Kentucky Homeschool Laws
Kentucky has no separate homeschool law. Instead, a homeschool is a private school under state law. Courts have ruled that the state may not set its curriculum or require certified teachers. To start, set up your homeschool as a real school with a name. Then send a written notice to your local school superintendent. Send it within the first two weeks of the school year. If you withdraw a child mid-year, send it within two weeks of withdrawal. List each child’s name and age and your address. The district must accept your notice. You must send a new notice every year. Children must attend school starting at age 6.
Day to day, Kentucky expects real school records. Keep attendance records and report cards, called scholarship reports. The local Director of Pupil Personnel may inspect them. Plan on 1,062 hours over at least 170 days each year. Teach reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, math, science, and civics in English. There is no state test and no teacher license rule. Public school classes and sports are up to each local district. Homeschools issue their own diplomas, and the No-Pass/No-Drive law still applies. For full details on each topic, open the sections below.
HSLDA explains that children who turn 6 by August 1 of the school year and have not turned 18 or graduated must attend school or comply with Kentucky’s homeschool requirements (HSLDA: Compulsory School Age in Kentucky). The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) packet quotes the older statutory wording, “between the ages of six (6) and sixteen (16),” so check with HSLDA or your own attorney if your teen is 16 or 17 (KDE Homeschool Information Packet, May 2026).
Kentucky has no homeschool statute. A homeschool is a private school, and under the Kentucky Supreme Court’s 1979 Rudasill decision, KDE may not prescribe curriculum, teacher certification, or accreditation standards for homeschooling (KDE; HSLDA: How to Comply with Kentucky’s Homeschool Law). KDE says to establish a bona fide school, much as you would a business (KDE).
None. HSLDA’s summary lists no assessment requirement for Kentucky (HSLDA: Kentucky Homeschool Laws). KDE suggests scholarship records may include work-sample portfolios, independent assessment results, or reports from digital learning platforms (KDE).
Notify the superintendent of your local board of education within the first two weeks of the school year, or within two weeks of withdrawing from public school. Resubmit the notice every year. The notice lists the names, ages, and home address of each child in attendance. The district is required to accept it (KDE). HSLDA notes the notice should typically be sent no later than mid-August (HSLDA). KDE’s packet includes a sample notification letter (KDE).
Yes. Homeschools must keep attendance records and scholarship reports (report cards). KDE allows paper or digital records. The records must be open to inspection by the local district’s Director of Pupil Personnel and KDE officials (KDE). HSLDA says the reports are generally updated every six to nine weeks, like the local schools (HSLDA).
School term: HSLDA says parents must provide at least 1,062 hours of instruction over at least 170 days (HSLDA). KDE says the minimum term is required for certified homeschools and recommended for all others (KDE).
None. Each homeschool operates as its own private school (KDE).
District decision. Kentucky has no law giving homeschoolers a right to public school classes or activities, so each district decides (HSLDA: Public School Access for Homeschoolers in Kentucky; KDE). The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) requires full-time enrollment at a member school for state-sanctioned competition (LEX 18; WCPO).
In 2026, House Bill 421 would have opened public school interscholastic activities to at-home private school students. It did not pass (Kentucky Legislature: HB 421).
None for homeschools, according to HSLDA (HSLDA).
Diplomas: Kentucky has no statewide diploma; homeschools issue their own. KDE cannot verify homeschool diplomas and suggests students consider the GED or an equivalent exam (KDE).
Returning to public school: Each district sets its own enrollment process. Under 704 KAR 3:307, the district places a student from a nonaccredited secondary school in the class or grade best suited for the student (KDE).
No-Pass/No-Drive: The law applies to homeschool students (KDE).
KEES scholarships: Homeschool graduates currently qualify only for KEES supplemental/bonus awards, not the base award (HSLDA: HB 298). See our Kentucky School Choice Options page.
- Kentucky Department of Education: Homeschool Information Packet (May 2026)
- HSLDA: Kentucky Homeschool Laws, How to Comply with Kentucky’s Homeschool Law, Compulsory School Age in Kentucky, and Public School Access in Kentucky
- Kentucky Legislature: HB 421 (2026); HSLDA: HB 298
- LEX 18: Parents advocating for bill to allow homeschool students to compete (March 10, 2026); WCPO: Let Them Play Kentucky (March 14, 2026)
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026
*The information on this page is for general use only. It should not be taken as legal advice. It is believed to be accurate however state and federal laws change every year. Homeschool.net recommends joining an organization such as the Home School Legal Defense Association before your homeschooling adventure begins. HSLDA can provide complete, accurate, legal advice and services for homeschooling families.
Update History
No changes in law noted since this page was first published.