Kentucky Homeschool Notice of Intent

Compulsory Attendance Ages

Kentucky requires compulsory school attendance for children ages 6 through 18. This is one of the higher upper-age requirements in the country. Your child must receive instruction until they turn 18 or graduate, whichever comes first.

Legal Status of Homeschools

In Kentucky, a homeschool is legally classified as a private school under KRS 159.030. This is an important distinction -- your homeschool has the same legal standing as any other private school in the state. Thanks to the Kentucky Supreme Court's opinion in Kentucky State Board for Elementary and Secondary Education v. Rudasill, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) may not prescribe curriculum, teacher certification, or accreditation standards for homeschools.

Notification Requirements

You must notify your local superintendent of schools in writing of your intent to homeschool. Here is what the law requires under KRS 159.160:

• Deadline: Within 10 days of the beginning of the school year, or within 10 days of withdrawing your child from public school.
• Required Information: Your letter must include the name, age, and residence of each child who will attend the homeschool.
• Annual Requirement: This notification must be filed every year that you homeschool.
• Consequence of Non-Compliance: If you do not notify within 10 days, you may be investigated for truancy.

Required Subjects

Kentucky mandates instruction in eight specific subjects:

1. Reading
2. Writing
3. Spelling
4. Grammar
5. History
6. Mathematics
7. Science
8. Civics

You have the right to offer additional subjects beyond these eight. The state does not prescribe which curricula, textbooks, or teaching methods you must use. All core instruction must be offered in the English language.

Instructional Time Requirements

Kentucky requires a minimum of 185 school days and 1,062 instructional hours per school year. This is a more specific requirement than most states, so you will want to track your instructional time carefully.

Teacher Qualifications

Kentucky requires no formal teacher qualifications for homeschooling parents. You do not need a teaching certificate, degree, or any special training. The Rudasill decision protects parental freedom in this area.

Withdrawing from Public School

If your child is enrolled in public school, notify the school in writing that you are withdrawing your child. Simultaneously, send your homeschool notification letter to the local superintendent. Keep copies of both letters for your records.