Homeschool funding & ESAs in Kentucky

Can I get paid to homeschool in Kentucky?

No. Kentucky has no ESA or voucher that independent homeschooling families can use. Nationwide grants are listed below, each with its own eligibility rules. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. Kentucky's homeschool rules require no test or evaluation of their own, so there is nothing on that side to arrange.

What does Kentucky require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

Kentucky does not require a test or an evaluation, so there is no assessment to arrange. What Kentucky asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

Yes. Kentucky requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Local district superintendent (Director of Pupil Personnel). How: Written letter listing the name, age, and residence of each child. When: Within the first two weeks of the school year, or within two weeks of withdrawing from public school; annually. Some districts ask for it before the year opens — send it early. A notice, not a request for approval (KRS 159.160).

Testing or evaluation

No. Kentucky does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. No standardized testing and no certified-teacher review — no Kentucky statute or regulation imposes either on a homeschool, and KDE's homeschool packet describes none. (Rudasill bars KDE from prescribing curriculum, teacher certification or accreditation standards; it is not a testing holding.)

Days and hours

None. Kentucky does not set a minimum number of instructional days or hours for homeschoolers. No minimum days or hours for an ordinary homeschool. The 1,062 hours over at least 170 days in KRS 158.070 bind only a private school certified under KRS 156.160(2), and certification is voluntary. KDE recommends those figures; attendance records remain required (KRS 159.040).

Records

Kentucky requires these records: attendance records and scholarship reports (courses completed and the grade awarded). How long, or where they go: Available to the Director of Pupil Personnel on request. The records themselves are not sent anywhere, but they must be open to inspection by the Director of Pupil Personnel and KDE officials (KRS 159.040). KDE recommends work samples, portfolios and outside test results; those are not required.

Full Kentucky homeschool requirements →

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →