Homeschooling in Kansas: Everything You Need to Know

Homeschooling in Kansas increased by 57% between the 2017–2018 and 2022–2023 school years, according to recent data from Kansas school districts analyzed by The Washington Post.

The popularity of homeschooling models in the United States isn’t a recent trend, and the numbers from the last few years show just how many parents are turning away from the conventional educational system. It’s easy to understand why this is the new reality.

These systems are too rigid and confined to address the individual needs of most children in families. The standardized, one-size-fits-all teaching methods used in public schools and accredited school settings rarely encourage enough curiosity and analytical thinking for kids to truly excel in their careers and in the real world.

Homeschooling in Kansas is growing in popularity because it helps parents shape their child’s education around their interests and real-life values. If you’ve been considering doing the same, then you’ve picked the right location to explore a personalized learning system for your children. The Sunflower State keeps its homeschooling laws minimal; the registration process takes about five minutes, and you don’t need anyone’s permission to get started.

Let’s walk you through this process from start to finish.

Kansas Homeschool Requirements and Laws

Kansas doesn’t actually have a specific homeschool statute. Instead, the state classifies all homeschools as Non-Accredited Private Schools (NAPS) under K.S.A. 72-4345. That classification is what gives homeschool families so much flexibility. You’re essentially operating a small private school out of your home, and the state treats it that way. Unlike an accredited private school, a parochial school, or a private elementary program, NAPS are not overseen by the state board or subject to the same reporting standards.

Compulsory Attendance Ages and Instruction Time

Kansas law requires children ages seven through 17 to be enrolled in and attending school. If your child hasn’t turned seven yet, you’re not legally obligated to begin formal instruction, though many families choose to start earlier.

Your homeschool’s instruction time should be substantially equivalent to what public schools provide: roughly 186 days at six hours per day (or 1,116 total credit hours for grades 1 through 11). But you don’t have to follow the public school calendar or daily schedule. You set your own hours and take things at your own pace. That flexibility is one of the biggest perks of homeschooling in the state.

What Kansas Homeschool Laws Do (and Don’t) Require

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Due to the sheer volume of information on the internet, it’s very easy to get misled. Let’s discuss the actual requirements expected from parents homeschooling in Kansas.

Registration

Required, but only done once. You are expected to register your homeschool name and address with the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE). It’s free, and you do not need to re-register each school year.

Standardized Testing

NAPS are exempt from state testing. Although Kansas law does say instruction must be planned and scheduled with periodic assessments, you are at liberty to choose the assessment method and frequency. That could be annual testing, a periodic review, or a simple project-based evaluation. You’re not required to submit standardized test scores to any local districts or state agencies. The approach is entirely up to you.

Curriculum and Lesson Plans

Kansas gives you complete autonomy to decide what and how you teach. There are no required subjects in the NAPS statute, though most homeschool families like to cover the basics: reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and often fine arts and English language arts.

Teacher Qualifications

The law says your instructor must be a “competent” teacher. That term isn’t defined in the statute or in case law, and it has been confirmed that no teaching certificate or college degree is required. Kansas does not hold homeschool parents to the same standards it expects of competent instructors in the public system. If you care enough to educate your child at home, the state considers you qualified.

Record-keeping

Not legally required, but strongly recommended. Keeping attendance records, student work samples, grade records, and a list of curriculum materials will save you headaches if your child ever transfers back to a secondary school or applies to college. Detailed records also make it easier to document your child’s progress over time and can support applications for a homeschool diploma when the time comes.

How to Start Homeschooling in Kansas (Step by Step)

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The actual process of getting your homeschool up and running is simple. Here’s what it entails:

Register Your Homeschool as a Non-Accredited Private School

Pick a name for your homeschool. Then head to the KSDE online registration form and complete it. You’ll need to provide the school name, your home address, and your name as the custodian of records. That’s all. You are not expected to submit additional information such as student names, ages, or grade levels. There are also no additional fees. Registration with the Kansas Department is a one-time step, not something you repeat each school term.

Withdraw Your Child from Their Current School

If your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, you need to formally notify the school previously attended in writing that you’re withdrawing them. Under Kansas law, three consecutive unexcused absences will trigger a truancy report, and that’s a problem you’d want to avoid. A simple letter or email to the school’s office will do. Keep a copy of this in your files.

Choosing a Curriculum That Fits Your Family

Choosing a curriculum is the part most parents find challenging. When people ask about the benefits of homeschooling, one of the major answers is the flexibility in curriculum choice.

Kansas doesn’t tell you what to teach, how to teach it, or which materials to use, and that’s usually good news. However, it can also be a problem when you’re staring at countless options and unsure where to begin. Here is a step-by-step guide that can help.

Start With Your Kid

Before you spend a single dollar, take a step back and think about how your child actually learns. Some kids need to hold things in their hands and build stuff before a concept clicks. Others want to read about it, and then talk your ear off at dinner. It’s important to find out what works for your child if your goal is to truly deliver a personalized learning experience. The whole point of this homeschool experience is that you get to tailor everything to your kid.

Know the Main Approaches

It helps to understand what your options are so you can narrow the field. When it comes to choosing curricula, there are a few models that most parents find helpful.

• Traditional/Textbook-Based: This is the closest thing to having a regular schooling system at home. It involves the use of textbooks, workbooks, and other resources that are typically used in public or private school settings. It’s also the easiest to hand off when kids are old enough to work on their own.
• Classical. This approach involves memorization for the little ones, critical thinking in middle school, and learning to build and defend arguments in high school. It’s a teaching model that produces strong writers and deep thinkers over time.
• Charlotte Mason. Here, your kids would be reading books instead of textbooks, and working with short, focused lessons. If your kid enjoys stories but checks out the second you hand them a workbook, this might be an ideal approach.
• Eclectic/Mix-and-Match. This is particularly interesting because it helps you explore as many options as possible. You can grab math from one place, science from another, do Charlotte Mason reading, and even sign up for a co-op art class. Many Kansas homeschoolers take this route because it lets you adapt as your child grows.
• Unit Studies. With this curriculum, parents grab one topic and run every subject through it. For example, if you’re studying ancient Egypt, that could be your history, reading, art, math, and science all at once. Families with multiple kids love this because everyone gets to work on the same theme at their own level.
• Online Learning. Some families prefer structured online learning programs where a virtual instructor handles some or all of the teaching. It can work well for high school students who want to earn credit hours toward specific courses, or for subjects where parents feel less confident teaching on their own.

Think About Your Own Bandwidth

It matters more than people admit. A curriculum that requires three hours of parent-led instruction every day is fantastic if you have that much time. If you’re working from home, managing younger kids, or running a business, that same curriculum might not be sustainable. Be honest about how much time you can realistically spend teaching each day, and run with that. Talk to other homeschoolers in your area about what has worked for them, because the homeschool experience varies a lot from one family to the next.

Use the Kansas Curricular Standards as a Guide

You can also reference the Kansas Curricular Standards as a guide for grade-level expectations, though following them is entirely optional. These standards cover subjects such as math, English language arts, science, and social studies, and they can help you benchmark your child’s progress against what public schools in the state are teaching at each grade level.

Utilize the Right Resources

Useful resources can also help a great deal. The Tuttle Twins homeschool hub is one of the places most parents look to because it covers everything they need, from toddler books to children’s learning resources to options for teens. The content covers essential subjects such as economics, history, math, and more, all presented in an engaging and approachable way.

If you’re looking for something that goes beyond traditional textbooks and actually sparks excitement about ideas such as personal responsibility, entrepreneurship, and creative problem-solving, these resources are designed with that in mind. They help kids think critically and independently, which aligns perfectly with the educational freedom Kansas gives you.

Kansas Graduation Requirements for Homeschoolers

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One question that often comes up is what Kansas graduation requirements are for homeschool students. The short answer is that there aren’t any state-mandated ones for NAPS. Since your homeschool operates as a non-accredited private school, you set your own graduation criteria.

Many homeschool families create their own homeschool diploma once their student has completed the coursework they’ve outlined. Some families align their requirements loosely with what local districts expect for public school graduates, including a set number of credit hours across core subjects, while others take a less traditional approach.

If your kid plans to attend college, it’s worth checking the admissions requirements for specific schools early on. Most colleges and universities accept homeschool diplomas, especially when paired with standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), transcripts, and a portfolio of student work.

Sports, Activities, and Finding Community in Kansas

Let’s talk about what’s available to Kansas homeschool families, because there’s more than you might expect.

Public School Sports and Extracurricular Activities

Kansas homeschool students can participate in public school sports and KSHSAA-sanctioned extracurricular activities in their resident school district. It includes football, basketball, track, debate, music, forensics, and more.

To be eligible, your student needs to meet standard age requirements, pay any applicable fees, and submit a parent affidavit confirming satisfactory academic progress. Kansas law also allows homeschool students to enroll part-time in their local public school for specific courses or programs if they want to take advantage of certain classes or resources.

Homeschool Groups, Co-ops, and Support Networks

Is homeschooling hard? It can be if you don’t have the right support group, and you don’t have the bandwidth to do it alone. Kansas has an active network of co-ops and support groups where families share teaching responsibilities, plan field trips, organize group classes, and just help each other navigate the experience. 

These homeschool associations and groups are one of the best ways to connect with other homeschoolers and give your kids regular social interaction. A few organizations worth knowing about are:

• Kansas Home Educators (KSHE) runs workshops, a yearly expo, and even a graduation ceremony for Kansas homeschoolers.
• Christian Home Educators Confederation of Kansas (CHECK) offers resources, a getting-started guide, and connects families with local support groups across the state.
• Midwest Parent Educators group provides community events and resources in the Kansas City area.

You’ll also find active homeschool communities in Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, the Kansas City metro, and plenty of smaller towns. The annual Kansas Homeschool Expo is especially worth attending for curriculum shopping, workshops, and meeting other families.

Tax Credits and Financial Considerations

Kansas does not currently offer state-level tax credits specifically for homeschooling families, and there are no private grants designated for Kansas homeschoolers. However, federal education tax benefits such as the Coverdell Education Savings Account can be used for homeschool expenses, including curriculum materials and online learning programs. It’s worth looking into these options early so you can plan your budget accordingly.

Start Your Homeschool Journey in Kansas

Kansas gives families a remarkable level of freedom and trust when it comes to education. The requirements are minimal, and once you’ve registered properly, the state largely steps back and allows you to lead.

With that flexibility, you can create a personalized learning experience that truly fits your child’s strengths and pace. If you’re ready to start homeschooling, follow the steps outlined above and make thoughtful use of supportive resources, such as the Tuttle Twins Homeschool Hub. With clarity and enough intentionality, you can build an education that serves your family well, both now and in the years ahead.