How Kentucky Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy
Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Kentucky Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C. With this freedom comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!
Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Kentucky’s homeschooling requirements.
Homeschooling Options
Kentucky does not have a specific homeschool statute. Instead, homeschooling operates under the private school statute by adhering to the following steps.
Kentucky’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance
|
Parent Notifies State |
Yes |
|
State Educational Funds |
No |
|
Academic Calendar Requirement |
Yes |
|
Reporting Age Requirement |
6-18 |
|
Instructor Qualifications |
No |
|
Required Subjects |
Yes |
|
Standardized Assessment |
Not Required by the State |
|
Immunization Requirement |
No, but Must Keep on File |
|
Keep a Portfolio |
Yes |
|
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Kentucky Families |
Yes |
Notifying the State
The Kentucky Department of Education requires families who homeschool to send in a notice to the local school board of education. This must be done each year within two weeks of starting courses or right away if you missed this window.
The notice needs to include each homeschool/private school student’s:
- Name
- Age
- Address
State Educational Funds
No state educational funds are available for homeschooling families at this time.
Academic Calendar
The Kentucky Department of Education requires at least 1,062 hours of instruction over the course of at least 170 school days. Enlightium’s school calendar has 180 school days (around 210 days with summer school), so students can spend less than six hours per day for 180 days. Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays. If students work on average six hours per school day, they should reach the 1,062-hour requirement.
Age Requirement
Ages five or younger:
Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.
Ages six to 18:
Students must attend school during that academic year; this includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they turn 18 years old or graduate.
Instructor Qualifications
The Kentucky Department of Education does not require students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications.
As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields.
Students in the Homeschool Program (grades PreK-9) use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program (grades 3-12) use a digital Christian curriculum. Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 1-12) use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and electives courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.
Required Subjects
The Kentucky Department of Education requires the following subjects:
The above subjects are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor.
English Instruction
The Kentucky Department of Education requires instruction to be taught in the English language. At Enlightium Academy, courses are taught in English with the exception of some World Language courses which may be partially taught in English.
Standardized Assessment
The Kentucky Department of Education does not require a standardized test for homeschooled students. However, Enlightium Academy requires students to take an annual assessment to keep track of how students are progressing. Enlightium provides the following options per grade level:
- Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment. We recommend the IXL diagnostic assessment, as it provides more flexibility in scheduling and does not have an additional fee.
- Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT
Immunization Requirement
Kentucky law requires all students in public and private schools to maintain a current immunization certificate, and this obligation also extends to homeschools, which are classified as non-public schools. However, parents are not required to include immunization records when submitting the notice of intent to homeschool. Instead, they must keep these records on file themselves and provide them if requested by state or local health authorities.
Keep a portfolio
The Kentucky Department of Education requires homeschooling families to keep the following records:
- Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
- Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:
- Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
- Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide academic plans during the admission process for each of our four divisions of grades: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
- Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
- Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
- Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and involvement in the Student Council.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Kentucky Families
Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Kentucky to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
- Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
- If you have any questions:
- Chat with a team member
- Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
- Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
- Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.
Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, hybrid, online, and homeschool K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumSchool.com.
We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.
Sources reviewed in March 2025: