Kansas vs Missouri: Homeschool Laws Compared

Kansas is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice but no testing or evaluation, while Missouri requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 6 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, the portfolio, compulsory school ages, and ESA funding.

Rules compared

9

Differences

6

Same in both

3

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Kansas to Missouri

Once you are a Missouri resident you homeschool under Missouri's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. There is no notice to file in Missouri. Before you leave, send Kansas's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
2. The annual target changes from 1,116 hours over 186 days a year in Kansas to 1,000 hours a year in Missouri.
3. Missouri names 5 required subjects (reading, math, social studies, language arts, science). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
4. Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: Missouri requires one and Kansas did not.
5. Compulsory school ages are 7-17 in Missouri against 7-18 in Kansas, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Missouri runs MOScholars (with Family Paced Education option). Check whether your family qualifies; Kansas had no comparable program.

Moving from Missouri to Kansas

Once you are a Kansas resident you homeschool under Kansas's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. File a notice of intent with the state education department once you are a Kansas resident. Missouri did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
2. The annual target changes from 1,000 hours a year in Missouri to 1,116 hours over 186 days a year in Kansas.
3. Kansas names no required subjects. Missouri's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
4. Kansas does not require a portfolio. Bring Missouri's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.
5. Compulsory school ages are 7-18 in Kansas against 7-17 in Missouri, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Kansas has no ESA program. Missouri's MOScholars (with Family Paced Education option) is for Missouri residents, so budget without it.

What stays the same

Kansas and Missouri match on testing or evaluation, progress reports, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Kansas nor Missouri takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Arkansas vs Missouri 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Kansas 5 rules differ
• Illinois vs Missouri 5 rules differ
• Iowa vs Missouri 3 rules differ
• Kansas vs Nebraska 3 rules differ
• Kansas vs Oklahoma 4 rules differ
• Kentucky vs Missouri 7 rules differ
• Missouri vs Nebraska 6 rules differ
• Missouri vs Oklahoma 5 rules differ
• Missouri vs Tennessee 5 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require a Homeschool Portfolio All 6 states in one table