Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Mississippi?

Yes. You send notice to the School Attendance Officer (SAO) for the area where your child lives, under the MDE Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement, each year by August 15 per current MDE guidance and Rule 30.7 (the statute says on or before September 15). MDE says to wait until the current school year has ended before enrolling for the upcoming year. If you withdraw a child from public school during the year, file when you begin home instruction. How often: annually. Complete and sign the MDE Home School Certificate of Enrollment (electronic signature allowed) and give it to your local School Attendance Officer, or email it to homeschool@mdek12.org; keep a copy.

What subjects do I have to teach in Mississippi?

Mississippi requires: None specified by law (MDE recommends reviewing the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards).

What records should I keep when homeschooling in Mississippi?

A copy of each year's Certificate of Enrollment (required by MDE guidance); Recommended by MDE: a portfolio for each child with samples of activities, assignments, projects, and assessments, a log of books and materials used, and any national test results.

How to homeschool in Mississippi

Low regulationChecked against official sources October 9, 2026

Mississippi requires just one thing: each year you file a short Certificate of Enrollment with your local School Attendance Officer for every homeschooled child ages 6-16. There are no required subjects, tests, teacher qualifications, or minimum hours. The Mississippi Department of Education now says the certificate is due by August 15 each year (the statute says September 15), so filing by August 15 keeps you safe either way.

Homeschooling in Mississippi at a glance: notice of intent required (send to the School Attendance Officer (SAO) for the area where your child lives, under the MDE Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement); instruction time: not specified; 1 required subject areas; testing: none required.

Requirements in Mississippi

Legitimate home instruction program · Miss. Code Ann. § 37-13-91; Miss. State Board of Education Rule 30.7

A parent, guardian, or custodian educates a compulsory-school-age child at home. You file a Certificate of Enrollment each year with the School Attendance Officer for where your child lives; the state cannot ask for more than the information listed on the form. The program must not be set up to avoid or get around the compulsory attendance law.

Notice: Send to: the School Attendance Officer (SAO) for the area where your child lives, under the MDE Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement.
When: Each year by August 15 per current MDE guidance and Rule 30.7 (the statute says on or before September 15). MDE says to wait until the current school year has ended before enrolling for the upcoming year. If you withdraw a child from public school during the year, file when you begin home instruction.
How often: annually.
How: Complete and sign the MDE Home School Certificate of Enrollment (electronic signature allowed) and give it to your local School Attendance Officer, or email it to homeschool@mdek12.org; keep a copy.
Instruction time: Not specified.
Required subjects: None specified by law (MDE recommends reviewing the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards).
Records to keep: A copy of each year's Certificate of Enrollment (required by MDE guidance).
Recommended by MDE: a portfolio for each child with samples of activities, assignments, projects, and assessments, a log of books and materials used, and any national test results.
Testing / evaluation: None required.
Parent qualifications: None.
Also: If the School Attendance Officer gives you written notice that you are out of compliance, you have 10 days to comply.
A Certificate of Enrollment for a student past compulsory age is accepted only if the student was already in home instruction before reaching that age.

Official form: MDE Home School page and Certificate of Enrollment form

What the notice must include

Child's name, address, telephone number, and date of birth.
Parent, guardian, or custodian's name, address, and telephone number.
The school district where the child resides (and the county and school year, per the current form).
A simple description of the type of education the child is receiving (the form lets you check home instruction or home instruction - online program).
Signature of the parent, guardian, or custodian and the date signed.

Checklist

Withdraw your child from public school in writing (schools will not withdraw a student based on a phone call): before starting, if currently enrolled.
File the Home School Certificate of Enrollment with your School Attendance Officer (or email homeschool@mdek12.org) and keep a copy: each year by August 15 (after the prior school year ends), or when you begin homeschooling mid-year.
Keep a portfolio of work samples and a log of books and materials (recommended): ongoing.

Leaving a public school

Withdraw your child in writing; MDE says schools cannot withdraw a student based on a telephone call. Then file the Certificate of Enrollment with your School Attendance Officer. The law allows a child enrolled in public school at the start of the year to move to home instruction later in the year by sending the certificate at that time.

Common questions about homeschooling in Mississippi

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Mississippi?: Yes. You send notice to the School Attendance Officer (SAO) for the area where your child lives, under the MDE Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement, each year by August 15 per current MDE guidance and Rule 30.7 (the statute says on or before September 15). MDE says to wait until the current school year has ended before enrolling for the upcoming year. If you withdraw a child from public school during the year, file when you begin home instruction. How often: annually. Complete and sign the MDE Home School Certificate of Enrollment (electronic signature allowed) and give it to your local School Attendance Officer, or email it to homeschool@mdek12.org; keep a copy.
What subjects do I have to teach in Mississippi?: Mississippi requires: None specified by law (MDE recommends reviewing the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards).
How many days or hours of homeschool does Mississippi require?: Not specified.
Are standardized tests or evaluations required in Mississippi?: None required.
Do parents need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Mississippi?: None.
What records should I keep when homeschooling in Mississippi?: A copy of each year's Certificate of Enrollment (required by MDE guidance); Recommended by MDE: a portfolio for each child with samples of activities, assignments, projects, and assessments, a log of books and materials used, and any national test results.

Worth double-checking

Deadline conflict: the statute text we found (and MDE's own posted copy of it) says the certificate is due on or before September 15 each year, but MDE's home school page and its temporary State Board Rule 30.7 (July 2026) say August 15. We could not find a 2026 law changing the statute. File by August 15 to be safe, and confirm with your School Attendance Officer.
MDE now says Certificates of Enrollment come only from the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement (not your school district), and district staff must notify that office when a family says it will homeschool.
Compulsory school age is 6 (by September 1) through 16 (a child who turns 17 by September 1 is no longer covered); a 5-year-old enrolled in full-day public kindergarten is also covered.

Sources

This is a plain-language summary to help you get organized, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the details with your state or school district before you file.