Your child must start school in the year when he or she will be age 6 on or before September 1. Thereafter, your child must continue to attend school or to comply with the homeschool law at least until the year when he or she will be age 17 on or before September 1.

The compulsory school attendance requirement also applies to children who are 5 years old on or before September 1, if they are enrolled in a full-day public school kindergarten program.

HSLDA believes that a parent-issued diploma and transcript should be sufficient to demonstrate that a child has completed a secondary education. However, even if your child is beyond compulsory school attendance age, there may be situations where you would want to continue to follow the requirements of a home education option recognized under Mississippi law until your child graduates from high school (filing a home education notice, keeping attendance and other records, etc.).

These records may be requested in some situations, such as obtaining a driver’s license if your child is a minor, enlisting in the military, applying to colleges, or demonstrating eligibility for Social Security benefits. If you are a member of HSLDA and would like additional details, please contact us.