Is homeschooling legal in Mississippi?
Yes, homeschooling is fully legal in Mississippi. Mississippi keeps homeschooling refreshingly simple: one short form a year, and the rest is up to you. There is no required curriculum, no testing, no teacher qualification, and no minimum hours. If you can fill out a certificate of enrollment by September 15, you have met the legal requirements.
Mississippi homeschool requirements at a glance
| Notice required | Yes. An annual certificate of enrollment filed with your school attendance officer by September 15. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | No. Mississippi does not mandate any subjects. |
| Testing / assessment | No. No testing or evaluations are required. |
| Recordkeeping | No. The state requires no ongoing records, though keeping some is wise. |
| Parent qualifications | None. No diploma or certification required. |
Mississippi homeschool law in detail
We link the governing law so you can read it yourself instead of taking our word for it. The governing law is Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-91 (Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law).
Notice / letter of intent
Each year, on or before September 15, file a certificate of enrollment for each homeschooled child age 6 to 17 with the school attendance officer of the public school district where you live (Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-91). The certificate asks for the parent and child names, address, phone number, the child's date of birth, and a simple description of the type of education being provided. You can get the form from your local attendance officer or download it from the Mississippi Department of Education website. If you start homeschooling mid-year, file right away rather than waiting for the next September. Keep a copy for your records.
Required subjects
Mississippi does not require any particular subjects, curriculum, or course of study. The "simple description" on the certificate of enrollment can be exactly that: a sentence or two about your educational program. You choose materials and methods that fit your child.
Required days or hours
There is no required number of instructional days or hours for Mississippi homeschools. You set your own calendar and daily schedule.
Recordkeeping
The state requires no attendance logs, grade reports, or portfolios from homeschooling families. That said, keeping a simple record of curriculum used, work samples, and grades makes life much easier if your child later enrolls in school, applies to college, or needs a transcript. You are the keeper of your child's academic history, so build the habit early.
Testing and assessment
Mississippi requires no standardized testing or professional evaluation at any grade level. Families who want a benchmark can test privately, but the state never asks for results.
Withdrawing from public school
If your child is enrolled in public school, send the school a short written withdrawal letter and file your certificate of enrollment with the attendance officer at the same time. Filing promptly matters because the certificate is what shows your child is lawfully educated at home. One caution from the statute: a home program may not be operated for the purpose of evading the compulsory attendance law, so file in good faith and keep your copy.
Good to know
Mississippi has no umbrella school requirement and no state-recognized homeschool organizations you must join; groups like the Mississippi Home Educators Association are purely voluntary support networks. The attendance officer system means your main point of contact is a district-level official, and experiences vary by county, so keep your filed copies handy if questions ever come up.
How to start homeschooling in Mississippi
- Step 1: Request the certificate of enrollment form from your district's school attendance officer, or download it from the Mississippi Department of Education website.
- Step 2: Fill it out for each child age 6 to 17: names, address, phone, date of birth, and a simple description of your educational program.
- Step 3: File it with the attendance officer by September 15 (or immediately if starting mid-year) and keep a copy.
- Step 4: If your child is currently in public school, hand the school a written withdrawal letter the same week.
- Step 5: Choose your curriculum, set your own calendar, and start a simple record folder for each child. Refile the certificate every year by September 15.
File your notice
Mississippi requires a Certificate of Enrollment filed each year with the local School Attendance Officer for every homeschooled child, due by September 15.
- Mississippi Home School Certificate of Enrollment (MDE)
- Mississippi Department of Education Home School page
No login and no fee to file. If you need wording, our fill-in-the-blank letter template is just below.
Form links checked when we built this page.
Homeschool funding in Mississippi
We're verifying Mississippi's funding programs against official sources right now, dollar amounts and rules change yearly, and we'd rather be right than first. Check back soon.
Free Mississippi Certificate of Enrollment cover letter template
Fill-in-the-blank and ready to send. Free, no email required.
Download the free templateFind homeschool families near you in Mississippi
Co-Op
- Christian Home Educators of Lowndes County (CHELC) · Columbus (Lowndes County)
A Christian homeschool group serving Lowndes and surrounding Golden Triangle counties with educational field trips, seasonal social gatherings, and mom's social events. Building friendships and supporting each other is a big part of who they strive to be.
Visit website - Christian Home Educators of Northeast Mississippi (CHENM) · Tupelo
A volunteer-led community where northeast Mississippi homeschool families share information, socialize, and join in sports, arts, and other group classes together. They're a support network rather than a curriculum provider, which makes it easy to plug in wherever your family needs friends.
Visit website - EAGLE Home School · Corinth (Alcorn County)
Serving northeast Mississippi families with fall and spring enrichment classes, sports programs, Iowa standardized testing, and social events all the way up to prom. A long-standing group built on a Biblical worldview with an active calendar year-round.
Visit website - HEARTS Homeschool Co-op · Biloxi (Gulf Coast)
A Christian homeschool co-op meeting on Popps Ferry Road in Biloxi, with class offerings already posted for the upcoming school year and a close-knit membership community. A solid weekly anchor for Gulf Coast homeschooling families.
Visit website - Home Educators of Southwest Mississippi (HESWM) · McComb (Pike County)
A nonprofit Christian homeschool group covering Pike, Lincoln, Lawrence, Walthall, Franklin, Amite, and Copiah counties, with weekly open gym, competitive basketball, cross country and cheer, field trips, Beta Club, prom, and graduations. A full social and athletic life for homeschoolers in the southwest corner of the state.
Visit website - Jackson Central Homeschool Program (JCHP) · Jackson
A secular, nonprofit two-day-a-week program for K-6th grade homeschoolers, with guided small-group instruction in math, science, language arts, and history. Families work assignments at home on off days, and the program prides itself on an inclusive environment that respects diverse viewpoints.
Visit website - Meridian Christian Home Educators (MCHE) · Meridian (Lauderdale County)
Around 100-120 member families strong, MCHE offers praise choir, park days, a mom's encouragement group, art club, teen night, and annual events from back-to-school kickoff to graduation. Activities are member-led and meant for fun and fellowship alongside your home education.
Visit website - Mississippi Homeschool Life · DeSoto County
A faith-based support group for homeschool families in DeSoto County and surrounding northwest Mississippi, with clubs, field trips, and family gatherings spanning kindergarten graduation through high school events and a teen banquet. Moms get their own night out, too.
Visit website - ReACHE (Reservoir Area Christian Home Educators) · Brandon (Rankin County)
A Christ-centered homeschool community on the reservoir side of the Jackson metro offering co-op classes for multiple age groups, park meetups, teen activities, service projects, and family gatherings. A welcoming hub if you want fellowship and support alongside your homeschool year.
Visit website
Forest & Nature School
- Barefoot University Forest School - Hattiesburg · Hattiesburg
A nature-based, child-led forest school chapter that gathers Thursday mornings at Paul B. Johnson State Park for weekly outdoor learning in nature-based sciences, outdoor skills, art, and more. A sweet way for Pine Belt homeschool kids to grow up learning outside together.
Visit website - Mississippi Delta Nature and Learning Center · Greenville (Washington County)
Thirty acres of Delta bottomland forest, wetlands, and trails with a 3-acre Heart and Soul Children's Garden for ages 1-12, field trips, a youth farm, and outdoor adventure summer camps. Founded by two teachers to give Delta kids hands-on experiences that spark creativity and critical thinking.
Visit website - The Crosby Arboretum · Picayune (Pearl River County)
MSU Extension's native-plant arboretum offers children's nature education programs and summer nature camps, plus wildlife field days that welcome homeschool groups, all set among pitcher-plant bogs and woodland trails. A beautiful outdoor classroom for families in the Picayune and coastal area.
Visit website
Homeschooling in nearby states
Mississippi homeschooling FAQ
Is the certificate of enrollment an application that can be denied?
No. It is a notice, not a request for permission. The attendance officer receives it; no one approves or rejects your curriculum or qualifications.
What do I write for the "simple description" of my program?
A sentence or two is genuinely enough, such as naming your curriculum or listing the subjects you plan to cover. The statute itself calls it a simple description, so do not overthink it.
Do I file every year, even if nothing changed?
Yes. The certificate is due each year on or before September 15 for every homeschooled child between 6 and 17. Set a calendar reminder for late August.
Does Mississippi require testing or minimum hours?
No. There is no testing requirement, no required subjects, and no minimum days or hours. Mississippi is among the least regulated homeschool states.
Who gives my child a diploma and transcript?
You do, as the parent running the home program. Mississippi colleges and employers accept parent-issued transcripts, usually alongside ACT or SAT scores for university admission, so keep good high school records.
Can homeschoolers join public school sports or classes in Mississippi?
Mississippi has historically not guaranteed homeschoolers access to public school sports through the MHSAA Ask your local district what it allows, and check for new laws each year.
Sources
- Mississippi DOE, Home School (Compulsory School Attendance)
- Mississippi DOE, Certificate of Enrollment (PDF)
- HSLDA, Mississippi
- HSLDA, How to Comply with Mississippi's Homeschool Law
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Homeschool laws change, always confirm current requirements with your state's official sources before relying on them.