For some families, homeschooling is a more viable option than public school. Some children require more specific learning techniques and just more time with their teachers.
When you homeschool your kids, they will have your full attention, which will improve their learning.
This is one of many reasons why so many families in the United States have opted to homeschool.
If you live in the state of Mississippi, then it is completely legal to homeschool in the state. But there is some information you should be aware of.
If you want to homeschool in the state of Mississippi, then you have come to the right place. We have put together a complete guide to homeschooling in Mississippi, so read on to find out more.
Requirements For Homeschooling In Mississippi
Homeschooling in the state of Mississippi is incredibly simple, and it is a lot less regulated than some of the other states.
There are only a few requirements you need to meet, and it’s a very straightforward process in order to do so.
When it comes to the requirements for homeschooling in Mississippi, they are as follows:
Children between the ages of 6 to 17 in Mississippi must be enrolled in an education program. (Private, public, or homeschooling).
Families must complete a certificate of enrollment for each year with the attendance officer in the county of residence.
Aside from these requirements, nothing else is required by law when it comes to homeschooling in Mississippi.
This state is one of the more relaxed states; you will have lots of freedom over your children’s education and curriculum.
Certificate Of Enrollment
One of the most important things you need to do when you want to homeschool in the state of Mississippi is to fill out a Certificate of Enrollment.
This Certificate of Enrollment must be submitted for each child you plan on homeschooling, and it should be submitted to the school attendance officer of the county where you reside.
You will also need to renew this Certificate of Enrollment every academic year.
In the state of Mississippi, the following information should be included in your Certificate of Enrollment:
The name of the parents, as well as their address and phone number.
The names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth of each child you plan on homeschooling. (Fill them out as separate entities).
A description of the type of education that your child/children are receiving. This doesn’t have to be longwinded; just a simple description will suffice.
The signature of the parent or guardian.
Once you have written your Certificate of Enrollment, you must then submit it to the school attendance office in the area in which your children reside.
You must submit it no later than September 15 of each year. You can submit it earlier if you wish.
If you are switching from public schooling to homeschooling, you must submit the Certificate of Enrollment within 15 days of the beginning of the following school year.
It is incredibly important to submit your Certificate of Enrollment as early as possible and within the allotted time if you want to stay within the parameters of Mississippi state law.
Record Keeping In Mississippi
Mississippi does not require any record keeping, so you do not have to keep any if you don’t want to.
That being said, it is strongly advised that you do keep records, but not for legal reasons.
If your child is closer to graduating age, having a high school portfolio and records can help them when it comes to graduating and getting into college.
Not every child goes to college, but having a record of their accomplishments and grades can help if they do decide to go down that route.
It is also helpful to keep records if your children ever plan on returning to public school. Having these records in that situation can help place them in the right grade and make the whole process a bit faster.
If you do plan on keeping records for your children, here are some of the best things to keep on file:
Extracurricular activities and accomplishments.
Grades for each semester or academic year.
A portfolio of selected pieces of work for college or returning to public school reasons.
Standardized test scores (if your children take them while being homeschooled).
Qualifications For Homeschooling In Mississippi
If you live in the state of Mississippi and plan on homeschooling, then you do not need any requirements in order to do so.
As long as you are the parent or legal guardian of the children who are being homeschooled, then you are staying within the parameters of Mississippi homeschooling law.
Required Subjects For Homeschooling In Mississippi
In Mississippi, there is no list of required subjects that you must teach. You are free to plan and create a homeschooling curriculum that is suitable for you and your children.
Because there are no required subjects in the state of Mississippi, homeschooling families have more freedom to create a curriculum that will benefit both the parents and children.
Talk to your kids about their educational interests and see what style of learning they respond to best. Make sure that you make your curriculum as age-appropriate as possible, too.
Days Required For Homeschooling In Mississippi
Though the state of Mississippi is quite relaxed in its laws regarding homeschooling, there are a few requirements you need to follow. One of these requirements is how many days you homeschool.
The required number of days for homeschooling in Mississippi is 180 days of instruction. While you must meet this requirement, how you meet this requirement is adaptable to your situation.
You can decide which days you instruct and what hours work best for you and your children.
Work out a schedule with your kids that works for you both.
Standardized Testing In Mississippi
In the state of Mississippi, there are no requirements for homeschoolers to participate in standardized testing. You are well within your rights in the state to not have them take any of these tests.
However, if you want your kids to take part in standardized testing, you can take this option. Simply contact your local school district if you want to pursue this avenue.
Your school district will be able to point you in the right direction and help you find all the information and resources you need.
While Mississippi state law does not require standardized testing, it does look good on high school transcripts for college.
Having standardized test results can also help if you ever plan to return your children to public school.
Generally, how and when you decide your kids graduate as the parent-teacher.
How your children graduate as homeschoolers largely depends on their future plans and what you deem relevant.
If your kids plan on going to college, you may want to look into what their chosen school requires. You can then base their graduation goals and requirements on that.
You can also look into the traditional public school graduation requirements if you do not know where to begin.
You have a lot of freedom in how and when your children graduate, so do a bit of research and see what works best for you and your kids.
Returning To Public School
Homeschooling is a viable option for many families who will homeschool up to graduation. But this is not the case in every situation. Sometimes, families need to return to public schooling.
If you live in the state of Mississippi and your kids want to return to public school, this is absolutely an option.
When it comes to reenrolling into public school after homeschooling, it is important to know that each school has different requirements and guidelines, so you will need to contact your school district and set up meetings with potential schools.
Lots of schools will require your children to take tests in order to place them in the appropriate grade, but if you have kept a portfolio, this can help your kids get placed faster.
Mississippi is very relaxed in its approach to homeschooling, so if you live in this state, you should not have many requirements to meet.
As long as you remember to write and submit a Certificate of Enrollment by the appropriate date, you should have no issues in homeschooling your children.
If you have any more questions or queries about homeschooling in Mississippi, you can contact your local school district.
They can answer any additional questions you have and point you in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
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