Bill > HB31

This bill modifies Missouri's legal provisions related to home schooling and Family Paced Education (FPE) schools by clarifying and strengthening protections for parents who choose alternative education methods. The bill defines home schools and FPE schools as educational settings that provide private or religious-based instruction for children between seven years old and the district's compulsory attendance age, with no more than four unrelated children, and without charging tuition. Parents must maintain educational records, including a plan book, work portfolio, and progress evaluations, and provide at least 1,000 hours of instruction annually, with 600 hours focused on core academic subjects. The legislation significantly limits governmental oversight by stipulating that home school and FPE school education enforcement can only be reviewed by the local prosecuting attorney and must be based solely on probable cause. For students 16 and older, the recordkeeping requirements are waived. The bill also streamlines the process for parents to remove their children from public school rolls when choosing home or FPE schooling and ensures that investigations related to educational compliance are handled with greater restraint and specificity, ultimately providing more autonomy and protection for families choosing alternative education paths.

Education, Government Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB31&year=2025&code=R