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⚖️ Kansas Homeschool Laws & Requirements

What Kansas law asks of homeschool families — notice or registration, school days and subjects, testing, records and diplomas — summarized from our Kansas guide with links to the official sources.

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

Records, transcripts, diplomas and going back to school

Records: Kansas law defines a non-accredited private school's "pupil records" and names an "official custodian" for them (K.S.A. 72-4345), but it doesn't list what you must keep. KSDE urges accurate and complete records of each student's progress, because you'll need them if your child transfers to a public or accredited school or applies to college. Many families keep an attendance log of days and hours, a list of courses and materials, work samples, and grades or test results.

Graduation and diplomas: private schools, including non-accredited ones, issue their own high school diplomas. KSDE says these diplomas are not recognized by the state as meeting any requirements, and the state does not issue diplomas. KSDE recommends the graduation minimum used by accredited schools: 4 units of English language arts, 3 of history and government, 3 of science, 3 of mathematics, 1 of physical education, 1 of fine arts and 6 of electives.

Going back to public or accredited school: the accredited school is not required to accept credits from a non-accredited private school and may test your child to decide what to accept (KSDE fact sheet). Bring your records. The receiving school can ask the State Board for your school's registration so it can request records from you (K.S.A. 72-4346).

College admission: colleges set their own admission rules for graduates of non-accredited private schools. KSDE notes that many may ask for a GED or other criteria, so check each college's homeschool admission page early. The Kansas State Scholarship relies on the Kansas Scholars Curriculum and the ACT (see below), so plan high school courses with that in mind.

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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