Homeschooling Regulations by State: Kansas

by Christina Yeager

Homeschooling is positively a crucial step for some families. For those who are carefully considering it in Kansas, but don't know where to start, we have the valuable information you seek! Laws vary by state, and the regulations for Kansas may or may not be different. So, if you're in the State of Kansas and genuinely want to homeschool, keep reading.
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Each state is the U.S. has a very specific set of regulations for homeschooling. If you are thinking about teaching your child at home, you'll need to know the ins and outs of what needs to be done beforehand and during. In this series, Homeschooling Regulations by State, we'll explore information to help with the decision, what to do to get started and what to do correctly to continue.

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​Compulsory School Age
Compulsory school age in the State of Kansas applies to children ages seven to those who are under the age of eighteen. Children under the age of seven may begin instruction if identified as handicapped. Every child within that specific age group must properly attend a public, private, denominational, or parochial school for the probable duration of the school term.

Homeschooling Choices
Homeschooling in Kansas is classified as non-accredited private schools. So, to homeschool properly, a family must consider themselves a private school and register the non-accredited establishment with the Board of Education. There is no fee to register your home-based education.

You have two viable options:

• Establish a homeschool as a non-accredited private school. No record keeping or specific subjects are typically required when exercising this option. Teachers at the school (meaning you and your home) must be competent as determined by the Board of Education. The only filing requirement is that the name and address of the homeschool/private school must be properly registered with the Board of Education. Registration is a one-time requirement. 
• Establish a homeschool as a satellite of an accredited private school. Teacher competency requirements are the same as for the above option. A satellite homeschool must conform with all reporting, record keeping and testing requirements requested or required by the supervising private school. As a satellite to a private school, your homeschool will be legally accountable to that school.

Formally Withdrawing From Public School
If your child already attends a Kansas public school and you're ready to begin educating your children at home, then you must promptly notify the local school that you will be transferring your child. Remember, homeschool is not officially recognized in the state of Kansas.

Other Important Things To Consider
There is no standardized testing is required in the State of Kansas.

Record Keeping
As mentioned above in the Homeschooling Choices section, keeping records is only required by those who wish to follow the guidance of an accredited satellite school. Although it is always recommended that everyone maintain records in case they are needed for transferring to another satellite school or public school in the future.

Necessary Paperwork
Registration consists of completing a form provided by the state showing the name and address of the school and the name and address of the official custodian of the school’s records.

Curriculum
Kansas accredited private schools is required to teach reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, spelling, English grammar and composition, civil government, the United States and Kansas history, American patriotism and duties of a U.S. citizen, health and hygiene.

No requirements are listed for non-accredited private schools.

Kansas graduation requirements-minimum for accredited public and accredited Private schools and recommended for non-accredited schools:

• 4 units of English Language Arts
• 3 units of History and Government
• 3 units of Science
• 3 units of Mathematics
• 1 unit of Physical Education
• 1 unit of Fine Arts
• 6 units of electives

Instruction & Attendance
Classes must be held for a period of substantially equivalent time to the time public schools are in session. The time required for public schools is at least 186 days of not less than 6 hours per day or 1116 hours per year for grades 1-11.

Immunizations
The State of Kansas requires all private school students to receive vaccinations or submit a waiver. You must respectfully submit sufficient proof of vaccination to the school’s governing authority (for homeschoolers this is the parent/guardian).

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Are you a homeschooler (new or veteran) seeking to share insight? Read our guidelines and then reach out introducing yourself to obtain blogging credentials! And if you're a homeschool parent, be sure to follow the Homeschooling Heroes page on Facebook for tons of resources and insight, and join the Unschool Homeschool group to expand your horizons as to what homeschooling is/can be. And finally, if you're looking for activities to join, we have a group with New Orleans-based activities, which will be expanding to an area near you - so join our group! And be excited about that, because we offer tons of exceptional educational and extracurricular activities for homeschoolers and parents, and can't wait to include you.

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