MS

How to Start Homeschooling in Mississippi (2026)

Mississippi law requires a parent of a child who has attained or will attain age six on or before September 1, and has not attained age seventeen on or before that date, to enroll the child in a public or legitimate nonpublic school or to educate the child in a legitimate home instruction program, and to return a certificate of enrollment to the school attendance officer on or before August 15 each year (Miss. Code Ann. 37-13-91(2)(f) and 37-13-91(3)).

Legal framework

Mississippi Code Section 37-13-91, the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law, as amended by Senate Bill 2103 of the 2026 Regular Session effective July 1, 2026, applies to a compulsory-school-age child, defined as a child who has attained or will attain age six, and has not attained age seventeen, on or before September 1 (Section 37-13-91(2)(f)). The definition also includes a child who has attained or will attain the age of five on or before September 1 and has enrolled in a full-day public school kindergarten program (Section 37-13-91(2)(f)). A parent, guardian or custodian shall cause the child to enroll in and attend a public school or legitimate nonpublic school, except when the child is being educated in a legitimate home instruction program (Section 37-13-91(3)(c)). The definition of a nonpublic school includes home instruction programs (Section 37-13-91(2)(i)). The parent, guardian or custodian completes a certificate of enrollment, on a form prepared by the State Department of Education's Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement, and returns it to the school attendance officer where the child resides on or before August 15 of each year (Section 37-13-91(3)). A parent, guardian or custodian found by the school attendance officer to be in noncompliance must comply within ten days after written notice of the noncompliance from the school attendance officer or be in violation of the section (Section 37-13-91(3)). A home instruction program is legitimate if it is not operated or instituted to avoid or circumvent the compulsory attendance law (Section 37-13-91(3)).