Colorado vs Kansas: Homeschool Laws Compared

Colorado is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while Kansas requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, and compulsory school ages.

Rules compared

9

Differences

5

Same in both

4

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Colorado to Kansas

Once you are a Kansas resident you homeschool under Kansas's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the state education department in Kansas rather than the local school district.
2. The annual target changes from 688 hours over 172 days a year in Colorado to 1,116 hours over 186 days a year in Kansas.
3. Kansas names no required subjects. Colorado's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
4. Kansas requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Colorado's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. Compulsory school ages are 7-18 in Kansas against 6-17 in Colorado, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

Moving from Kansas to Colorado

Once you are a Colorado resident you homeschool under Colorado's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the local school district in Colorado rather than the state education department.
2. The annual target changes from 1,116 hours over 186 days a year in Kansas to 688 hours over 172 days a year in Colorado.
3. Colorado names 9 required subjects (reading, writing, speaking, math, history, civics, literature, science, constitution). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
4. Colorado requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), at specified grade levels. Kansas had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in Colorado against 7-18 in Kansas, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

What stays the same

Colorado and Kansas match on the portfolio, progress reports, ESA funding, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Colorado nor Kansas takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Arizona vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• California vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• Colorado vs Florida 7 rules differ
• Colorado vs Nebraska 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs New Mexico 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Oklahoma 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Texas 6 rules differ
• Colorado vs Utah 5 rules differ
• Colorado vs Wyoming 6 rules differ
• Kansas vs Missouri 6 rules differ
• Kansas vs Nebraska 3 rules differ
• Kansas vs Oklahoma 4 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table