This is not legal advice. As someone who lives in a state that is highly regulated, I cannot emphasize enough the need for you to advocate for yourself and make a point to know your state laws. While the school district will most likely provide you with a printed copy of the laws and regulations for home schooling, a local home schooling group can be a valuable asset when it comes to navigating your way through the system.
There are three options that allow you to home school your child legally in Kansas. You may apply for a religious exemption, you may home school as an extension of a distance learning program or satellite school, or you may establish and operate your own home school.
Compulsory Age for attendance: A child must be 7 years old and under age 18. However, compulsory attendance laws end at age 16 with the parent’s consent.
Applying for a religious exemption is only allowed when your child is in the high school grades. As I’ve noted in previous blogs, proving that you do not want your child to attend school for religious reasons is not as easy as it may seem. It usually requires an affitdavit from your pastor or religious leader, a few letters from friends vouching for your sincerity and, your reasons much be religious in nature not merely philosophical. In Kansas, such an exemption must be approved and all other issues such as attendance, subjects to be taught, etc. are prescribed in the approval process.
The state of Kansas will also recognize the home school as an extension of a satellite school. In this case, the home schooling family receives all its materials and instruction at home, generally through internet courses and the computer. The school prepares the testing and grades. The statute states that the teacher must be “competent” however, the board of education does not have the authority to determine what is competent. In many states, you are competent if you are in compliance with the regulations.
The final option, and the one most likely to be taken by most home schooling families is to establish your own home school. The following relates to the requirements for such an arrangement:
Attendance: Your child’s attendance must be “substantially equivalent” to that of publicly schooled students which is 186 days per year.
Subjects: There are no prescribed subjects that must be taught. However, there has been a court case in Kansas that has said that an undetermined course of education, with an undetermined schedule is not acceptable home schooling.
Qualifications: As noted above, the teacher must be “competent” but the school board has no authority to determine what is competent.
Record Keeping: There are no records required. However, it is always a good idea to keep good records in case you need to put your child in public school. You will also need good records for college entrance.
Testing: There is no required standardized testing.
General Resources:
HSLDA
State Support Groups
Christian Home Educators Confederation of Kansas
This is a link for regional groups.