State laws change from time to time and though we try to keep the laws up-to-date at all times please check with the department of education for any changes that may have occurred.
It’s practical, safe and you can do it from home: homeschooling is increasingly popular educational alternative among many parents who wish to be more directly involved in their children’s education.
If you plan to do so yourself, you’re about to join a great community of fellow homeschoolers, always ready to offer advice and resources. We’ll show you how to start homeschooling in Missouri without too much effort. We’ll go through some of the main educational opportunities offered by The Show Me State, give you an introduction of the main homeschool laws, and point you to some great online homeschooling sites and an infographic and video that will help you homeschool in Missouri right away!
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The Show Me State
From an educational point of view, isn’t this just a superb nickname? Just like a XIX century congressman claimed facts instead of eloquence – hence the famous “I’m from Missouri, so you’ll have to show me” – so will your children ask you to show them the many attractions that make Missouri such a great state.
To start with, you’re living in a very geographically-diverse state, with everything from marshes to mountains, and with over 6,000 caves for your little spelunker. Go hiking through the Dogwood Canyon National Park, explore the rock formations in the Pickle Springs Natural Area, or take a cave tour in the Fantastic Caverns of Springfield.
History and Arts are well-represented in Missouri, too. Visit the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, take a virtual tour of the Titanic at the Titanic Museum in Bronson, or take a look at some of the best paintings and other exhibits at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City) and the Saint Louis Art Museum.
All in all, Missouri is a great state to start homeschooling your children, with plenty of educational opportunities for every tastes.
Missouri Homeschool Laws
The homeschooling laws in Missouri are extremely permissive, with no compulsory notice of intent and qualifications, no state-imposed assessment and only minimal bookkeeping.
What the law does mention is the compulsory number of instruction hours – 1,000 per year – 600 of which must be in a compulsory set of subjects: social sciences, math, reading, language arts, and science. 400 of the 600 hours must occur at home, which allows you 200 hours of instruction for road trips and visits to museums.
If you plan to homeschool in Missouri, you’ll have to keep a record of your children’s activities and the subjects you’re teaching, but you won’t have to provide it to the local school district. You’re only legally required to provide it if you’re being prosecuted for educational neglect.
You can find out more about the Missouri homeschooling requirements here: http://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/state-by-state/missouri/
Homeschooling in MO Friendliness Grade
The multitude of educational opportunities and the down-to-earth, easy-to-manage Missouri homeschool requirements earn The Show Me State a well-deserved A when it comes to homeschool friendliness. Missouri offers something for all educational preferences, and you can start homeschooling right away without worrying about notifying the school district. Starting your homeschool journey should be easy, and you should have lots of fun doing it!
Conclusion
If you plan to homeschool, Missouri is a great place to start. You’ve got a decent, reasonable homeschool statute that will not require you to put in massive amounts of paper work, the state is a colorful blend of educational opportunities, from cave expeditions to thematic museum, and the homeschooling community is active and always available. You really couldn’t wish for much more than that.
If you’ve got any questions, we’re always here for you – contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help you!
Resources
http://www.unexpectedhomeschool.net/p/about_14.html - a great blog documenting the journey of a homeschooling mom in Missouri
http://jcsecularhomeschooling.blogspot.com – an active Jefferson City-based group where you can find events and get in touch with other homeschoolers