Source: https://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/state-by-state/missouri/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 16:54:29+00:00

Document:
Homeschool statute: Parents must provide required hours of instruction in reading, math, social studies, language arts, and science, must maintain basic academic records. There are no notification, parent qualification, or assessment requirements, and students’ academic records may only be inspected in case of legal investigation.
“A parent, guardian or other person in this state having charge, control, or custody of a child between the ages of seven years of age and the compulsory attendance age for the district shall cause the child to attend regularly some public, private, parochial, parish, home school or a combination of such schools.” See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.1. “A ‘home school’ is a school . . . that has as its primary purpose the provision of private or religious-based instruction; enrolls pupils . . . of which no more than four are unrelated . . . and does not charge or receive consideration in the form of tuition.” See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.2. For the entire relevant statute, see Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.1 through § 167.031.7.
Days or hours: Parents are required to provide 1,000 hours of instruction each year. At least 600 of those hours must be in the five reading, math, social studies, language arts, and science, and at least 400 of those 600 must occur “at the regular home school location.” See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.2(2)(b).
Subjects: Parents must provide at least 600 hours of instruction per year in reading, math, social studies, language arts, and science. See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.2(2)(b).
Bookkeeping: Parents must maintain “a plan book, diary, or other written record indicating subjects taught and activities engaged in; and a portfolio of samples of the child’s academic progress; or other written, or credible evidence equivalent.” See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.2(2)(a).
Intervention: Educational neglect includes “failure to provide . . . education required by law.” See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 210.167. Social services investigates reports of educational neglect. If the investigation involves allegations of a violation of the state’s homeschool law, “the local office of the division shall send the report to the school district in which the child resides” and “the school district shall immediately refer all private, parochial, parish or home school matters to the prosecuting attorney of the county wherein the child legally resides.” See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 210.167. State statute stipulates that the records outlined in the bookkeeping section of the homeschool law “shall be subject to review only by the local prosecuting attorney.” See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.7. Should a family face prosecution, “the production by a parent of a daily log showing that a home school has a course of instruction which satisfies the requirements of this section . . . shall be a defense to any prosecution under this section and to any charge or action for educational neglect.” See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.5.
Other: For students who have turned 16, parents no longer need to follow the hours of instruction or bookkeeping requirements. See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.2(3). However, compulsory attendance, and thus enrollment in a homeschool, continues until a student turns 17 or completes sixteen credits toward high school graduation. See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.6. For students who are over the age of 16 and attended a metropolitan school district the year before a letter stating that the student is being homeschooled in compliance with the law should be produced as a defense against prosecution. See Mo. Ann. Stat. § 167.031.5.

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