Kentucky requires all children aged six to 16 to attend a public or nonpublic school. A student aged 16 to 18 can quit school after attending a conference with the principal or designee of the school. The student and parents also must meet with a school counselor before the student can quit.
Parents must send a letter every school year to the superintendent of the local public schools that states that the child is being home schooled. The letter must contain the name, age and address of every child in the home school.
Classes must be conducted in English. Home schooled children must study the same subjects taught in the public school for each grade level. The home school must keep records of the student's course work, grades and attendance. Grade reports must be issued at the same time as the public school grade reports.
Kentucky public schools require students to attend 185 days in a year. The 185 days are divided into 177 instructional days and 10 days without instruction. Home schools must meet the same number of school days. Students must receive 1,062 hours of instruction each school year.
A home school is subject to inspection by the director of pupil personnel or any member of the Department of Education. The inspection is to ensure that the students attend school for the required number of days. Home schools also are subject to regulation by the Cabinet for Health Services.