Two states, side by side

Illinois vs Kentucky: Homeschool Laws Compared

Nine rules compared from each state's verified compliance data, then what changes for a family moving in either direction.

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The short answer

Kentucky is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice but no testing or evaluation, while Illinois requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, compulsory school ages, and public school sports access.

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.

Rule	Illinois	Kentucky
Notice of intent Differs	Not required	Required, filed with the local school district
Hours or days per year Differs	No minimum	1,062 hours over 170 days a year
Required subjects Differs	7 named: language arts, math, science, social studies, fine arts, health, physical education	8 named: reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, math, science, civics
Testing or evaluation	None	None
Portfolio of work	Not required	Not required
Progress reports	None	None
Compulsory school ages Differs	6-17	6-18
ESA or school choice funding	No program	No program
Public school sports access Differs	Yes, with conditions	District decides

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 Illinois to Kentucky

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

File a notice of intent with the local school district once you are a Kentucky resident. Illinois did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
Start logging from your first day: Kentucky counts 1,062 hours over 170 days a year, and Illinois set no minimum.
Kentucky's required list adds reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, and civics and drops language arts, social studies, fine arts, health, and physical education compared with Illinois's. Match Kentucky's wording in your records.
Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in Kentucky against 6-17 in Illinois, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Kentucky the answer is district decides; in Illinois it was yes, with conditions.

How to start homeschooling in Kentucky Moving to Kentucky checklist Withdrawing in Illinois Kentucky letter of intent Illinois withdrawal letter (free PDF) Kentucky hour log (free PDF)

Moving from Kentucky to Illinois

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

There is no notice to file in Illinois. Before you leave, send Kentucky's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
Illinois sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
Illinois's required list adds language arts, social studies, fine arts, health, and physical education and drops reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, and civics compared with Kentucky's. Match Illinois's wording in your records.
Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in Illinois against 6-18 in Kentucky, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Illinois the answer is yes, with conditions; in Kentucky it was district decides.

How to start homeschooling in Illinois Moving to Illinois checklist Withdrawing in Kentucky Kentucky withdrawal letter (free PDF)

What stays the same

Illinois and Kentucky match on testing or evaluation, the portfolio, progress reports, and ESA funding. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Illinois nor Kentucky 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.

Homeschool record keeping guide How to withdraw from public school

Sourced from each state's own published requirements. See the sources and verification dates on the Illinois page and the Kentucky page.

Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Confirm details with your state or a qualified advisor.