Kentucky Homeschooling Laws
Homeschools in Kentucky are regulated by the statute regulating private schools. There is no homeschool statute in Kentucky.
1. Notify the board of education2. Maintain attendance and scholarship records
3. Teach for the required number of days
4. Make sure the required subjects are taught in English
Kentucky homeschool requirements are precise and easy to follow. Parents are required to submit a letter of intent to homeschool every year the homeschool program is ongoing. Homeschool students are not forced to undertake any standardized test or have their portfolio reviewed. This page contains information on the following areas:
· Homeschool Requirements in Kentucky
· Notice of Intent
· Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Kentucky
· Requirements for Graduation
· Switching from Homeschool to Public School
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Kentucky
The law provides that children between 6 and 18 years must attend school; a public school, private school, homeschool or a church school. The requirements to start a homeschool in Kentucky are found in the private school statute. They include:
1. Submitting a notice of intent to homeschool to the board of education
The notice shall be filed every year the homeschool program is ongoing within the first 2 weeks of the year. Usually, it should be submitted before the end of the second week of August. The notice provides information on the number of students in the homeschool, their names, addresses and ages.
2. Provide instruction for the amount of time stipulated
The student must receive instruction for not less than 1062 hours in 170 days.
3. Maintain attendance records and reports on scholarships
Report cards should be maintained in the same way public schools do, that is, have the report card updated every 6-9 weeks. This depends on the specific district and the criteria used in their public schools.
4. Instruction should be given in English
The following subjects should be included in the homeschool curriculum: writing, grammar, history, spelling, reading, science, mathematics and civics.
Students previously enrolled in a public school, church school or private school should be formally withdrawn via a letter to avoid truancy issues.
Notice of Intent to Homeschool in Kentucky
The letter of intention to homeschool should be addressed to the superintendent of schools in that district. It should include the name of the school, the names, addresses and ages of every child attending the homeschool. Parents are advised to send it via a certified mail.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Kentucky
In as much as it is not a requirement by law to maintain records, it is beneficial when creating homeschool transcripts, returning to public or private school after homeschooling, applying to colleges, universities, and workplaces, as well as the military. Some of the things parents should include in the homeschool portfolio are:
· Records on attendance of the student
· Detailed report of the students’ scholarship (there is no given procedure to write this report)
Requirements for Graduation in Kentucky
In Kentucky, a high school diploma is considered as an official document given to a student by the school that validates that the student has completed and fulfilled the given requirements to graduate. Homeschool parents in Kentucky decide the requirements their homeschool students should meet to graduate. It is a good idea to research on the qualifications to join college or any post-secondary organization the student may be interest in to align the homeschool goals with those. This will inform the parent’s decision on what to teach and what to include in the transcripts. Parents should also look into the graduation policies and requirements for public school students for comparison with the homeschool requirements.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Kentucky.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Kentucky |
To graduate, the student must complete 22 credits to be awarded a diploma in Kentucky. |
Parents in Kentucky have the liberty to determine when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. |
| Testing requirements in Kentucky | High schoolers in Kentucky must pass a civics test mandated by the state to graduate. |
There is no law in Kentucky that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
|
Kentucky high school transcripts |
The transcripts awarded should have information on particulars of the student, the scores on standardized tests taken, records on attendance, credit history by title of subjects, grades awarded in each credit and the overall grade in every semester as well as the credit totals. |
Parents in Kentucky can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
|
High school course credits in Kentucky |
The transcripts awarded should have information on particulars of the student, the scores on standardized tests taken, records on attendance, credit history by title of subjects, grades awarded in each credit and the overall grade in every semester as well as theStudents must complete 4 credits in math; 2 must be algebra 1and geometry, 4 credits in English, 4 credits in social studies, 3 credits in science, 1⁄2 credits in physical education and health and 6 electives that should align with the student’s learning plan. credit totals. |
Many parents in Kentucky choose to specify or assign academic credits to the courses taken during the homeschooling period as this may aid during the transcript creation process. |
|
Eligibility for GED in Kentucky |
Students who are 18 years and above but do not have a high school diploma are eligible to take the GED. They must not be enrolled in a public school while taking the test. Students who have received a waiver from the local superintendent of schools are also eligible to take the test. |
Homeschoolers in Kentucky are eligible if the meet the same criteria as public school students. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Download the transcript template
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Kentucky
There is no requirement to notify the local school superintendent of the intention to stop homeschooling; one should simply not file the notice to homeschool that year. Each school has different procedures and regulations to be observed while enrolling new students. It is the parent’s responsibility to consult with the school he/she chooses for the student to get the specific procedure on enrollment. Some schools may allow the parent to decide what grade the student should be placed while others may request homeschooling academic records for review. Other schools may require the student to take a placement test.
Lernsys Homeschooling makes it easy to keep a summary of the curriculum used including grades, topics covered, quiz and test scores, teacher credentials, etc.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Kentucky
Have other questions about homeschooling in Kentucky? You may find the following pages helpful.
