How To Start Homeschooling In Missouri Blog

Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) that has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state's homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state's requirements . Parents are also encouraged to review their state's requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education , as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; however, with a freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you're not alone in this endeavour. Enlightium Academy is here to help!

Please, note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Missouri homeschooling requirements.

Missouri's Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance

Missouri table

Academic Calendar

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires at least 1,000 hours of instruction each school term; which is less than six hours of instruction each day for 180 days.

Enlightium's school calendar has 180 school days (210 days with summer school). Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays.

Age Requirement

Ages six or younger:

Students are not required to attend school, but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.

Ages seven through 16:

Students must attend school by the start of the school term.* This includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents' choice until they either graduate or turn 17.

*In Missouri, the school term does not necessarily mean when the public schools start school. You can choose when the school term starts, but it must remain from year to year and it must apply to all of the students you are homeschooling. Families enrolled in Enlightium can have their school term aligned with the beginning of Enlightium's school year.

Instructor Qualifications

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not require homeschool students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications.

As a part of Enlightium Academy's dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI certified. A number of our faculty members have Masters and Doctorate degrees in their fields. The teacher-led support packages are available for students in grades 3-12. Learn more at our Teachers page.

Enlightium Academy also offers parent-led options for grades PreK-2 and for students in grades 3-10 Bronze support package. Under the parent-led option, parents act as teachers while Enlightium Academy provides grading and guidance support.

Required Subjects

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires the following subjects:

Reading/Language Arts
Math
Social Studies
Science

The above subjects are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student's counselor. Of the required 1,000 hours of instruction each school term, 600 must be among the core subjects.

At Enlightium, you can request custom reports to show a log of time spent in each course by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Standardized Assessment

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not require a standardized test for homeschooled students. However, Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per given grade level:

Grades 3-8: IXL diagnostic assessments
Grades 3-10: Stanford 10 standardized assessment
Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT

Keep a Portfolio

You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy which should include:

Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with weekly progress reports. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the registration process - Primary School (PreK-2), Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12).
Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students after quarters 1 and 3 and report cards/transcripts at the end of semesters 1 and 2.
Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar's List, Dean's List, and the Presidential Award.
Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and spelling bees.

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Missouri Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Missouri to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state's homeschooling requirements.

Your family will be automatically added to this group upon enrolling at Enlightium and downloading the Enlightium Parents app (which is provided upon enrollment).

Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

Explore Enlightium Academy's website or watch this video about online homeschooling.
If you have any questions:
1. Chat with a team member
2. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process and select the blue button near the top of the page.

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (866) 488-4818, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

Sources reviewed in June 2021: