendance officer by August 15 each year (the date was September 15 before July 1, 2026) You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Dropout Prevention; the certificate goes to your local School Attendance Officer.

Choose what to teach

Mississippi does not name required subjects, so your curriculum is your own decision. Most families still cover reading, writing, and math daily, and let interest lead the rest.

Keep a light record as you go

Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Mississippi does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it

Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Dropout Prevention; the certificate goes to your local School Attendance Officer

When it is due

Certificate of enrollment returned to the local school attendance officer by August 15 each year (the date was September 15 before July 1, 2026)

How often

Every school year

Notarized?

Official form

mdek12.org/ocsa/home-school/

Ongoing reporting

Yes, once a year

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects

Mississippi does not name required subjects — the curriculum is yours to choose.

Instruction time

Mississippi sets no minimum number of days or hours.

Who may teach

No teaching certificate, degree, or credential is required of you.

Keeping records

No retention period is set. Keeping a simple folder is still worth doing.

Legal routes

Home Instruction Program — return an annual certificate of enrollment to your local school attendance officer by August 15; the form asks for the child's name, address, phone and date of birth, the parent's name, address and phone, the school district, and a simple description of the education; the program must not be operated 'for the purpose of avoiding or circumventing the compulsory attendance law'
Private or church school: enroll in a nonpublic school; the school official completes the certificate of enrollment for its students

Umbrella / cover schools

Mississippi's enrollment page does not describe a state umbrella school system. Families file the certificate of enrollment directly, or enroll in a private or church school, whose official completes it. The page lists the Mississippi Home Educators Association among its resources.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Dual enrollment

Whether a homeschooled student can take college courses while still in high school depends on the college. Check with the college's admissions office.

Diplomas

Check with the colleges you are interested in about diplomas and transcripts for home instruction. The state's home school page suggests keeping a portfolio of samples, assignments, projects and assessments, and a log of books and materials.

College admissions

College admissions requirements vary by institution. Check each college's current admissions page for its homeschool applicant requirements.

Support for additional needs

Special-education eligibility and services after withdrawal from public school depend on your circumstances and the applicable rules. Confirm with your school district or your state education agency.

Money your family can claim in Mississippi

No program on file yet

See the states where funding is confirmed →

Questions parents ask about Mississippi

Is homeschooling legal in Mississippi?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Mississippi. Mississippi is considered one of the easiest states for homeschoolers — minimal regulation, no notice required, and maximum family freedom.

Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Mississippi?

How many instruction days are required in Mississippi?

Mississippi does not mandate a minimum amount of instruction time.

What subjects are required by law in Mississippi?

Mississippi does not mandate specific subjects, giving families complete freedom to design their own curriculum.

Does Mississippi require annual assessment for homeschoolers?

No. Mississippi does not require formal annual assessment. Families may voluntarily track progress for college application purposes.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Mississippi?

No. Mississippi does not require parents to hold a teaching certificate or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.

Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Mississippi?

Rules about homeschooled students taking part in public school sports and activities differ by state and by district. Check with your local school district and your state athletic association.

Worth knowing about Mississippi