Homeschooling in Kentucky.

Statute citation

Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 159.010, 159.030, 159.040 and 159.160. School-term rules in KRS 158.070 and 158.080 apply only to private schools that choose state certification under KRS 156.160(2).

How homeschooling works here

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) treats a home school as a private school under KRS 159.030. You can give your school a name, but you don't need to register it.

Compulsory ages

State law requires school from age 6 until 18 in every district, unless your child graduates first. KDE's May 2026 packet still says 6 to 16, so check with your district if this matters for your family.

Who you notify

The superintendent of the local board of education in the district where you live. The district must accept your notice; it doesn't approve it.

What the notice says

A short letter with each child's name, age and home address. KDE's sample letter also lists your home school's name and the parents who teach.

How and when

Send it within the first two weeks of each school year, every year (KRS 159.160), and within two weeks of leaving public school (KDE guidance). State law starts the school year July 1, so ask your district which date it counts from.

Records to keep

An attendance record and scholarship reports listing the courses your child completed and the grade earned (KRS 159.040). Paper or digital is fine. The local director of pupil personnel and KDE officials may inspect them.

School days and hours

No minimum applies unless you choose state certification. Certified schools need 1,062 instructional hours across at least 170 attendance days (KRS 158.070, 158.080). KDE recommends the same for every home school.

Subjects

None are set for home schools. KDE says the state can't prescribe a home school's curriculum, teacher certification or accreditation. You may use the Kentucky Academic Standards as a guide.

Parent qualifications

None. No teaching certificate or degree is required.

Assessment

None required. KDE suggests keeping any independent test results with your records.

Diplomas and returning to school

Your home school issues its own diploma and transcript. If your child returns to public school, the district decides placement and credit, for example through an exam, under Kentucky Administrative Regulation 704 KAR 3:307.