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. In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are 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.; however, with the freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet 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 requirements.
As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables us to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide.
Homeschooling Options
Kentucky does not have a specific homeschool statute. Instead, homeschooling operates under the private school statute KRS 159.030, and families must comply with the requirements that apply to private schools.
Kentucky’s 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 = Yes, with exemptions
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 student’s:
- Name
- Age
- Address
State Educational Funds
No state educational funds are available for Enlightium 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 by July 31 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 by August 1 until 18:
Students must attend school during that academic year; this includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ 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 Book-Based Program use textbook Christian curricula from BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use the Ignitia digital Christian curriculum or Enlightium’s custom online curriculum. All programs include Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and elective courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.
*For students living in the U.S., this does not necessarily mean that their teachers are certified in the student’s state of residence, but instead in the teacher’s state of residence. For most states, this distinction is not important to the student’s academics.
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 the above courses 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 students enrolled at Enlightium. However, Enlightium Academy requires students to take an annual assessment to keep track of how they 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 or exemption, 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 a 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 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 Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, hybrid, and partner schools. Our dedicated faculty and staff, in collaboration with parents, deliver high-quality instruction and individualized learning. We focus on developing each student’s academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional well-being.
To find out if Enlightium is the right school for your family, schedule an appointment, call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.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 2026:
