How to Start Homeschooling in Kentucky

Yes. Homeschooling is completely legal in Kentucky and has been for decades. The legal basis is KRS 159.160, which allows parents to provide home instruction as a private school.

Here is what that means in practice. There is no state oversight of your curriculum. There is no required testing. No government body reviews your child's progress. The local board of education does not approve or deny your home school — they simply receive your notification and file it. Kentucky's framework is among the most permissive in the country.

You do not need any teaching credentials either. No college degree. No high school diploma. No certification of any kind. KRS 159.160 does not specify any instructor qualifications. If you are a parent or guardian, you are qualified to teach your own children in Kentucky. That is the law.

Kentucky requires compulsory school attendance for children ages 6 through 18. Your child must have reached age 6 by August 1 of the current school year to fall under this requirement, per KRS 159.030. The requirement continues until your child turns 18 or graduates from high school.

There is no mandatory kindergarten. If your child is under 6, or turns 6 after August 1, you have no legal obligation to start formal instruction yet. Take that time to explore what homeschooling style fits your family best.

One thing to know: Kentucky raised the compulsory age from 16 to 18 in 2013 through Senate Bill 97. Students aged 16 or 17 may still be exempt with written parental consent and local board approval under certain conditions.

Getting started takes one main step: sending a notification letter to your local school district. Here is your complete checklist for how to start homeschooling in Kentucky.

Step 1: Pick a name for your home school. Kentucky requires you to name your school in the notification. It can be anything you want. Have fun with it.

Step 2: Write your notification letter. Address it to the superintendent of your local school district. Include these six items: (1) your name and address, (2) the names and ages of your children, (3) the name of your home school, (4) the address where instruction will happen, (5) the enrollment dates, and (6) the subjects you plan to teach. List all nine required subjects: reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, science, civics, and literature. No state form exists — a plain letter covers it.

Step 3: Send it within the first two weeks of the school year. Starting mid-year? Send it within two weeks of pulling your child out of school. The board does not approve or deny this. You are informing them, not asking.

Step 4: Withdraw your child (if currently enrolled). Send a separate written withdrawal notice to your child's current school. Include your child's name, date of birth, last grade attended, and the date of withdrawal. Add this sentence: "My child will be receiving home instruction as a private school under KRS 159.160." See the withdrawing section below for more detail.

Step 5: Start teaching. No waiting period. You can begin instruction the day you file your notification. Cover the nine required subjects, teach for at least 170 instructional days and 1,062 hours, and keep attendance records. That is the whole picture.

Your only required paperwork is one letter per year. Send your annual notification to the superintendent of your local school district. Include your name and address, the names and ages of your children, your home school name, the instruction address, enrollment dates, and the subjects you will teach.

File this within the first two weeks of the school year. If you start mid-year, file within two weeks of withdrawal. Renew every year under KRS 159.160. There is no state form — a free-form letter works perfectly.

That is it for paperwork. No test scores. No progress reports. No evaluations. No portfolios. Keep a copy of your letter for your own files, and send it by certified mail or email so you have proof of delivery.

If your child is currently in school, take two steps.

First, send your notification letter to the superintendent of your local school district. This tells the district you are opening a home school. Second, send a separate written withdrawal notice to your child's current school. In that withdrawal letter, include four things: (1) your name and contact information, (2) your child's name, date of birth, and last grade attended, (3) the date of withdrawal, and (4) this sentence: "My child will be receiving home instruction as a private school under KRS 159.160."

There is no mandatory waiting period. You can begin teaching right away. Some districts may ask you to fill out a form or attend a conference. You can cooperate if you want, but you are not legally required to get the school's approval. The school cannot deny your withdrawal.

Send both letters by certified mail or email with read receipt. Keep copies of everything. This small step prevents any confusion down the road about whether your child was properly withdrawn.

Kentucky requires nine subjects under KRS 159.160 and KRS 158.070: reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, science, civics, and literature.

Beyond that list, you have total freedom. No prescribed textbooks. No state standards to follow. No curriculum to submit for approval. You pick the materials, the teaching style, and how deep you go into each subject. Kentucky homeschool laws give parents full discretion over curriculum choices, teaching methods, and sequence of instruction.

If you are using any structured homeschool program, you are almost certainly covering all nine areas already. Do not overthink this. The requirement is straightforward, and most families meet it naturally.

Teach for at least 170 instructional days and 1,062 hours per year. That is the requirement under KRS 158.070. Note: the 185-day school calendar you may see referenced in some sources includes non-instructional days like professional development and holidays. The actual instructional requirement is 170 days.

There is no minimum number of hours per day. Structure your schedule however works best for your family. Morning blocks, afternoon sessions, evening reading — all fine. The 170 days must be actual instructional days, but how you fill those days is entirely up to you.

Here is the practical math. If you teach five days a week, 170 days works out to 34 weeks of school. That leaves about 18 weeks off per year. Spread those breaks however you want — a traditional summer, year-round with regular breaks, or something creative. Just keep a simple calendar and mark each school day. That calendar is your proof of compliance.

Keep four records from day one. Under KRS 159.160, the Director of Pupil Personnel can request your records for inspection. Keep these four things current: (1) an attendance calendar marking each of your 170 instructional days, (2) a grade sheet or progress record for each child, (3) a list of your enrolled students with names and ages, and (4) a copy of your annual notification letter. You do not submit these unless asked. But if asked, you want them ready. A simple binder or folder does the job.

Your child can play public school sports and join clubs. KRS 159.160(3) gives homeschooled students the right to participate in any extracurricular activity at the public school in your district — including athletics, clubs, and other activities. Your child must meet the same eligibility requirements as enrolled students. Call your school's athletic director and say: "My child is homeschooled. We would like to participate in extracurricular activities under KRS 159.160(3). What do we need to do to sign up?"

Dual enrollment in college may be free. Kentucky homeschooled students can take college courses at community colleges and universities. Under KRS 164.098, up to two courses may be state-funded at no cost. Your child will need to meet age or grade-level requirements and may need to take placement tests. Call your nearest community college admissions office and ask: "What are the dual enrollment options for homeschooled students, and how do we apply?"

You create and issue the diploma. Kentucky does not issue a state diploma to homeschoolers. As the operator of your private school, you create both the diploma and the transcript. This diploma is legally equivalent to a private school diploma. Kentucky public universities accept homeschool applicants. Start building the transcript in ninth grade — list courses, grades, and any test scores year by year so everything is ready for college applications.

Consider an umbrella school or church school. Some families prefer to have an organization handle the paperwork. An umbrella school can file your annual notifications, maintain records, and issue transcripts on your behalf. Church-related schools can do the same and may be exempt from certain state regulations. Either way, you are still operating under KRS 159.160. This is a support option, not a different legal pathway. Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (CHEK) at chek.org is a good starting point for finding these resources.

Special education: know your options and act on them. Homeschooled students are not entitled to public school IEP services while homeschooling. But because Kentucky treats homeschools as private schools, your child may access some services through proportionate share funding. Here is what to do: your district should send a "declaration of participation" form each spring. Complete and return it if you want services considered. The district must also evaluate your child under federal Child Find if you suspect a disability. Call your district's special education office and say: "I am homeschooling and would like information about the declaration of participation form and any services available to private school students."

The Kentucky ESA is not available. Kentucky passed an Education Opportunity Account program in 2021 (HB 563), but the Kentucky Supreme Court struck down a key funding provision in December 2022. As of 2026, this program is not operational. Do not count on it for funding.