Kansas Homeschool Requirements: What You Actually Need to Do

If you’re planning to homeschool in Kansas, you might be confused about exactly what the state requires. Kansas homeschool requirements are famously simple compared to other states, but you still need to understand the few rules that do apply. Here’s a straightforward breakdown of what Kansas actually requires.

Key Takeaways

• Register once with KSDE (free, online)
• Have a “competent instructor” (no certification needed)
• Provide “periodic testing” (you choose the method)
• Teach approximately 1,116 hours/year
• Keep basic records (optional, but recommended)
• No annual reporting, no home visits, no curriculum approval

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The Four Core Kansas Homeschool Requirements

1. One-Time KSDE Registration

You must register your homeschool with the Kansas State Department of Education once. That’s it. No annual re-registration.

What to do:

• Contact KSDE’s Division of Learning Services
• Fill out the Non-Accredited Private School (NAPS) registration form
• Provide: school name, address, operator name
• Submit online or by mail
• Free

Timeline: 2-4 weeks

What happens after registration:

• You receive a “building number” for record-keeping purposes
• You are not required to submit any paperwork after registration
• You are not subject to annual audits, inspections, or compliance reviews

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2. A “Competent Instructor”

Kansas law requires that instruction be provided by a “competent instructor.”

What this means:

• The instructor must be capable of teaching
• The statute does NOT define “competent”
• The Kansas Attorney General has ruled that teacher certification is NOT required
• No minimum education level required
• Parents are presumed competent if they establish an appropriate academic environment

What you do NOT need:

• Teaching certificate
• Bachelor’s degree
• High school diploma
• Any formal credential

How is competency judged? Informally. If you’re planning curriculum, organizing instruction, giving tests, and tracking progress, you’re demonstrating competency. Kansas does not verify instructor qualifications unless there’s a specific concern (which is rare).

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3. “Periodic Testing”

Your homeschool must include “periodic testing,” but Kansas does not specify what kind.

What this means:

• You must assess your student’s learning periodically (at least annually, typically)
• You choose the assessment method
• No standardized testing is required
• You choose the frequency

What counts as “periodic testing”:

• Standardized tests (Iowa Tests, Stanford, CAT, Terra Nova, ACT/SAT)
• Parent-created tests
• Curriculum-embedded assessments
• Portfolio reviews
• Transcript-based assessments

What you don’t do:

• Submit test scores to KSDE
• Use a state-mandated test
• Meet a minimum score requirement
• Report testing results to the state

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4. “Substantially Equivalent” Instruction (1,116 Hours/Year)

Your homeschool must provide instruction that is “substantially equivalent” to what public schools provide.

The math:

• 186 school days × 6 hours per day = 1,116 hours/year
• This is the public school standard
• You don’t have to track hours or submit documentation
• The presumption is that families with planned, scheduled instruction meet this requirement

What you don’t need to do:

• Log hours daily
• Submit attendance records to KSDE
• Follow a traditional school calendar
• Meet a specific start date
• Keep a formal attendance sheet (though keeping informal records for your own use is smart)

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Do You Need Required Subjects?

No. Kansas law does not require specific subjects.

The statute only requires instruction to be “planned and scheduled.” You choose:

• What subjects to teach
• How deeply to explore each subject
• Whether to include religious instruction
• What instructional method to use

Most families teach academic core (reading, writing, math, science, history), but it’s not mandated.

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What About Record Keeping?

Required by law: Nothing

Recommended best practice:

• Keep curriculum records
• Keep informal attendance or hour logs
• Keep assessment records (test scores, grades, transcripts)
• Keep course descriptions (especially for high school)

Why? These records help you:

• Demonstrate that your homeschool meets the “substantially equivalent” standard
• Create high school transcripts for college applications
• Defend your homeschool if questions arise (rare, but possible)

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Annual Reporting Requirements

Kansas requires NO annual reporting after your initial registration.

• You don’t submit attendance records
• You don’t submit test scores
• You don’t submit curriculum information
• You don’t file annual paperwork
• You don’t have home visits or inspections

This is one of the most permissive states in the nation for reporting.

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Teacher Qualifications & Background Checks

Kansas does not require:

• Teaching certificates
• Background checks
• Proof of education
• Any professional credential

Parents are the default instructors, and no qualification beyond demonstrated competency is required.

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Special Circumstances

Switching from Public School to Homeschool

When you withdraw your child from public school:

1. Register your homeschool with KSDE (one-time registration)
2. Notify your current school of withdrawal
3. Request student records
4. Begin instruction immediately (no waiting period)

Special Education Students

If your child was receiving special education services:

• Your child’s IEP becomes invalid when you withdraw from public school
• The school district is not required to provide special ed services to homeschooled children
• You can request that services continue (some districts cooperate)
• You are responsible for meeting special education needs through your homeschool

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What Kansas Doesn’t Require (And Other States Do)

To put Kansas’s requirements in perspective, the state does NOT require:

• Standardized testing
• Curriculum pre-approval
• Annual compliance reporting
• Home visits or inspections
• Teacher certification
• Specific required subjects
• Detailed attendance records
• Annual portfolio submission
• Benchmark testing
• Parent-teacher conferences

This makes Kansas one of the most permissive states for homeschooling.

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Enforcement & Oversight

How are Kansas homeschool requirements enforced?

In practice, not strictly. The state does not:

• Conduct annual audits
• Make surprise home visits
• Review curriculum
• Verify instructor qualifications
• Check test scores

When might the state get involved?

• If a child ages 7-18 is reported as not receiving any instruction
• If you fail to register with KSDE
• If a school district has a specific concern about a homeschool (rare)

For families following the basic requirements—registering with KSDE, teaching planned lessons, and assessing periodically—enforcement is not an issue.

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Financial Support & Tax Benefits

Kansas does not offer:

• Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for homeschoolers
• Voucher programs for homeschoolers
• State income tax credits or deductions for homeschooling

Federal options available:

• Coverdell ESA: $2,000/year/child
• 529 plan (Learning Quest): up to $3,000 state deduction per contributor

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Timeline: First Steps

1. Month 1: Register with KSDE as NAPS
2. Month 1: Plan curriculum and establish structure
3. During year: Teach and assess periodically
4. End of year: Create assessment records and grades

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Bottom Line

Kansas requires only four things: register (once), be a competent instructor (loosely defined), provide periodic testing (you choose how), and teach about 1,116 hours per year (not tracked). Everything else—subjects, curriculum, method, assessment format—is your choice.

This simplicity is what makes Kansas an attractive state for homeschooling families who want flexibility and autonomy. The trade-off is that the state provides minimal oversight, so you’re responsible for ensuring quality education.

For detailed help with each requirement, see our guides on and .