State Laws
Read the laws regulating home education in Kentucky and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
Summaries and Explanations of Kentucky Homeschooling Laws
Home School Information Packet and Best Practices Document
The Home School Information Packet And Best Practices Document was prepared as a joint effort by the Christian Home Educators of Kentucky, the Kentucky Home Education Association and the Kentucky Directors of Pupil Personnel. The purpose of the document is to assist home school parents and Kentucky school personnel.
Kentucky Home School Requirements & Information
Kentucky Department of Education information site with a summary of the laws pertaining to home education.
Kentucky Home School Laws
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Kentucky. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Kentucky.
Recognition of Credits for Non-Public & Home Schooling
Discusses the transfer of credits from a home school to a publich school. The local school district is responsible for the appropriate assignment of a student transferring from a nonaccredited secondary school to the class or grade best suited for the student.
Rose v. Council for Better Education
Summary of Rose v. Council for Better Education decision. The court was asked to determine whether the existing educational funding system, which includes a minimum foundation level and "power equalization formula", was an efficient system of funding as required by section 183 of the Kentucky constitution. The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the lower courts ruling that the existing system of finance did not satisfy the requirement of an efficient educational system.
Kentucky Statutes Pertaining to Home Education
Home School Laws from HSLDA
Find the laws pertaining to home education for all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Rose v. Council for Better Education
Rose V. Council for Better Education, Inc., 790 S.W.2d 186, 60 Ed. Law Rep. 1289 (1989), established education as a fundamental right in Kentucky. This is the text of that decision.
Kentucky Revised Statute KRS 159.010 Parent or custodian to send child to school
Section (2) refers to children between the ages of 16 and 18 who wish to terminate their public or nonpublic education prior to graduating from high school. Stipulates requirements to be fulfilled for this exemption to be granted.
Kentucky Revised Statute KRS 159.040 Attendance at private and parochial schools.
Attendance at private and parochial schools shall be kept by the authorities of such schools in a register provided by the Kentucky Board of Education, and such school authorities shall make attendance and scholarship reports in the same manner as is required by law or by regulation of the Kentucky Board of Education of public school officials. Such schools shall at times be open to inspection by directors of pupil personnel and officials of the Department of Education.
Kentucky Revised Statute KRS 159.030 Exemptions from compulsory attendance.
This statute details the requirement for compulsory school attendance for all children between the ages of 6 and 16. Those who are enrolled and regularly attending a non-public school are exempt from this provision.
Kentucky Revised Statute KRS 159.160 Attendance reports to superintendent.
The principal or teacher in charge of any public, private, or parochial school shall report to the superintendent of schools of the district in which the school is situated the names, ages, and places of residence of all pupils in attendance at his school, together with any other facts that the superintendent may require to facilitate carrying out the laws relating to compulsory attendance and employment of children. The reports shall be made within two (2) weeks of the beginning of each school year.
Kentucky Revised Statute KRS 158.080 Private and parochial schools -- Courses -- Term.
Stipulates that private and parochial schools shall be taught in the English language. Requires that instruction in the several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools are offered, consistent with KRS 156.445(3). Discusses the required length of the term of the school. The minimum school term is 185 days, which includes 175 days of instruction.
Kentucky Revised Statute 158.070 School term
Details on the length of the school term.
Case Law and Legal Opinions
Pierce v. Society of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
In Pierce v. Society of the Sisters, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "the fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments of this Union repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the creature of the state."
Featured Resources

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