Kansas Compulsory Attendance Law for Non-Accredited Private Schools

Kansas, United States

Under K.S.A. 72-3120, non-accredited private schools (including homeschools) must provide instruction that is 'substantially equivalent' to that of public schools. While Kansas does not mandate a specific curriculum for private schools, the Kansas Curricular Standards serve as the official benchmark for ensuring educational equivalency in core subject areas.

Kansas Curricular Standards for Non-Accredited Private Schools (NAPS)

Under K.S.A. 72-3120, non-accredited private schools (including homeschools) must provide instruction that is 'substantially equivalent' to that of public schools. While Kansas does not mandate a specific curriculum for private schools, the Kansas Curricular Standards serve as the official benchmark for ensuring educational equivalency in core subject areas.

Governing Body: Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)

Year Adopted: 2023

Grade Levels Covered

Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, High School (9-12)

English Language Arts (ELA)

Kindergarten

RF.K.1 Foundational Skills: Print Concepts

Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.

Key skills: Follow words left to right, Recognize letters, Understand word spacing
RF.K.2 Foundational Skills: Phonological Awareness

Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

Key skills: Rhyming, Syllable counting, Blending sounds

Grade 5

RL.5.1 Reading: Literature

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Key skills: Textual evidence, Inferencing, Annotation
W.5.1 Writing

Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

Key skills: Persuasive writing, Logical ordering, Concluding statements

Grade 8

RI.8.2 Reading: Informational Text

Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas.

Key skills: Central idea determination, Objective summary, Thematic development

High School

RL.11-12.3 Reading: Literature

Analyze the impact of the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama.

Key skills: Structural analysis, Character arc analysis, Literary devices

Mathematics

Kindergarten

K.CC.1 Counting & Cardinality

Count to 100 by ones and by tens.

Key skills: Rote counting, Number patterns, Sequence recognition
K.OA.1 Operations & Algebraic Thinking

Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, or sounds.

Key skills: Basic computation, Problem modeling, Conceptual addition

Grade 5

5.NBT.7 Number & Operations in Base Ten

Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings.

Key skills: Decimal operations, Place value understanding, Mathematical modeling

Grade 8

8.EE.5 Expressions & Equations

Graph proportional relationships, interpreting the unit rate as the slope of the graph.

Key skills: Graphing, Slope calculation, Unit rate analysis

High School

A-REI.3 Algebra: Reasoning with Equations & Inequalities

Solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable, including equations with coefficients represented by letters.

Key skills: Variable isolation, Algebraic manipulation, Inequality graphing

Science

Kindergarten

K-PS2-1 Physical Science

Plan and conduct an investigation to compare the effects of different strengths or different directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object.

Key skills: Observation, Experimental design, Force and motion

Grade 5

5-LS1-1 Life Science

Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.

Key skills: Evidence-based argument, Plant biology, Photosynthesis basics

Grade 8

MS-ESS2-2 Earth and Space Science

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales.

Key skills: Geological processes, Evidence evaluation, Scale analysis

High School

HS-PS1-1 Physical Science

Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.

Key skills: Periodic table analysis, Atomic structure, Chemical property prediction

Social Studies

Kindergarten

HGSS.K.1 Choices Have Consequences

The student will recognize and evaluate significant choices made by individuals that impact their lives and futures.

Key skills: Decision making, Identifying consequences, Personal responsibility

Grade 5

HGSS.5.4 Continuity and Change (US History)

Analyze the context of continuity and change in the development of the American colonies.

Key skills: Colonial history, Timeline analysis, Cause and effect

Grade 8

HGSS.8.2 Rights and Responsibilities (US History)

Investigate specific rights and responsibilities of individuals in the context of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Key skills: Civic engagement, Constitutional analysis, Historical research

High School

HGSS.HS.5 Dynamic Relationships (Government)

Evaluate the dynamic relationships between the branches of government and the impact of federalism on contemporary issues.

Key skills: Checks and balances, Policy evaluation, Federalist system analysis

Implementation Notes

Kansas law (K.S.A. 72-3120) requires non-accredited private schools (NAPS) to offer instruction for a period of time 'substantially equivalent' to public schools (186 days, 6 hours per day). NAPS must register the name and address of the school with the State Board of Education once. Teachers must be 'competent' but do not require state certification. While the state standards are provided as guidelines, NAPS have the autonomy to select their own curriculum and textbooks.

Assessment

There is no state-mandated testing for students in non-accredited private schools. However, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) recommends periodic testing to ensure student progress, especially if a student intends to transfer to an accredited public or private school or apply for post-secondary education.

About This Standard
Added:
January 13, 2026

This standard was generated using AI with grounded search to find official, accurate information. While we strive for accuracy, please verify important details with official sources.

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