How to Homeschool in Missouri

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While the Missouri state government does not issue any regulations for homeschoolers or monitor families that choose to homeschool, there are still several requirements you should know about. In this article you will find the following:

An overview of Missouri homeschool laws,
An introduction to homeschool groups in Missouri, and
A description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started.

* This page does not contain legal advice and is not an endorsement of any homeschool groups listed. (see disclaimer)

Missouri Homeschool Laws

Once you have made the decision to homeschool, your first step will be to notify the local chief school officer or recorder of deeds of your intent to homeschool. While you are not required to submit this notification, it is recommended to avoid any truancy charges. This document should be submitted within 30 days of your decision to homeschool and by September 1st each school year following. It should contain the following information:

Name and age of each child to be homeschooled
Address and telephone number for the school (your home)
Name of each person responsible for teaching
Name, address, and signature for all members submitting the intent (likely the child's guardians)

While this document contains the names of all adults who will be responsible for educating your child, Missouri law does not have any regulations qualifying a person to teach. You as the head of your child's homeschool determine the education and certification requirements for those involved in educating your child.

Missouri does not monitor homeschool records, but they do recommend you keep and maintain records of your child's education. Be sure to keep a record of the following:

Subjects taught/learning activities (plan book, diary, or daily log)
Portfolio of student's work
Student's academic progress (you can choose what to include in these records: a gradebook or updated written notes on progress would both work well)
Attendance (students are required to attend 1000 hours of instruction yearly; be sure to maintain a record of hours and days of instruction)

Of the 1000 hours of instruction required, 600 must be in the following basic subjects:

Reading
Language arts
Mathematics
Social studies
Science

Homeschool Groups in Missouri

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in Missouri to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

Family Covenant Ministries of Missouri

http://www.familycovenantministries.com/

This Christian organization has been serving families in Missouri for 25 years. With no membership fee and over 40 local support groups statewide, this organization is a great place to start. They also host annual conferences, curriculum fairs, spelling bees, and a variety of family outings and events.

Families for Home Education (FHE)

http://www.fhe-mo.org/

This statewide organization publishes a guide to homeschooling along with a newsletter published 3-4 times per year. Their website also provides a variety of resources to help you get started and continue developing your homeschool.

Clay-Patte Home Educators (CPHE)

http://cphecorp.org

This Christian organization provides a wealth of information and support for homeschooling families. Volunteers for the CPHE organize monthly meetings, spelling bees, and social gatherings.

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NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for Missouri

Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Missouri. All of the Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The Missouri legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

Hands-on activities,
Differentiated options, and
Independent projects.

Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Beyond the Page for your child.

Choose an age level to continue:

Age 4-5

Age 5-7

Age 6-8

Age 7-9

Age 8-10

Age 9-11

Age 10-12

Age 11-13

Age 12-14

Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.