Homeschool laws in Kansas

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 6 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Kansas to-do

Register your school with the State Board of Education First year
Once, when you start the home school (the law sets no date). Keep a copy of the registration.
Tell the child's previous school about the transfer If leaving a school
When the child moves from a school to your home school; otherwise the school must report the child as truant.

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What Kansas asks

In Kansas a homeschool runs as a non-accredited private school: the parent registers the school's name and address once with the State Board of Education and tells the child's previous school about the transfer. Classes must be taught by a competent instructor for about as long as the local public schools are in session (KSDE cites 186 days of 6 hours, or 1,116 hours a year for grades 1-11), with no state tests, reports or set subjects.

School age: Ages 7–17. From age 7 until 18, unless the child has a high school diploma, GED or high school equivalency credential. A child under 7 who is enrolled in school must attend until withdrawn by a parent. A 16- or 17-year-old can be exempt in a few cases, such as parent consent plus a final counseling session at the school.

Non-accredited private school (NAPS, home school)

K.S.A. 72-3120(a)(2); K.S.A. 72-4345 to 72-4347; K.S.A. 72-3115 · Level 3: Moderate

Notice: register the school once with the State Board of Education
Time: like local public schools (186 days of 6 h, or 1,116 h)
Subjects: no list in the law
Assessment: none required
Records: none required by the law

All the details, deadlines and notes

Notice: Once: The law sets no date. Register the school's name and address (and the records custodian) once with the State Board of Education, using KSDE's online form; there is no approval and no confirmation is sent. Use the same form to update details or to mark the school non-active when it closes.
The state's form
Time: 186 days a year or 6 hours a day or 465 hours (grades K–K) or 1,116 hours (grades 1–11) or 1,086 hours (grades 12–12)
The law asks for a period of time substantially equivalent to the time the local public schools are in session. KSDE describes that as at least 186 days of at least 6 hours, or 1,116 hours a year for grades 1-11. The public school term law sets 186 days (K-11) and 181 days (grade 12), or 465 hours (K), 1,116 hours (1-11) and 1,086 hours (grade 12).
Subjects: No subjects listed in the law
Assessment: No assessment required
Portfolio: Not required
Reports: No reports to send
Records to keep: No records required by the law
Teacher: Courses must be taught by a competent instructor; no state teaching license is required.

Deadlines

Register your school with the State Board of Education: Once, when you start the home school (the law sets no date). Keep a copy of the registration.
Tell the child's previous school about the transfer: When the child moves from a school to your home school; otherwise the school must report the child as truant.

KSDE advises keeping accurate and complete records of progress, which are needed if the child transfers to an accredited school or applies to college (advice, not a legal requirement).
The school issues its own diploma; the State of Kansas does not recognize it as meeting any requirements.
A child enrolled in a non-accredited private school may enroll part-time in the local school district for courses, programs or services.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Report card, High-school transcript.

Sources

K.S.A. 72-3120 Compulsory school attendance; exemptions · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
K.S.A. 72-3115 School term · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
K.S.A. 72-4346 Nonaccredited private schools; registration of name and address required · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
K.S.A. 72-4345 Nonaccredited private schools; definitions · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
KSDE: Homeschooling in Kansas (Nonaccredited Private Schools) · State education agency · checked Oct 12, 2026
KSDE Fact Sheet: Homeschooling in Kansas, Non-Accredited Private Schools (revised 2/12/2024, PDF) · State education agency · checked Oct 12, 2026

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Kansas State Department of Education.

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Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Kansas asks for.

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