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Kentucky · Light-touch
Kentucky asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.
VerifiedMarch 2026
Written from Kentucky's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.
Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
Kentucky asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: Within the first two weeks of the school year, or within two weeks of withdrawing from public school; resubmit every year. Your letter lists each child's name, age and your home address. You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Kentucky Department of Education / Local School District Superintendent.
Choose what to teach
Kentucky does not name required subjects, so your curriculum is your own decision. Most families still cover reading, writing, and math daily, and let interest lead the rest.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Kentucky does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.
No testing or assessment
Kentucky does not require a standardized test or an evaluator's review. Plenty of families still keep a folder of work through the year — not because the state asks, but because it makes a transcript or a college application far easier to put together later.
No program on file yet
We do not have a verified Kentucky education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking Kentucky Department of Education / Local School District Superintendent directly.
Is homeschooling legal in Kentucky?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Kentucky. Kentucky is considered one of the easiest states for homeschoolers — minimal regulation, no notice required, and maximum family freedom.
Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky requires families to file a Notice of Intent by Within the first two weeks of the school year, or within two weeks of withdrawing from public school; resubmit every year. Your letter lists each child's name, age and your home address.. This notice must be renewed annually.
How many instruction days are required in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not mandate a minimum amount of instruction time.
What subjects are required by law in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not mandate specific subjects, giving families complete freedom to design their own curriculum.
Does Kentucky require annual assessment for homeschoolers?
No. Kentucky does not require formal annual assessment. Families may voluntarily track progress for college application purposes.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky does not require parents to hold a teaching certificate or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.
Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Kentucky?
Rules about homeschooled students taking part in public school sports and activities differ by state and by district. Check with your local school district and your state athletic association.
Kentucky asks homeschool families to send the local superintendent a letter of intent each year (within two weeks of the start of the school year or of leaving public school), keep attendance records, and keep scholarship reports of courses and grades. The Department of Education recommends, but does not require, 170 days and 1,062 hours for non-certified homeschools. Nothing is filed with the state, and no testing or teacher qualification is stated. For current details, see the Department of Education homeschool page and information packet.
The free tools below work whether or not you ever pay us a penny; each tile says what it needs. Use what helps with Kentucky's requirements and ignore the rest.
Last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Kentucky Department of Education / Local School District Superintendent. This is information for families, not legal advice.