Kentucky Education Code For Homeschooling
This is not intended to be legal advice and is distributed
for information purposes only. Check for updates at your public
library.
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The following are the minimal requirements
for the operation of a home school in Kentucky:
1. Education is a fundamental right. Rose V. Council for Better
Education, Inc, KY., 790 S.W. 2d 186 (1989). Compulsory attendance
laws require that every child between the ages of 6 and 16 be
enrolled in school. KRS 159.030 exempts a child from attending
public school who is enrolled and regularly attending a private,
parochial or church regular day school. When you decide to educate
your children at home, you must notify the local board of education
by letter of intent to teach your child(ren) at home, giving
the names, ages, and address of each child. You should keep a
copy of this letter.
2. Private and parochial schools shall provide instruction
for a term at least as long as the term in effect for the public
school in the district where the child resides, normally 175
instructional days. (KRS 158.080)
3. The private and parochial schools shall teach those subjects
that will educate children to be intelligent citizens. The General
Assembly requires that instruction be offered in English and
in the branches of study that are taught in the public schools.
This has been interpreted to include at least reading, writing,
spelling, grammar, history, mathematics and civics. KRS 158.080,
and Kentucky State Board for Elementary and Secondary Education
v. Rudasill, KY., 589 S.W. 2d 877 (1979).
4. The private and parochial schools shall record and maintain
scholarship reports of each student's progress at the same interval
as in the local public school, normally, every nine weeks, grading
all subjects taught. (KRS 159.040).
5. Kentucky requires that an accurate record of pupil attendance
be kept. Attendance may be recorded in a notebook, or on a computer
list. (KRS 159.040).
6. KRS 158.040 requires that all private schools be open to
inspection by directors of pupil personnel or officials of the
Department of Education.
Kentucky Department of Education
Home School Information and Suggestions
1. The public schools are to teach those subjects that will
accomplish the six major goals of education reform. (KRS 158.060):
a. Use basic communication and mathematics skills for purposes
and situations they will encounter throughout their lives;
b. Apply core concepts and principles from mathematics, the
sciences, the arts, the humanities, social studies, and practical
living studies to situations they will encounter throughout their
lives;
c. Become a self sufficient individual;
d. Become responsible members of a family, work group, or
community including demonstrating effectiveness in community
service;
e. Think and solve problems in school situations and in a
variety of situations they will encounter in life; and
f. Connect and integrate experiences and new knowledge from
all subject matter field with what they have previously learned
and build on past learning experiences to acquire new information
through various media sources. (KRS 158.080, 158.6451)
2. We suggest that the parent, or home school teacher, keep
a portfolio for each child under instruction. This should contain
samples of the best work done in the several areas of study,
and be maintained from year to year. This will facilitate the
transfer of students who attend home schools and who enroll in
public school for any portion of their education.
3. Prospective employers, as well as persons in other agencies,
may require some form of documentation establishing the existence
of the home school, and the identity of the teacher.
4. Any child who discontinues attendance in a home school
and enrolls in public school shall be assigned to the grade to
which the student is best suited, to be determined by examination
or by student performance. KRS 158.140 and 704 KAR 3:307. A transcript
of work completed will facilitate the determination of student
placement.
5. An Attendance Register, information of the process followed
by the public schools to record academic progress reports, and
a copy of the forms used by the public schools may be obtained
from your local board of education.
6. The Cabinet for Human Resources has the duty to evaluate
any charge of educational neglect. (KRS 600.020-040)
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