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Key Takeaways:
- Five straightforward legal requirements: name your school, file notice of intent, meet instructional hours, teach required subjects, keep records
- 170 instructional days and 1,062 hours annually — no testing, no credentials, no curriculum approval needed
- Notice of intent must be filed within the first two weeks of your school year with your local superintendent
- Kentucky’s legal structure emphasizes what you must do, not what you cannot do
The Five Kentucky Homeschool Requirements (Simplified)
If you’re starting to homeschool in Kentucky, you need to do exactly five things. Here they are without the legal jargon.
Requirement 1: Name Your Homeschool
Your homeschool must have a name. This is the “bona fide school” requirement. It’s simple: your homeschool is not just your child studying at home; it’s an educational institution.
Examples of appropriate homeschool names:
- Mountain View Academy
- Blessed Hope Homeschool
- Smith Family Learning Center
- Evergreen Classical Homeschool
- Discovery Academy at Home
The name doesn’t need approval. Choose something that reflects your educational philosophy, and you’re done. This name appears on your notice of intent and any official correspondence.
Requirement 2: File Notice of Intent (First Two Weeks of School Year)
Submit written notice to your local school district superintendent within the first two weeks of your school year. Include:
- Your child’s full name and date of birth
- Your child’s previous grade level (or current if moving mid-year)
- Your homeschool’s name
- Your name and address
- Your superintendent’s mailing address
How to file:
- Look up your local superintendent’s contact information (search “[Your County] Kentucky Schools Superintendent”)
- Send notice via email (fastest, with confirmation) or certified mail
- Keep a copy for your records
Most superintendents acknowledge receipt. If filing by mail, consider certified mail for proof of delivery.
What if you miss the deadline? Contact your superintendent immediately and explain. Most districts accept notices filed shortly after the two-week window, but filing on time is the safer legal position.
Requirement 3: Maintain 170 Instructional Days and 1,062 Hours
Kentucky requires 170 instructional days per school year (or 185 if your district operates year-round) and 1,062 instructional hours per school year.
What counts as instructional time:
- Direct teacher-to-student instruction (lectures, teaching)
- Student engaged in curriculum (independent work, reading, projects)
- Educational videos and lessons
- Field trips with educational purpose
- Tutoring sessions
- Co-op classes
What does NOT count:
- Lunch and recess
- Administrative time (attendance tracking, report card creation)
- Transportation
- Extra-curricular activities (though these can complement your program)
Practical math:
- 170 days ÷ 52 weeks ≈ 3.3 school days per week (flexible; you set the schedule)
- 1,062 hours ÷ 170 days ≈ 6.25 instructional hours per day
- Many families do 4 days per week at 5-6 hours per day
Record keeping for hours: Keep a simple log. You don’t submit it to the state, but you need to maintain it:
“ Date: Sept 15 Subject: Reading (45 min), Math (60 min), Science (45 min), History (45 min) Total: 3.25 hours “
Or simply note daily: “Sept 15: 6 hours instruction” if you prefer. The state doesn’t audit this; you’re documenting for your own accountability and in case of any future inquiry.
Requirement 4: Teach These Eight Subjects
Kentucky requires instruction in:
- Reading
- Writing
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Mathematics
- Science
- History
- Civics
You choose the curriculum, depth, method, and pacing. The state does not approve curricula or evaluate content. A homeschool covering these subjects with any reputable curriculum — whether classical, Charlotte Mason, unschooling-informed, religious, secular, or any other approach — meets this requirement.
What if subjects overlap? They do. You might teach civics within history, grammar within English composition, writing across subjects. This is normal and fully acceptable.
Requirement 5: Keep Records of Attendance and Progress
Maintain records showing:
- Attendance: Dates your child was in instruction
- Progress reports: Documentation of your child’s achievement or progress at the same intervals as your local public school (typically quarterly or semester)
Format is entirely your choice. Your progress documentation can be:
- Progress notes you write
- Portfolio samples of student work
- Test scores (if you test)
- Informal assessments
- Any combination of the above
Key point: Records stay with you. Kentucky does not collect or review them. You keep them for your records and in case of any future inquiry.
Annual documentation timeline:
- By end of Q1 (typically November): First progress report
- By end of Q2 (typically February): Second progress report
- By end of Q3 (typically April/May): Third progress report
- By end of Q4 (typically June/July): Year-end documentation
What Kentucky Does NOT Require
No Teacher Certification or Degree
You don’t need a high school diploma, college degree, or teaching certificate. Parents from any educational background can homeschool.
No Standardized Testing
No SAT, ACT, Iowa Assessments, or other standardized tests are legally required. (College-bound students often take SAT/ACT, but that’s for college admission, not Kentucky law.)
No Curriculum Approval
Don’t submit curriculum to anyone. Choose your materials and teach them.
No Home Visits or Portfolio Review
The state does not conduct home visits or require portfolio submission to state officials.
No Accreditation
Your homeschool does not need accreditation from any organization.
Timing Matters: The Two-Week Window
The notice of intent deadline is within the first two weeks of your school year. This is your primary time-sensitive obligation.
Your school year start date is YOUR choice. You don’t follow the public school calendar. Many families start in late August, some in September, some even later. The deadline runs from your chosen start date.
Example: If you begin school on September 8, your notice of intent is due by September 22. If you start January 10, it’s due by January 24.
Multiple Children
If you’re homeschooling more than one child, file one notice per household listing all children. Check with your superintendent to confirm whether they want:
- One form listing all children, or
- Separate forms for each child
Most prefer one consolidated notice.
Special Situations
Switching from Public School Mid-Year
You can withdraw from public school and begin homeschool at any time. File your notice of intent within two weeks of your homeschool start date, separate from the public school withdrawal process.
Part-Time Homeschooling
Some families combine part-time public school with part-time homeschool. If your child is enrolled part-time in public school, they’re still covered by public school attendance requirements. The notice of intent applies only to the homeschool portion.
High School (Grades 9-12)
High school homeschools follow the same requirements as elementary. The only difference is record keeping might emphasize course descriptions and transcripts for college readiness.
Summary: Five Steps to Legal Compliance
- Name your school (internal, no approval needed)
- File notice of intent within first two weeks of school year
- Maintain 170 days, 1,062 hours annually (record your daily hours)
- Teach required subjects (reading, writing, spelling, grammar, math, science, history, civics)
- Keep attendance and progress records (maintain, don’t submit)
That’s it. These five requirements are the complete legal framework for Kentucky homeschooling. Everything else is your family’s educational choice.
Next step: Prepare your notice of intent and contact your superintendent.