Kentucky School Compliance
Understanding School Options in Kentucky:
In the state of Kentucky, children are required to attend school, but the law does not require attendance at a public school.
Kentucky law recognizes two broad categories of schooling: public schools and non-public (private) schools. Homeschooling is legally considered a form of non-public (private) schooling. When families choose not to enroll their child in public school, they are legally homeschooling under Kentucky law.
Because Red River Schoolhouse is not a public school, families enrolled in our program are legally considered homeschool families. This is why we reference Kentucky homeschool requirements throughout our materials — to provide clarity and reassurance that our program aligns with state law.
Red River Schoolhouse is designed to partner with families by providing a structured, community-based learning environment that meets compliance with Kentucky homeschool law.
Parents remain the primary educators of record, while the schoolhouse provides curriculum, instruction, structure, and documentation support.
Kentucky law requires non-public schools (including homeschools) to provide instruction equivalent to public school attendance, generally understood as 1,062 hours of instruction over a minimum of 170 instructional days each school year.
Although Red River Schoolhouse operates on a four-day school week, our full instructional days, combined with:
Community service days
5-day summer camp
Field trips and extended learning opportunities
allow families to meet required instructional hours across a 39-week school year, while remaining developmentally appropriate for young children.
Attendance and instructional time are tracked throughout the year.
Kentucky law requires instruction in core subject areas, including:
Reading and language arts
Mathematics
Science
Social studies (history and civics)
At Red River Schoolhouse, these subjects are taught through an integrated, literature-rich approach using high-quality books, discussion, hands-on learning, and real-world application. Instruction is conducted in English and tailored to the developmental needs of children ages five to seven.
Families homeschooling in Kentucky are required to submit an annual notice of attendance (sometimes called a private school notice) to their local school district.
Red River Schoolhouse maintains:
Attendance records
Instructional calendars
General curriculum documentation
Families may request copies of these records for their personal files or for submission to their local district, if needed.
Kentucky law allows flexibility in how instruction is delivered. Red River Schoolhouse recognizes that young children learn best through:
Movement and play
Hands-on experiences
Time outdoors
Short, focused lessons paired with exploration
Our approach meets legal requirements without replicating a traditional five-day public school model, honoring both the law and children’s natural learning rhythms.