Homeschooling in Kansas? Here’s your plan.

To register, use KSDE's Nonaccredited Private Schools Online Registration form. The statute asks only for your school's name and address. KSDE says you will not receive follow-up communication after submitting, so print or save your confirmation letter. If your school's name or address changes later, the same form has an "Update" option.

Under K.S.A. 72-3120(a), your child must be taught by a "competent instructor" for a period of time "substantially equivalent" to the time public school is kept in your school district. The statute does not define competence or require teacher certification. For reference, K.S.A. 72-3115 sets public school terms of at least 186 school days for kindergarten through grade 11 (181 for grade 12), or, by district policy, at least 1,116 school hours for grades 1 through 11, so the benchmark depends on your district. Kansas law does not list required subjects for nonaccredited private schools.

Kansas also opens public school doors to homeschoolers. Under K.S.A. 72-3120(h), each school district must allow a child enrolled in a nonaccredited private school to enroll part-time for any courses, programs, or services the district offers. Under K.S.A. 72-7121, a nonpublic school student who lives in the district, meets health, age, and eligibility standards, and pays required fees may take part in activities regulated by the state activities association.

Registration is one-time. KSDE's form says you do not need to register every year. Keep your confirmation letter in a safe place.

Activities and sports. Under K.S.A. 72-7121, a school district or the activities association may not discriminate against an eligible student because of the student's enrollment status. Contact your district's activities office about sign-up.

Part-time classes and services. K.S.A. 72-3120(h) requires each district to adopt and publish a part-time enrollment policy and to make a good faith attempt to accommodate scheduling requests, though it does not have to accommodate every request.

Records. Kansas's registration law refers to pupil records kept by your school's official custodian and to providing your school's registration when a student transfers (K.S.A. 72-4345 through 72-4347). State law does not require testing or attendance and grade records. KSDE recommends keeping accurate and complete records of your child's progress for a later school transfer or college admission.

Special education. K.S.A. 72-3462 requires school districts, on a parent's request, to provide special education services to exceptional children who live in the district and attend a private, nonprofit school. Ask your district how this applies to your nonaccredited private school before you withdraw.

Diplomas and transcripts. As the administrator of your nonaccredited private school, you create your child's transcript and diploma.