Kansas
• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 7 and 18. (§ 72-1111(a)). However, compulsory attendance age ends at 16 years with parental consent. (§ 72-111(b))
• Required Days of Instruction: Must teach for a period of time "substantially equivalent" to that of the local public school. (§ 72-1111(a)(2))
• Required Subjects: None for non-accredited private schools. For public schools and accredited private schools: includes reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, spelling, English grammar and composition, civil government, United States and Kansas history, patriotism and duties of a citizen, health, and hygiene. (§ 72-1101 and § 72-1103)
• Teacher Qualifications: "Competent" teacher. (§ 72-1111(a)(2)). The local board has no authority either express or implied to evaluate the competence of an instructor of a private school or to approve or disapprove the qualifications of any such instructor.
• Standardized Tests: Not required by statute.
• Alternative Statutes Allowing for Home Schools:
Option 1. An individual home school can qualify as "a private, denominational or parochial school taught by a competent instructor for a period of time which is substantially equivalent to the period of time the public school is maintained."
(§ 72-1111(a)(2))
Home schoolers should register as a "non-accredited" private school. Keep a copy of this filing for your own records. The state may delete its own record after a time. The name and address of the school must be registered with the State Board of Education. The home school will be considered a "non-accredited private school" and will not be subject to state approval since the State Department of Education has no authority or means to approve or disapprove non-accredited private schools.
Option 2. Certain counties will recognize home schools that operate as a "satellite" of an existing private school within the state of Kansas.
Parental Rights Act: The Kansas legislature enacted a Parental Rights Act in 1996 that further protects a parent's right to choose home schooling:
(b) It shall be the public policy of this state that parents shall retain the fundamental right to exercise primary control over the care and upbringing of their children in their charge.
(d) Any parent may maintain a cause of action in state court or in any court of competent jurisdiction for claims arising under the principles established in subsection (b).
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Kansas State High School Graduation Requirements:
- English units: 4. Pre-2009: 4 units of English language arts must "include three units in English." Eff. Class of 2009:
- Eff. Class of 2009: 4. Must "include reading, writing, literature, communication, and grammar."
- Math units: 2
- Eff. Class of 2009: 3, including "algebraic and geometric concepts."
- Social studies units: 3. Must include 1 unit U.S. history, .5 unit U.S. government, including the U.S. constitution, and course in Kansas history and government.
- Eff. Class of 2009: 3. Must include world history, U.S. history, U.S. government, including the U.S. Constitution, "concepts of economics and geography" and 9-week course in Kansas history and government, held sometime in grades 7-12.
- Science units: 2, including 1 unit lab science
- Eff. Class of 2009: 3, including 1 unit lab science
- P.E./Health units: 1 unit p.e.
- Eff. Class of 2009: 1
- Arts: 0
- Eff. Class of 2009: 1 1 unit "fine arts"
- Foreign language: 0
- Eff. Class of 2009: 0
- Electives units: 9
- Eff. Class of 2009: 6
- Other units: 0
- Eff. Class of 2009: 0
TOTAL # units: 21. Eff. Class of 2009: 21
Other diploma options. State does not offer differentiated diploma pathways. State has policy on awarding proficiency-based credit.Notes:
- Through Class of 2008, local boards have authority to maintain local graduation requirements not in compliance with statewide requirements as long as at least 21 units are required for graduation and include 1 unit U.S. history, .5 unit U.S. government, including the U.S. Constitution, and a course in Kansas history and government.
- Eff. Class of 2009: Local boards may no longer set graduation requirements lower than state requirements.
KAN. STAT. ANN. § 72-1103, 72-1117; KAN. ADMIN. REGS. 91-31-21, 91-31-32, 91-31-35
Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.
A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.
Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in Kansas
Colleges in Kansas