Homeschool Funding in Mississippi

Education Scholarship Account (Special Needs)

Mississippi offers an Education Scholarship Account (ESA) through the Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act, enacted in 2015. This program provides funding to families of children with special needs who leave the public school system.

• Eligibility: The student must reside in Mississippi and have had an active Individualized Education Plan (IEP) within the past three years
• Award Amount: For the 2024–2025 school year, the maximum reimbursement was approximately $7,829 per student [VERIFY 2025-2026 amount]
• Allowable Expenses: Private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, curriculum, educational therapies, and other approved educational costs
• Application: Families apply through the Mississippi Department of Education. Due to limited funding, eligible applicants may be placed on a waitlist
• Renewal: Once enrolled, participating students are automatically approved for the following year without reapplication

No General Homeschool Funding

For families without a special-needs child, Mississippi does not offer any state ESA, voucher, tax credit, or deduction for homeschool expenses. There is no state-level financial support for general homeschoolers.

Federal Tax-Advantaged Accounts

• Coverdell Education Savings Account — Save up to $2,000 per child per year tax-free for K–12 expenses
• 529 College Savings Plans — Mississippi's 529 plan (MACS) allows tax-free growth, and up to $10,000 per year may be used for K–12 tuition under federal law. Mississippi also offers a state income tax deduction for 529 contributions of up to $10,000 per year ($20,000 for married filing jointly)

Extracurricular Access

Mississippi currently does not have a statewide law granting homeschooled students the right to participate in public school extracurricular activities. Access is decided at the individual school or district level, and policies vary widely. However, the Mississippi House of Representatives passed the Tim Tebow Act in early 2025 by a vote of 76–26, which would grant homeschoolers access to public school sports and activities. As of early 2026, the bill's final status should be verified. [VERIFY final passage of Tim Tebow Act]