State laws change from time to time and though we try to keep the laws up-to-date at all times please check with the department of education for any changes that may have occurred.
You live in Kentucky and you’re considering educating your children at home, or perhaps you plan to move there and want to continue offering your children the best home-based education; if you want to know how to start homeschooling in Kentucky, you’ve come to the right place! Read on and you’ll find specific details related to Kentucky homeschool laws and, to make sure you’ll be informed all the way, a selection of the best Kentucky-related homeschooling websites, an infographic and video to help you create a homeschool that thrives.
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The Bluegrass State
If you live here, you know that Kentucky is about way more than just Fried Chicken. One of the most fertile states in the US, Kentucky is also known for its college basketball tradition, rich history and great bluegrass music.
World’s longest cave system and the lengthiest navigable waterways can both be found here. You’ve also got plenty of state parks to hike through, such as the beautiful Raven Run Nature Sanctuary or the idyllic Parklands of Floyd’s Fork. Admire the impressive waterfalls of Saunders Spring Natural Reserve or explore the many fascinating caves and caverns: the Louisville Mega Cavern, the Mammoth Cave National Park or the amazing Diamond Caverns. You can even show your children some really impressive dinosaurs at the Dinosaur World!
If your children love history, take them to the Camp Nelson site for a living history demonstration, or visit the Mill Springs Battlefield Visitors Centre and Museum. Presidential history is also one of Kentucky’s fortes, with the Mary Todd Lincoln House open for visitors.
Known for its great automobile industry, Kentucky’s got one of US’ best auto museums: the National Corvette Museum and the Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum.
All in all, Kentucky’s got something for everyone, and you’ve got an inexhaustible educational resource readily available.
Kentucky Homeschool Laws
If you plan to homeschool, Kentucky laws will require you to operate your homeschool as a private school. This means that there will be a number of compulsory papers to fill in and bookkeeping to do, but nothing to be afraid of.
The first thing you need to do is to notify the local school district of the number of students by letter, in the first two weeks of the school year. This is an annual process.
You have to provide your children with at least 1062 instructional hours. As a general rule, your school year should overlap with that of the public schools.
While you do not need any qualifications, there are some legal provisions in what regards the compulsory subjects. You have to teach your children the same subjects that they would have been taught in public school.
The homeschool laws in Kentucky require you to keep attendance records and also register the grades, but there is no compulsory final assessment report.
Kentucky Homeschool Friendliness: Final Grade
The final grade for Kentucky is B. There’s really nothing wrong with it, but the homeschool laws in Kentucky are relatively demanding by comparison with other states, such as Alaska or Iowa. However, the legal provisions are practical and clear, and they shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Conclusion
Homeschooling is a great choice to make, and you should be proud that you’ve made it. Getting started should not be a problem if you live in Kentucky, provided that you pay attention to the legal requirements: make sure you send in a notice of intent by letter, and keep close records of attendance and grades. Other than that, there’s nothing much you should worry about – the state offers plenty of educational opportunities, and the local homeschooling community is quite active and willing to share ideas and experiences. If you need any additional information, feel free to contact us – we’re always willing to help you!
Resources
http://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/state-by-state/
http://education.ky.gov/federal/fed/pages/home-school.aspx - the official page of the Kentucky Department of Education, this is the go-to place for any legal information you may need
http://www.homeschoolinginkentucky.com/ - a great site covering general homeschooling topics, from curricula to reading activities