Homeschooling in Kentucky

Your options

Homeschool is a private school (KRS 159.030). It may optionally be certified through the Kentucky Non-Public Schools Commission (701 KAR 3:315).

Notice or letter of intent

Written notice to the local board superintendent within the first two weeks of the school year (or within two weeks of withdrawal), every year. It gives each child's name, age and address, and the homeschool's name. Districts must accept it.

Need a letter? See our letter of intent and withdrawal letter templates – but use the official form below if there is one.

Subjects, time, assessment and records

Subjects

KDE may not prescribe curriculum (Rudasill, 1979); no statutory subject list given in the packet.

Days or hours

Certified homeschools: at least 1,062 hours over at least 170 days. Non-certified: no legal minimum, though KDE recommends the same.

Testing or assessment

None required.

Records

Attendance register and scholarship reports (courses completed and grades; KRS 159.040), open to inspection by the district Director of Pupil Personnel and KDE.

Parent qualifications

None.

Other rules

Compulsory age 6 to 16 (KRS 159.010). No-Pass/No-Drive applies. Re-entry credit by exam or performance (704 KAR 3:307).

Official forms

Sample Letter of Intent (Appendix A), Homeschool Information Packet (May 2026): education.ky.gov/…

The law

KRS 159.010, 159.030, 159.040; KRS 158.070, 158.080; 701 KAR 3:315; 704 KAR 3:307 – read the law

Who to contact

• Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) – Office of Continuous Improvement and Support, Division of School and Program ImprovementEmail: use the contact details on the official page · 502-564-3791 ext. 4066 · Official pageWho handles notices: Local district (annual notice to superintendent)

Where an office lists only a staff member’s own email address, we link the official page instead.

Special education and public school classes and sports

The packet does not address special education or Child Find. Extracurricular participation is set by each local district.

Federal rules on Child Find and evaluations apply in every state – see special education.

Going back to public school in Kentucky

Kentucky’s homeschool information packet says the local district places a student transferring from a nonaccredited school in the class or grade best suited for them. Previous high school credit is awarded by the district if the student either passes an exam like the one other students take for that course, or earns at least a C in the next course of a sequence (such as English, math, history or science) by the 12th week of school (704 KAR 3:307). Each local board has its own process for enrolling previously homeschooled students.

Source: Kentucky Department of Education: Homeschool information packet · Kentucky regulation 704 KAR 3:307

To enroll, contact the enrollment or registration office of your local school district or public school, and ask how it decides grade placement and credits before your child starts. See the Kentucky official page, and going back to school after homeschooling for what to bring, placement, credits and special education.