Mississippi homeschool laws
Minimal regulation State Rank 9 of 56 (1 = easiest)
Confidence: High · Last verified:
Current regulations
Notification & registration Requirement exists
Every family must complete a Home School Certificate of Enrollment with the local School Attendance Officer by August 15 of each school year (MDE; Miss. Code 37-13-91(2)(c)); it may also be emailed to MDE. A family must wait until the current school year has ended before enrolling for the next year; mid-year starts are handled by filing the form then. Keep a copy. HSLDA says the form asks for names, address, phone, child's date of birth and a simple description of the education; the form itself was not read.
Parent / instructor qualifications None in scored pathway
None.
Required subjects None in scored pathway
None.
Testing & assessment None in scored pathway
None.
Records, days & reporting None in scored pathway
None required. MDE only recommends keeping a portfolio and aligning with state standards. HSLDA says the 180-day rule does not apply to home instruction (not independently confirmed).
Oversight None in scored pathway
District school attendance officer (receives certificate).
Immunization & other requirements None in scored pathway
None stated.
Legal pathways
- Home study program (Miss. Code 37-13-91)
Scored pathway: Home study program. The score uses the least-burdensome parent-led pathway defined in law (see methodology).
Who to notify & where to start
Every family must complete a Home School Certificate of Enrollment with the local School Attendance Officer by August 15 of each school year (MDE; Miss. Code 37-13-91(2)(c)); it may also be emailed to MDE. A family must wait until the current school year has ended before enrolling for the next year; mid-year starts are handled by filing the form then. Keep a copy. HSLDA says the form asks for names, address, phone, child's date of birth and a simple description of the education; the form itself was not read.
Official agency / statute links:
Recent changes
HSLDA page updated 2026-10-22; MDE certificate-of-enrollment form dated 2026-09-17 (linked by HSLDA).
Also see Law watch.
How the score breaks down
Regulation burden 5 / 100 → freedom score 95. Bars show burden points per criterion (longer = more burdensome). HSLDA's own map tier for comparison: Low (summary dated 2026-10-22).
Data notes
- The Certificate of Enrollment form contents were not read (PDF linked by HSLDA); the August 15 deadline and annual filing were confirmed on MDE's own page.
Sources
Primary / official
- MDE Certificate of Enrollment form (09.17.2026) (linked by HSLDA) — Linked by HSLDA; not independently fetched
- Mississippi Dept. of Education - Home School (Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement) — Content checked
Last verified . Spot an error or an update? See how to report a correction or email support@homeschoollawmap.com.
Helpful resources for Mississippi families
Types of services families in this jurisdiction commonly look for, based on the requirements above. These are categories, not endorsements.
Curriculum and course providers
Complete curricula, single-subject courses, and online programs, including options organized around required subjects.
Why shown: Mississippi has few or no mandated subjects, so curriculum is your choice.
Partner links coming soon.
Record-keeping and planning tools
Attendance logs, lesson planners, transcript and portfolio organizers for keeping the records your jurisdiction may ask for.
Why shown: Mississippi asks for notices, records, attendance, or instruction time in the scored pathway.
Partner links coming soon.
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