HOMESCHOOLING IN KENTUCKY & HOMESCHOOL LAWS
You may be considering home schooling your children in Kentucky, but don’t know where to start regarding state regulations and requirements. This guide will walk you through what you need to know to successfully set up your own program legally in Kentucky and begin homeschooling. We’ll cover the history of homeschooling in Kentucky, Kentucky homeschooling laws, required notifications and filings, curriculum and testing choices, high school transcripts, extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and special education services.
History of Homeschooling in Kentucky
Homeschooling in Kentucky has a rich history, evolving from its early beginnings to become a prominent educational choice for many families in the state. Initially, some families turned to home schooling as a workaround to compulsory attendance laws by operating a small private school. However, this method presented significant regulatory and administrative hurdles for homeschooling parents.
In response to these challenges, clear Kentucky homeschool laws were established in the early 1980s, recognizing it as a distinct educational option separate from traditional private schools. This legal framework laid the groundwork for the growth of home education as a viable alternative, sparking a notable increase in families opting to educate their children at home.
Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, Kentucky’s home schooling community experienced steady expansion, mirroring the nationwide surge in the modern movement. As of 2020, approximately 30,000 students were at a homeschool in Kentucky, constituting about 4% of the total student population.
Home schooling has become an integral part of the educational landscape in the bluegrass state, offering families a flexible and personalized approach to learning that resonates with their values and priorities.
Current Kentucky Homeschool Laws and Regulations
In Kentucky, home schooling operates under the classification of private schools, subject to similar regulations, which makes the basic legal requirements simple. In accordance with Kentucky homeschool laws, families must establish a bonafide school for their children, notifying the local Kentucky Department of Education of its creation and providing relevant student details. It’s prudent to maintain copies of all correspondence exchanged with the local school district to ensure clarity and documentation to satisfy the legal requirements of homeschooling laws in Kentucky.
Compulsory schooling in Kentucky applies to a child turning 6 by August 1, extending until they reach age 18 or graduate from high school. Families embarking on the home school journey must notify the Board of Education within two weeks of the commencement of the academic school year of the local public school in accordance with KY homeschool laws. This prompt action ensures compliance with state law and facilitates effective communication with educational authorities.
Home school instructional schedules in Kentucky follow those of public schools, mandating a minimum school term lasting 185 days, inclusive of 170 instructional days, totaling 1062 instructional hours. Adhering to these guidelines guarantees that homeschool students receive instruction on par with their counterparts in traditional public school settings.
The curriculum for homeschooling must encompass core subjects such as reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics, science, and civics. Additionally, homeschooling families are responsible for maintaining attendance records and submitting scholarship reports that show the student’s progress.
Unlike traditional public schools, home school instructors in Kentucky are not required to possess specific teacher qualifications. This affords families the flexibility to oversee the education of their child based on their individual capabilities and preferences.
Moreover, standardized testing is not compulsory to start homeschooling in Kentucky, aligning with the exemption granted to private and religious schools under state law. This flexibility empowers families to tailor educational approaches and start homeschooling without the burden of standardized assessment requirements.
How to Set Up a Homeschool In Kentucky
In the bluegrass state, homeschooling operates within the framework of the private school statute, necessitating adherence to specific procedures outlined below:
Annually, within the initial two weeks of the school year—typically by the second week of August—submit a private school attendance notice to the local school board of education. This letter of intent should include the names, ages, and addresses of all homeschoolers, along with a statement indicating your intent to home school and the county of residence in Kentucky. This letter of intent is best sent by certified mail and should be addressed to your local superintendent of schools.
In addition to maintaining attendance records, Kentucky requires homeschools to document student progress in “scholarship reports” at the same intervals as local public schools. These academic records should be updated every six to nine weeks, aligning with your district’s schedule.
Provide instruction for your child for a minimum of 1,062 hours spanning at least 170 days throughout the school year. You have the flexibility to track either hours or days, provided the total meets the specified requirement.
Your homeschool curriculum must encompass required subjects such as language arts or reading, writing, spelling, grammar, as well as history, mathematics, science, and civics.
For families relocating to Kentucky from another state with prior home schooling experience, simply submit the notification to the local school district superintendent upon establishing residency.
By diligently adhering to these procedures, families can ensure compliance with Kentucky homeschooling laws and foster a conducive learning environment to begin homeschooling.
Maintaining Your Kentucky Homeschool
Once the initial home school notification is filed, Kentucky imposes minimal paperwork, reporting, or contact obligations between families and the state. The homeschool laws in Kentucky place few restrictions on how homeschool parents design and implement their educational program, affording considerable flexibility and autonomy.
While the state typically doesn’t mandate reporting of detailed records such as lesson plans, curricula, educational activities, student work samples, or attendance logs, it’s prudent for families to maintain comprehensive documentation. These records serve as valuable evidence of education in case of any inquiries or challenges.
According to homeschool laws, Kentucky offers a high degree of freedom, maintaining thorough documentation ensures accountability and provides reassurance to both families and educational authorities.
Kentucky Homeschool Reporting Requirements
There are essentially no routine reporting requirements for homeschooling parents to submit information about student attendance, child’s academic progress, grades received from each class, or instruction provided. The only obligation is the one-time letter of intent when you begin to homeschool in Kentucky.
It’s advisable to adhere to Kentucky homeschool laws and maintain necessary records. Attendance reports and report cards should be updated every six to nine weeks, aligning with local public school schedules.
In addition, consider keeping the following essential documents for your home school:
Attendance records
Information on textbooks used
Samples of your student’s schoolwork
Correspondence with school officials
Portfolios and test results
Any other documents demonstrating compliance with educational laws
These records should be retained for at least two years. Furthermore, high school records and proof of compliance with Kentucky homeschool laws should be kept indefinitely, including any notices filed with authorities. This ensures thorough documentation of your child’s education journey.
Keep in mind that if enrolling in a school after homeschooling in Kentucky, each school will have different protocols for determining placement. Some schools will simply ask you to decide what grade level you want to place your child.
Homeschool Testing In Kentucky
Standardized tests are not mandatory for Kentucky homeschoolers. This flexibility allows families to customize their educational approach without the requirement to administer standardized assessments. Families who wish to have their child take annual tests have private options available to them. Homeschool students can participate in private testing programs, which include the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams.
Funding Your Kentucky Homeschool
Parents possess the liberty to choose homeschooling as an alternative approach to their child’s education, granting them full control over their child’s academic journey. This responsibility encompasses the selection of curriculum and educational materials tailored to meet the unique needs and interests of their child.
It’s essential to recognize that families forego financial assistance from the state. Unlike traditional schooling options, homeschooling does not entail access to state-funded resources or subsidies. Instead, families shoulder the financial responsibility associated with acquiring educational materials and resources independently.
Homeschooling empowers families to craft a tailored educational experience for their child, albeit without financial aid from the state. This autonomy allows families to prioritize the individual learning needs and preferences of their child while assuming full accountability for their academic journey.
Local homeschool co-ops, umbrella schools and other organizations may be able to provide guidance on budgeting, sources of affordable curricula and methods for sharing costs across families.
Federal Tax Breaks
Homeschooling families may be eligible for certain federal tax benefits to help offset educational expenses. One option is a Coverdell Education Savings Account, which allows money to grow tax-free when used for qualified education costs. Homeschool parents might also be able to deduct a portion of mortgage interest or rent if part of the home is used regularly and exclusively for homeschooling. Finally, tax deductions could be available for required books, supplies, equipment and curricula used for homeschool instruction. To learn more about these potential tax advantages, homeschooling families should review the information and resources provided by the IRS.
Kentucky Immunization Requirements
In accordance with Kentucky state regulations, homeschooled children are required to possess a valid Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization Status to engage in in-school classes, sports activities, or other school-sponsored extracurriculars. This certificate serves as official confirmation of the child’s immunization status, ensuring compliance with state health mandates aimed at protecting public health. In Kentucky, individual districts set their own policies for allowing homeschoolers to participate in sports and extracurricular activities.
As such, it is the responsibility of parents of homeschooled children to maintain accurate and up-to-date immunization records. By doing so, they facilitate seamless participation in these activities, contributing to the overall safety and well-being of all students involved in school-related events, regardless of their educational setting.
This stringent measure reflects a commitment to upholding a healthy environment within educational communities, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the health and welfare of every student. It underscores the collective effort to safeguard public health and ensure the safety of all individuals within school settings.
Kentucky State Graduation Requirements
Families of homeschooled high school students often wonder how their teen will receive a diploma. In homeschooling, parents wield the authority to evaluate their child’s readiness for graduation and are empowered to confer a diploma upon meeting graduation criteria. Notably, homeschoolers are exempt from standardized testing requirements for graduation.
Furthermore, a parent has the liberty to construct their child’s academic transcripts, incorporating pertinent information essential for college applications, military enlistment, or future career endeavors. This autonomy extends to determining graduation prerequisites, with some opting to assign credits to individual courses for transcript purposes.
It’s important to underscore that homeschoolers are subject to the same eligibility standards as public school students. This includes the opportunity for students aged 18 or older, who haven’t obtained a high school diploma from an accredited institution, to pursue the General Education Diploma (GED) test. However, eligibility is contingent upon not being currently enrolled in a public high school or possessing a waiver from the local school superintendent.
Kentucky Homeschool Charters
In contrast to several other states, Kentucky lacks a structured system of charter schools or online learning centers that adhere to the homeschool model emphasizing parental autonomy and adaptable learning environments.
Traditional public charter schools in Kentucky are mandated to adhere to the Kentucky Academic Standards, administer standardized state tests, and adhere to public accountability measures. These stipulations clash with the independent nature characteristic of most homeschooling programs.
Additionally, Kentucky does not mandate standardized testing or assessment for homeschooled students. Nevertheless, families have the option to independently arrange testing for benchmarking purposes. Various private companies and homeschool organizations offer standardized testing services for homeschoolers, albeit for a fee.
In essence, Kentucky’s educational landscape does not offer homeschool charter schools or online learning centers aligned with the homeschooling ethos of parental autonomy and flexible learning. Traditional public charter schools are bound by state standards and accountability measures, while standardized testing is not mandated for homeschooled students, allowing families to decide on testing options independently.
Local Kentucky Homeschooling Resources
While Kentucky does not directly fund or operate virtual charter schools or other programs and does not have statewide homeschool groups for homeschoolers, there are a number of local homeschool groups that provide resources, such as a sample letter of intent. In addition, many counties and cities, such as Northern Kentucky have local co-ops, support groups, classes, and activities organized by homeschool families.
Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (CHEK): Christian-focused homeschool group with events, field trips, and classes across the state including Northern Kentucky.
Central Kentucky Homeschool Social Group: This is a homeschool group created to help homeschool families by organizing homeschooling-related events within their area to meet other homeschoolers.
Homeschool Bowling Green: Secular home school community in Southern KY with weekly meet-ups, field trips, clubs and more.
West KY Homeschool Support: West KY Home School Support consists of other homeschool families who wish to join each other in the journey of starting a Kentucky homeschool.
For homeschooling families in Kentucky, it’s beneficial to connect with local homeschool groups for support and resources. Subscribing to homeschool newsletters and joining online communities helps stay informed about opportunities. Exploring online learning programs can complement homeschool curriculum, offering flexibility and access to specialized subjects, enriching the educational experience.
