Overview
Kentucky allows parents and guardians to educate their children at home. Under Kentucky law, a homeschool is considered a nonpublic/private school. Families are not required to enroll with a homeschool cover school or umbrella school in order to legally homeschool.
Kentucky Homeschool Law Basics
Parents or guardians who homeschool in Kentucky are responsible for meeting the state's homeschool requirements.
Compulsory Attendance Age
Kentucky children between the ages of 6 and 18 are generally subject to compulsory school attendance requirements.
Notification to the Local School District
A parent or guardian operating a homeschool must notify the superintendent of the local public school district that the child is being educated through a homeschool.
Kentucky treats this as a notification rather than an application for permission to homeschool.
Families should contact their local school district regarding the required annual homeschool notification and retain a copy of the notice for their records.
Instructional Days and Hours
Kentucky homeschools are expected to provide:
- At least 170 instructional days each school year
- At least 1,062 total instructional hours during the school year
Required Areas of Instruction
Kentucky law requires nonpublic schools, including homeschools, to provide instruction in subjects generally comparable to those taught in Kentucky public schools.
These include:
- Reading
- Writing
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Mathematics
- History
- Civics
Instruction is generally required to be provided in English.
Parents may select the curriculum, textbooks, online programs, educational resources, and teaching methods they believe are appropriate for their child. Kentucky does not require homeschool families to use a state-approved curriculum.
Attendance Records
Parents must maintain attendance records showing that the required school days and instructional hours have been completed.
These records are generally maintained by the homeschool family and are not routinely submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Academic Progress Records
Kentucky homeschool families should also maintain records of the student's academic progress. These may include items such as:
- Grades
- Report cards
- Progress reports
- Completed coursework
- Transcripts
- Samples of student work
Kentucky law requires nonpublic schools to maintain records of attendance and scholarship or academic progress.
Testing
Kentucky does not require homeschool students to participate in annual state standardized testing simply because they are homeschooled.
Teacher Certification
Parents are not required to hold a Kentucky teaching certificate in order to homeschool their own children.
Curriculum
Kentucky does not prescribe or approve a specific homeschool curriculum. Parents have the authority and responsibility to choose the educational materials and program used for their children.
Using Alabama Church School Services
Kentucky families may enroll with Alabama Church School for curriculum, educational resources, recordkeeping assistance, forms, transcripts, report cards, and other available services.
Enrollment with Alabama Church School does not replace the Kentucky parent's responsibility to comply with Kentucky homeschool law, including any required notification to the family's local Kentucky school district.
Kentucky does not require families to have a cover school. Families who choose to enroll with Alabama Church School may do so for the curriculum, documentation, organization, educational support, and other services we provide.
Parents remain responsible for ensuring that their homeschool complies with all requirements applicable in their state of residence.
Kentucky Homeschool Law References
The primary Kentucky laws affecting homeschool families include:
- KRS 159.010 — Compulsory school attendance
- KRS 159.030 — Exemptions from public school attendance, including private and homeschool education
- KRS 159.040 — Attendance and academic progress records
- KRS 158.070 — Minimum school term and instructional time
- KRS 158.080 — Instruction required in nonpublic schools
For the most current requirements, families should also review information published by the Kentucky Department of Education.
How Alabama Church School supports Kentucky families
ACS does not replace your state's homeschool requirements — it gives families complete curriculum, academic records, transcripts, diplomas, and documentation while you continue satisfying Kentucky law.
Nearby state homeschool guides
Families moving to or from Kentucky often review these states next.