Home Schooling Requirements for Your State
Home School Rquirements
Home school requirements vary from state to state. Here are links to each state’s requirements so that you may have an idea of the steps you will have to take in becoming a homeschooler.
Disclaimer: I am not a legal professional, nor do I claim to be giving legal advice! I am only providing information to help you get started on researching this topic. Enough said, you get the idea.
Home schooling law was passed by each state individually according to their interpretations of what would be the minimum requirements for a sound home schooling program. The laws will vary in their complexity, with some being easier to understand and implement than others. It is always a good idea to consult your local and state authorities for any interpretation or clarification of these laws. A wonderful source might be your local librarian who has surely fielded similar questions from potential homeschoolers in the past. Another source might be from any state home schooling association that you might find information for online.
Please pay particular attention to how your state defines what is or is not a home school. Sometimes an online group is still state sponsored, and therefor is considered to be an extension of the public school system.
–Sarah
Home Schooling Requirements for Kentucky
Home schooling requirements for Kentucky are listed below. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all laws or regulations regarding homeschooling in Kentucky. Law makers may change or add to laws at any time, so I do not represent this list as necessarily complete. This list should be a starting point for you to do further research and it is not offered in any way by me as legal advice. If you are to run a successful home schooling program, you should take the time to verify your requirements with your state authorities to be sure you are following all of the pertinent laws and regulations.
The following are the minimal requirements for the operation of a home school in Kentucky:
1. Education is a fundamental right. Rose V. Council for Better Education, Inc, KY., 790 S.W. 2d 186 (1989). Compulsory attendance laws require that every child between the ages of 6 and 16 be enrolled in school. KRS 159.030 exempts a child from attending public school who is enrolled and regularly attending a private, parochial or church regular day school. When you decide to educate your children at home, you must notify the local board of education by letter of intent to teach your child(ren) at home, giving the names, ages, and address of each child. You should keep a copy of this letter.
2. Private 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, normally 175 instructional days. (KRS 158.080)
3. The private and parochial schools shall teach those subjects that will educate children to be intelligent citizens. The General Assembly requires that instruction be offered in English and in the branches of study that are taught in the public schools. This has been interpreted to include at least reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, mathematics and civics. KRS 158.080, and Kentucky State Board for Elementary and Secondary Education v. Rudasill, KY., 589 S.W. 2d 877 (1979).
4. The private and parochial schools shall record and maintain scholarship reports of each student’s progress at the same interval as in the local public school, normally, every nine weeks, grading all subjects taught. (KRS 159.040).
5. Kentucky requires that an accurate record of pupil attendance be kept. Attendance may be recorded in a notebook, or on a computer list. (KRS 159.040).
6. KRS 158.040 requires that all private schools be open to inspection by directors of pupil personnel or officials of the Department of Education.
Kentucky Department of Education
Home School Information and Suggestions
1. The public schools are to teach those subjects that will accomplish the six major goals of education reform. (KRS 158.060):
a. Use basic communication and mathematics skills for purposes and situations they will encounter throughout their lives;
b. Apply core concepts and principles from mathematics, the sciences, the arts, the humanities, social studies, and practical living studies to situations they will encounter throughout their lives;
c. Become a self sufficient individual;
d. Become responsible members of a family, work group, or community including demonstrating effectiveness in community service;
e. Think and solve problems in school situations and in a variety of situations they will encounter in life; and
f. Connect and integrate experiences and new knowledge from all subject matter field with what they have previously learned and build on past learning experiences to acquire new information through various media sources. (KRS 158.080, 158.6451)
2. We suggest that the parent, or home school teacher, keep a portfolio for each child under instruction. This should contain samples of the best work done in the several areas of study, and be maintained from year to year. This will facilitate the transfer of students who attend home schools and who enroll in public school for any portion of their education.
3. Prospective employers, as well as persons in other agencies, may require some form of documentation establishing the existence of the home school, and the identity of the teacher.
4. Any child who discontinues attendance in a home school and enrolls in public school shall be assigned to the grade to which the student is best suited, to be determined by examination or by student performance. KRS 158.140 and 704 KAR 3:307. A transcript of work completed will facilitate the determination of student placement.
5. An Attendance Register, information of the process followed by the public schools to record academic progress reports, and a copy of the forms used by the public schools may be obtained from your local board of education.
6. The Cabinet for Human Resources has the duty to evaluate any charge of educational neglect. (KRS 600.020-040)
