Know Your State Laws
MS Homeschool Resources
Be sure to take a look at our other homeschool resources for Parents and Students
What is the Compulsory Age for HS in Mississippi?
According to MS Homeschool Policy defined by the Mississippi Department of Education, "Pursuant to the Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated Section 37-13-91, the Mississippi Legislature requires all compulsory-school-age children who have attained or will attain the age of six (6) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year and who have not attained the age of seventeen (17) years on or before September 1 of the calendar year; to enroll in and attend a public, private or home school."
Do I need to Notify the School of My Intent to Homeschool my Child(ren)?
In accordance MS Code 37-13-91, “The parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child described in this subsection, or the parent, guardian or custodian of a compulsory-school-age child attending any nonpublic school, or the appropriate school official for any or all children attending a nonpublic school shall complete a “certificate of enrollment” in order to facilitate the administration of this section. The form of the certificate of enrollment shall be prepared by the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement of the State Department of Education and shall be designed to obtain the following information only:
-- The name, address, telephone number and date of birth of the compulsory-school-age-child;
-- The name, address and telephone number of the parent, guardian or custodian of the compulsory-school-age child;
-- A simple description of the type of education the compulsory-school-age child is receiving and, if the child is enrolled in a nonpublic school, the name and address of the school; and
-- The signature of the parent, guardian or custodian of the compulsory-school-age child or, for any or all compulsory-school-age child or children attending a nonpublic school, the signature of the appropriate school official and the date signed.
The certificate of enrollment shall be returned to the school attendance officer where the child resides on or before September 15 of each year. […] However, in the event the child has been enrolled in a public school within fifteen (15) calendar days after the first day of the school year as required in subsection (6), the parent or custodian may, at a later date, enroll the child in a legitimate nonpublic school or legitimate home instruction program and send the certificate of enrollment to the school attendance officer and be in compliance.”