Kentucky vs Virginia: Homeschool Laws Compared

Virginia is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while Kentucky requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 4 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, and compulsory school ages.

Rules compared

9

Differences

4

Same in both

5

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 Kentucky to Virginia

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

1. Virginia 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.
2. Virginia names no required subjects. Kentucky's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
3. Virginia requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually. Kentucky had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
4. Compulsory school ages are 5-18 in Virginia against 6-18 in Kentucky, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

Moving from Virginia to Kentucky

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

1. Start logging from your first day: Kentucky counts 1,062 hours over 170 days a year, and Virginia set no minimum.
2. Kentucky names 8 required subjects (reading, writing, spelling, grammar, history, math, science, civics). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
3. Kentucky requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Virginia's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
4. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in Kentucky against 5-18 in Virginia, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

What stays the same

Kentucky and Virginia match on notice of intent, the portfolio, progress reports, ESA funding, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Kentucky nor Virginia 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

• District of Columbia vs Virginia 4 rules differ
• Illinois vs Kentucky 5 rules differ
• Indiana vs Kentucky 5 rules differ
• Kentucky vs Missouri 7 rules differ
• Kentucky vs Ohio 4 rules differ
• Kentucky vs Tennessee 6 rules differ
• Kentucky vs West Virginia 6 rules differ
• Maryland vs Virginia 4 rules differ
• North Carolina vs Virginia 4 rules differ
• Tennessee vs Virginia 5 rules differ
• 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