Homeschooling in Kentucky

Compulsory attendance applies to children ages six to eighteen, with KDE using age six by August 1 for initial enrollment. Students must be continuously enrolled in a lawful setting.

KRS 159.160 requires reporting pupils' names, ages, and residences to the local superintendent within two weeks of the beginning of each school year. When starting midyear, notice must be given within two weeks of public school withdrawal.

Parents must give the homeschool a name and retain proof of delivery of the annual notice. A family homeschool name does not require business-name registration.

KDE does not prescribe teacher certification or accreditation standards for homeschool parents, allowing families to select their own curriculum and materials.

KDE recommends that non-certified schools teach core branches of study similar to certified schools, including reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, and civics, and maintain a coherent education plan.

Non-certified homeschools have no statutory minimum term under KRS 158.080, but KDE recommends the certified school benchmark of at least 170 student attendance days and 1,062 instructional hours.

KRS 159.040 requires keeping attendance and scholarship reports (academic progress records such as courses and grades). These records are subject to inspection by pupil-personnel directors and KDE officials. KDE accepts paper or digital attendance records.

KDE recommends keeping work samples, though individual work portfolios are not a separate statutory submission requirement.