CURRENT GRADE: F
There is virtually no education choice in the state.
Homeschooling requirements aren’t overly burdensome but does have some state requirements.
Compulsory education is required for ages 7-17.
Education Options
- Missouri K-12 Scholarship Program
- Permits state tax credits for contributions to approved non-profit organization that award scholarships to students with Individual Education Plans and students in low-income households.
- Approximately 1500 students were served in 2023.
- Charter Schools
- Any student residing in a district with a charter school may elect to attend.
- Any student in an unaccredited school district may transfer to an approved charter school in the same or adjoining county.
- As of 2023 there are 37 in the state.
Homeschooling Laws
Here are state requirements for homeschooling:
- At least 1,000 hours of instruction every school term.
- 600 hours must include reading, math, social studies, language arts, and science.
- Must maintain daily logs of instruction, samples of child’s work, and academic evaluations under age 16.
- The Missouri State High School Athletic Association requires homeschool students to be enrolled in a minimum number of classes at a public school before they can participate in any sports overseen by the association.
Religious Exemptions:
There is no standard procedure by which a parent can receive a religious exemption to homeschool.
The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.
It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)
