Homeschooling is an increasingly popular choice for parents who want to provide a personalized education for their children. Mississippi is one of the states that allows homeschooling and provides regulations to ensure children receive a quality education.
Mississippi requires parents to register their homeschools and adhere to specific criteria, including setting up a curriculum and keeping records of their children’s educational progress. While the regulations may seem daunting, they are designed to ensure that homeschooled children in Mississippi receive a quality education that prepares them for their futures.
Following the state’s requirements, parents can provide their children with a personalized, quality education that meets the same standards as traditional schools.
Overview of Homeschooling in Mississippi
Mississippi is one of the most popular states for homeschooling, with an estimated 16,000 students being educated at home every year. Most homeschoolers in Mississippi are middle-class, and most students being homeschooled in Mississippi are educated by their parents instead of being educated with a tutor or a private school.
Although homeschooling is more common among white families, the number of black families choosing to homeschool their children is growing. Homeschooling is a growing trend in Mississippi and across the United States. The National Center for Education Statistics found that homeschooled students increased from 1.5 million in 2003 to 2.3 million in 2017.
There are many reasons why parents choose to homeschool their children, including the desire for more individualized instruction, personal or religious beliefs, and dissatisfaction with the quality of the public school. Mississippi recognizes the benefits of homeschooling and has regulations to ensure homeschooled students receive a quality education.
Mississippi Homeschool Laws
All students in Mississippi must be enrolled in a school district and be subject to compulsory attendance laws. However, Mississippi also has regulations allowing parents to homeschool their children if they meet the state’s criteria.
Mississippi’s homeschool laws require parents to register their home education program with their district’s school board. Parents should contact the board at least 30 days before homeschooling their child. Once registered, parents must also submit annual progress reports documenting their child’s academic progress.
Requirements for Homeschooling in Mississippi
Before beginning a homeschooling program in Mississippi, parents must understand the regulations and requirements that must be met. Parents must have their homeschool program registered with their school board.
Parents must also have a written curriculum designed to meet the educational standards expected of public school students. Parents are required to keep records of their child’s academic progress. Parents must also provide their children with a certain amount of instruction time each year, as the Mississippi Department of Education outlines.
Registration
Parents who wish to homeschool their children must first register their homeschool program with their district’s school board. Parents are required to submit a written notice of their intent to homeschool 30 days before they begin homeschooling their child.
Registration forms can be obtained from the district’s school board or online. Parents should submit their registration forms at least 30 days before homeschooling their children, so their board can review their program. Registration is free and does not need to be renewed annually.
Parents who homeschool their children are also required to submit an annual progress report documenting their child’s academic progress.
Curriculum
Parents who homeschool their children in Mississippi are required to implement a written curriculum. Parents must design a curriculum that covers the same academic standards as those taught in Mississippi’s public schools.
Parents can choose to use a curriculum designed for homeschooling or find one modeled after the standards taught in public schools. Parents should be prepared to submit their curriculum to their board if their district audits them. Parents must also document their child’s progress against this curriculum.
Records
Parents who homeschool their children in Mississippi are required to keep academic records. Parents should keep standardized testing and progress reports documenting their child’s progress against the curriculum they have implemented.
Parents should keep all academic records for at least one year after their child has completed their homeschooling program. Academic records should include any standardized testing the child took during the year. Parents may be asked to provide their records to their board at any time.
Parents should keep standardized testing, like the ACT or the Mississippi Curriculum Assessment Test, in a sealed envelope with their child’s name on it.
Benefits of Homeschooling in Mississippi
There are many benefits to choosing to homeschool your children. Some of the most popular benefits include the ability to provide individualized education, the opportunity to incorporate your child’s unique interests, and the chance to set your child up for success by tailoring their education based on their future plans.
Education is crucial, and parents can help their children start on the right track by providing them with a quality education that meets the same standards as a traditional school. Mississippi homeschool laws were created with these goals in mind.
Parents who homeschool their children can help them prepare for their futures by providing them with a personalized, quality education that meets the same standards as a traditional school.
Resources for Homeschooling in Mississippi
Mississippi Homeschool – This website provides information and resources for parents considering homeschooling their children. The website includes a comprehensive list of Mississippi homeschool laws, tips for staying on top of your child’s progress, and suggestions for finding online resources to supplement your child’s education.
Mississippi Curriculum Mapping – This website provides parents with a tool for designing curricula that meet the educational standards expected of public school students. Parents can log in and select the standards their child must meet, and the website will provide suggestions for materials that can help parents design a curriculum that meets these standards.
Mississippi Department of Education – The Mississippi Department of Education website provides information about the state’s homeschool laws and how parents can register for their programs. The website also includes information about finding resources to supplement your child’s education.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing Homeschooling
Parents considering homeschooling their children should ask themselves a few important questions first. Before jumping into homeschooling, parents should consider the following questions:
Do you have the time to homeschool your child?
Are you comfortable with taking on the responsibility of educating your child?
How will you keep track of your child’s academic progress?
Will you be able to keep your child on track for graduation?
Choosing to homeschool your children can be a big commitment. It can also be a rewarding experience for both parents and children. If you can answer yes to these questions and have a plan in place, you are well on your way to providing your child with quality education by homeschooling them.
Following Mississippi’s homeschool laws, parents can provide their children with a personalized, quality education that prepares them for their futures.
