Home schools are considered to be private schools in Kentucky, and the laws relating to private schools apply equally to home schools. Therefore, when you decide to educate your children at home, you must first establish a bonafide school for your children to attend. You are required to notify the local school district's Board of Education by letter that you have established a school, and to report the names, ages, and place of residence of each student in attendance at the school. It is recommended that you keep a copy of any information that you provide to the local school district.  

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Compulsory School Age: "Children who will turn 6 by August 1 of the school year and who have not turned 18 or graduated from high school must attend school or be in compliance with Kentucky’s homeschool law."

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Send in your letter of Intent: Two weeks before or after the first day of the local public schools. Know when your district starts school.

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Required Days of Instruction (KRS 158.080, KRS 158.070):  Private, home and parochial schools shall provide instruction for a term at least as long as the term in effect for the public school in the district where the child resides. (KRS158.080) The minimum school term is defined in KRS 158.070 (1. (a) and (d) which states: The minimum school term shall be 185 days, including no less than 170 instructional days, with a total of 1062 instructional hours.

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Required Subjects: Include reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, and civics. All private and parochial schools ( this includes homeschools) must keep an attendance register and scholarship reports in the same manner as is required by law or by regulation of the Kentucky Board of Education of public school officials. School officials may request to see these documents. School officials, however, have no authority to enter home schools, since they are protected by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Christian Home Educators of Kentucky and the Kentucky Home Education Association agree in their "Best Practice Document" that "the privacy of the home must be recognized and no visit inside the home may be conducted without the consent of an adult resident or a duly issued warrant." See the link below to read the "Best Practice Document."

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Teacher Qualifications: None

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Standardized Tests: Not required by statute for private or religious schools (home schools).

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Sample Letter of Intent ***Send it certified Mail WITH return receipt***

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There are also numerous examples of home school letters for the state of Kentucky available on the Internet. One of the best options is a letter HSLDA makes available to its members.

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HomeSchool Legal Defense Association

For more information, news and updates about Kentucky and other states.

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Kentucky Best Practice Document

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Home School Information Packet And Best Practices Document

The Home School Information Packet and Best Practices Document was prepared as a joint effort by the Christian Home Educators of Kentucky the Kentucky Home Education Association and the Kentucky Directors of Pupil Personnel. The purpose of the document is to assist home school parents and Kentucky school personnel.

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Home Schooling Foundation

The Foundation's mission is to preserve parental freedoms, promote home schooling, provide assistance to needy home schooling families, and support like-minded organizations.

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