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🚀 How to Start Homeschooling in Kansas

The first steps for a Kansas family starting to homeschool: what to file, how to leave a public school, and where to find co-ops, classes and help — drawn from our Kansas guide and articles.

Homeschooling in Kansas: the basics

Legal route: KSDE says Kansas law does not specifically authorize "home instruction" or "homeschooling," but it does recognize non-accredited private schools, and all homeschools are classified as non-accredited private schools. A non-accredited private elementary or secondary school is one that regularly offers education at the elementary or secondary level, satisfies the compulsory attendance law, and is not accredited by the State Board of Education (K.S.A. 72-4345).
Registration: the school's official custodian of records registers the school's name and address with the State Board of Education (K.S.A. 72-4346). Do it once, online, using KSDE's Non-Accredited Private Schools form. KSDE recommends a computer or tablet rather than a phone. Use the same form to update a name or address or to mark the school "Non-Active" when it closes. KSDE has a separate form to request a copy of your registration letter.
Why registration exists: the law says the purpose is solely to let a public, accredited or other private school that a student transfers to find the school the student came from, so it can ask for the student's records (K.S.A. 72-4347).
Teacher: courses must be taught by a competent instructor (K.S.A. 72-3120). KSDE says non-accredited private schools are not required to employ state-licensed teachers.
School term: instruction must last a period substantially equivalent to the time public school is in session in your district (K.S.A. 72-3120). KSDE's guidance is at least 186 days of at least 6 hours a day, or 1,116 hours a year, for grades 1–11. Public schools may count 1,086 hours for grade 12 (K.S.A. 72-3115).
Curriculum: you choose and buy your own books and materials. KSDE supplies no books, curriculum, guidelines or technical help. KSDE says you may buy from private sources, borrow from the public library, or rent from the public school if the district agrees. Kansas curricular standards are posted by KSDE as guidelines only.
Compulsory age: 7 until 18, unless the child has a diploma, GED or high school equivalency credential (K.S.A. 72-3120). A child under 7 who is enrolled in school must attend, but the parent may withdraw the child at any time until age 7. A 16- or 17-year-old may be exempt in limited cases, such as with written parent consent plus a final counseling session at the school, or through an approved alternative program.
Withdrawing from public school: register the homeschool, then tell the school your child is changing schools. KSDE says if a student just stops coming, the school is required by law to report the student as truant. Keep a copy of your registration for your records and for the school your child is leaving. A school's truancy report goes to the Department for Children and Families or the county or district attorney after written notice to the parent (K.S.A. 72-3121).
Testing and reporting: we found no Kansas law requiring a non-accredited private school to give state tests or report scores, attendance or grades to the state. KSDE's special education handbook says a child enrolled by the parents in a private school follows that school's requirements on the state assessment.

Read the full section in our Kansas guide

Official sources

Summarized from our Kansas guide (as of October 2026) and articles. Rules change — confirm on the official pages before you act.

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