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Missouri

• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 7 and 16. ($ 167.031)

• Required Days of Instruction: 1,000 hours of instruction. At least 600 hours must be in the five Required Subjects: At least 400 hours of the 600 must occur at "the regular home school location." (§167.031.2(2)(b)) The hour requirement must be met within the term (not more than 12 months) which beginning and ending date the parents establish.

• Required Subjects: Reading, math, social studies, language arts, and science.
   (§ 167.031.2(2)(b))

• Teacher Qualifications: None.

• Standardized Tests: None.

• Home schools must meet the following additional requirements:
   1. A home school is defined as a school that:
       a. "has as its primary purpose the provision of private or religious-based instruction;
       b. enrolls pupils between the ages of seven and sixteen years, of which no more than four are unrelated" (no limit on number of related students); and
       c. does not charge or receive tuition, fees or other remuneration.
           (§ 167.031.2(1)(a)-(c))
   2. Home schools must maintain the following records (there is no requirement to submit them):
       a. a plan book, diary, or other record indicating subjects taught and activities engaged in;
       b. and "a portfolio of samples of child's academic work" or "other written credible evidence, etc.";
       c. and "a record of evaluations of the child's academic progress";
       d. or "other written, credible evidence equivalent to subparagraphs a) b) and c)" §167.031.2(2)(a). This means parents have the option to follow: a, b, and c, or they can choose to follow only d) which permits more flexibility.
   3. "For the purpose of minimizing unnecessary investigations" parents "may provide to the recorder of deeds of the county where the child legally resides, a signed,  written declaration of enrollment stating their intent" to home school within thirty days after establishment of the home school and on Sept. 1 each year thereafter.  (§ 167.042). Filing is strictly optional. Filing may compromise the family's privacy.
   4. "Nothing in this section shall require a … home school to include in its curriculum any concept, topic, or practice in conflict with the school's religious doctrines…."
        (§ 167.031.3).
   5. "The production by a parent of a daily log showing that a home school has a course of instruction which satisfies the requirements of this section (See 1 and 2 above) shall be a defense to any prosecution under this section and to any charge or action for educational neglect." (§ 167.031 (5)).

Reference: Click Here

Missouri State High School Graduation Requirements

  • English units:  3. Referred to as "Communication Arts."
    • Eff. Class of 2010: 4
  • Math units:  2
    • Eff. Class of 2010:  3
  • Social studies units: 2. One of the 2 units must be American history. Students must also pass exam "on the provisions and principles" of the U.S. and Missouri constitutions "and in American history and American institutions." Test may be given at any grade 7-12.
    • Eff. Class of 2010: 3
  • Science units:  2
    • Eff. Class of 2010: 3
  • P.E./Health units:  1. 1 unit P.E
    • Eff. Class of 2010: 1.5. 1 unit P.E. and .5 unit health education.
  • Arts:  1
  • Foreign language:  0
  • Electives units:  10
    • Eff. Class of 2010: 7
  • Other units:  1
    • Eff. Class of 2010: 1.5 Notes: Pre- and post-2010: Students must complete 1 unit "Practical Arts," which unit must be "designed to provide life skills or to contribute particularly to the student’s career goals." Eff. Class of 2010: 1 unit practical arts and .5 unit "personal finance."

TOTAL # units:  22
Eff. Class of 2010: 24

Other diploma options.  State offers honors/college prep curriculum option and proficiency-based credit option. State does not offer technical diploma option.

MO. ANN. STAT. § 170.011; MO. CODE REGS. ANN. tit. 5, § 50-345.300

Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.

A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.


Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in Missouri
Colleges in Missouri