How to Start Homeschooling in Kansas

Yes. Homeschooling is completely legal in Kansas and has been for decades.

Kansas does not have a standalone homeschool statute. Instead, homeschools operate as nonaccredited private schools under K.S.A. 72-4345 through 72-4348. If you find older resources referencing K.S.A. 72-53,101 through 72-53,104, those are the same laws — Kansas renumbered its education statutes in 2015-2017. The Kansas Constitution, Article 6, Section 1, establishes the state's duty to provide for education but does not restrict parents from educating at home.

Registration with KSDE is a notification, not a request for permission. KSDE does not approve or deny registrations. They do not inspect your home, review your curriculum, or evaluate your qualifications. They assign you a registration number and that is it. Kansas respects your right to teach your children.

Kansas compulsory education covers ages 7 through 18, under K.S.A. 72-3120. Your child must be receiving instruction starting at age 7 and continuing until age 18.

There is no mandatory kindergarten. If your child is 5 or 6, you have no legal obligation to begin formal instruction. Use that time to explore different approaches before the law requires anything.

Kansas has one of the higher compulsory ages in the region — Missouri stops at 17. Plan to continue instruction until your child turns 18 or completes your homeschool program. Limited exceptions exist for 16- and 17-year-olds involving alternative education programs or employment, but these generally do not apply to families homeschooling in Kansas under the nonaccredited private school pathway.

Starting to homeschool in Kansas takes just a few steps. Here is exactly what to do.

Step 1: Choose a name for your school. Every nonaccredited private school needs a name. This is a formality — pick anything you like. "Martinez Family Academy." "Sunflower Home School." It does not need to be unique. You do not need to register it as a business.

Step 2: Register with KSDE. Go to the KSDE Private Schools page and complete the nonaccredited private school registration. Provide your school name, your home address, and the name and address of the custodian of records — that is you. KSDE assigns a registration number. No fee. This is a one-time filing. You do not need to renew it. Keep your registration number. You will use it in the next step.

Step 3: Withdraw your child (if enrolled). If your child is in public school, send a letter to the school. Write exactly this: "I am withdrawing [child's name] from [school name] effective [date]. My child will attend [your school name], a nonaccredited private school registered with KSDE under K.S.A. 72-4345, registration number [your number]." Send it by certified mail or hand-deliver it and ask for a signed copy. Request your child's academic records, immunization records, and test results at the same time.

If your child has never been enrolled, skip this step. Register with KSDE and start teaching.

Step 4: Pick your curriculum. Kansas has no required subjects for nonaccredited private schools. No curriculum approval process. You choose what to teach and what materials to use. Covering reading, math, science, and social studies is strongly recommended for college readiness — but not legally required.

Step 5: Start teaching. Provide instruction that is "substantially equivalent" in duration to public schools. Kansas public schools run about 1,116 hours per year for grades 1-11. You do not need to match that number precisely or track your hours. Just teach on a consistent, regular schedule.

Kansas homeschool requirements involve exactly one filing: register your nonaccredited private school with KSDE under K.S.A. 72-4346. Find the form on the KSDE Private Schools page.

Your registration includes your school name, address, and custodian of records. KSDE assigns a registration number. No fee. No curriculum plans. No instructor credentials. No annual renewal. You register once and you are done.

Historically, K.S.A. 72-4346 also required a separate filing with the county or district attorney. The KSDE registration process has effectively replaced this — your school's existence becomes a matter of public record accessible to county attorneys. Some counties may still expect a separate notice. If you want to be thorough, contact your county attorney's office and ask if they require anything beyond the KSDE registration.

Kansas does not require standardized testing. No state-mandated exams at any grade level. No portfolio reviews. No teacher evaluations. No progress reports to submit to KSDE.

However, the Kansas Supreme Court held in In re Sawyer (234 Kan. 436, 1983) that instruction must be "planned and scheduled" with "periodic testing" to qualify as a legitimate school. AG Opinion 85-159 reinforces this. The form and frequency of testing is entirely at your discretion — no scores need to be reported to any authority. Keep records of assessments you give, even informal ones, as evidence your program includes periodic evaluation.

If you want external benchmarks, the ACT, SAT, PSAT, and AP exams are available. Some Kansas homeschool co-ops offer group testing sessions. These are useful for college prep but are not state requirements.

You are a "competent instructor" — no credentials needed. K.S.A. 72-3120(a) requires a "competent" instructor, but the statute does not define specific credentials, degrees, or certifications. The Kansas Attorney General confirmed in AG Opinion 75-409 that teacher certification is not required for nonaccredited private schools. No teaching license required. No college degree required. No competency test. The standard is intentionally flexible. If competency were ever questioned, the burden would fall on the state to prove you are not competent — not on you to prove you are. This standard has been in place for decades and rarely comes up.

Keep records from day one — even though Kansas does not require it. Families with zero records are exposed if a truancy question arises. Keep four things from the start: (1) your KSDE registration confirmation and number, (2) a general attendance log, (3) a curriculum outline listing subjects and materials, and (4) samples of your child's work. This costs you nothing and is your best protection.

Build a transcript starting in 9th grade. Kansas has no state homeschool diploma. You issue your own diploma and create your own transcript. Kansas Board of Regents universities — the University of Kansas, Kansas State, Wichita State — accept homeschool applicants with parent-prepared transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. List courses, grades, credits, and GPA. Start early. Some satellite programs can help with transcript formatting.

Your child can play public school sports and join activities. Under K.S.A. 72-7121 (effective July 1, 2023), students enrolled in nonpublic schools may participate in any KSHSAA-regulated activities at their resident public school — including sports, debate, and clubs. Your child must meet the same age and eligibility requirements as public school students, comply with KSHSAA rules, pay any required fees, and meet health requirements under K.S.A. 72-6262. Academic eligibility is met if you submit an affidavit or transcript confirming satisfactory progress. Call your school's athletic director and say: "My child attends a nonaccredited private school. We want to participate in activities under K.S.A. 72-7121."

Your child can take public school classes part-time. Under K.S.A. 72-3120(h), each school district must allow any child enrolled in a nonaccredited private school to enroll part-time to attend courses, programs, or services offered by the district. Districts must adopt a policy and publish it on their website. Districts must make a good faith attempt to accommodate scheduling requests, though they are not required to accommodate every request. Call your local school and say: "My child attends a nonaccredited private school and we want to enroll part-time for [subject] under K.S.A. 72-3120(h)."

Kansas has no ESA or voucher program. As of 2025, Kansas does not offer a universal education savings account or voucher. Bills like SB 75 and HB 2468 have been introduced but have not passed. The Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program (K.S.A. 72-4351 et seq.) exists but is income-limited and primarily designed for accredited private school tuition — homeschool eligibility is uncertain. Do not count on state funding for homeschool expenses.

Understand special education before you withdraw. If your child has a disability, your child's IEP becomes invalid when you start homeschooling. Districts are not required to provide FAPE to nonaccredited private school students. But you have two options. First, your district must evaluate your child under federal Child Find (IDEA Section 300.111; K.S.A. 72-5393) — call the special education department and say: "I would like a Child Find evaluation for my child." Second, Kansas law now requires districts to allow part-time enrollment under K.S.A. 72-3120(h), so you can enroll for specific services like speech or occupational therapy. Talk to your district before you withdraw so you can plan.

Connect with Kansas homeschoolers. Kansas Home Educators (KSHE, formerly the Teaching Parents Association) at kshomeeducators.com is a well-established Kansas homeschool organization. Local co-ops across the state offer group classes, field trips, and community. Reach out early — other families are your best resource for curriculum advice, testing logistics, and encouragement.