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District of Columbia homeschool law

Notice, days or hours, subjects, testing and records, in plain words, with the source for each.

This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page. Laws change, and District of Columbia's own statute and education department are the final word. The links below go straight to them.

Checked on against the sources linked on this page.

What to file in District of Columbia

File
A notice, every year. Complete the Notification of Intent to Homeschool online with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) at least 15 business days before the first day of home instruction. §
To
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) §
By
At least 15 business days before starting; continuation by Aug. 15 each year §
Keep
Keep a portfolio for each child with evidence of current work, such as writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials and assessments, across a range of subjects. §
Test
The regulation titled Voluntary Participation in Standardized Testing lets a homeschooled child take, free of charge, the regularly scheduled standardized tests given in the public school the child is eligible to attend. §
Starting this year
  • At least 15 business days before the first day of home instruction: Complete the Notification of Intent to Homeschool online with OSSE.
Already homeschooling
  • By August 15: Complete the Notification of Homeschool Continuation.
Leaving a school mid-year
  • After OSSE approves your notification: Tell the school you are withdrawing your child, and give it OSSE's verification letter. Until the withdrawal is complete your child stays enrolled there.

To move a child from a public or public charter school, tell the school you are withdrawing the child. OSSE sends a verification letter after it approves your notification; give it to the school. A child cannot be registered to homeschool while still attending a public or public charter school, and until the withdrawal is complete the child stays registered there, accrues unexcused absences and is subject to truancy reporting.

Open your attendance recordStart the Tap Clock, if you want to

What District of Columbia's law asks you to keep, as tools: Portfolio. The same rows for every state: what to file, by state.

Checked (quoted from the record below). § = source: OSSE: Apply to Homeschool; OSSE: Student Portfolio Review; OSSE: DC Homeschooling regulation, 5-E DCMR chapter 52 (PDF). Information, not legal advice.

Quick answers

Notice
Notice every yearComplete the Notification of Intent to Homeschool online with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) at least 15 business days before the first day of home instruction. In each later year you continue, complete a Notification of Homeschool Continuation by Aug. 15. To stop, send a Notification to Discontinue Homeschooling at least 15 business days before. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: OSSE: Apply to Homeschool
Days or hours
No number givenNo number of days or hours is set. The program must provide thorough and regular instruction of sufficient duration. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: OSSE: Homeschooling in the District: Local Requirements
Subjects
At a minimum, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health and physical education. The regulation says instruction includes, but need not be limited to, these. No specific curriculum is required and an online curriculum may be used. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: OSSE: Homeschooling in the District: Local Requirements
Testing or evaluation
No testing requiredThe regulation titled Voluntary Participation in Standardized Testing lets a homeschooled child take, free of charge, the regularly scheduled standardized tests given in the public school the child is eligible to attend. We found no rule that requires a test or an evaluation. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: OSSE: DC Homeschooling regulation, 5-E DCMR chapter 52 (PDF), DC Municipal Regulations, chapter 5-E52 Home Schooling (section list)
Records
Keep a portfolio for each child with evidence of current work, such as writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials and assessments, across a range of subjects. Keep it for at least one year. OSSE may ask in writing to review it, at least 30 days ahead, and the regulation allows no more than two reviews a school year. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: OSSE: Student Portfolio Review
Who must attend school
A parent of a minor who has reached age 5, or will be 5 on or before September 30 of the school year, must place the minor in regular attendance in an educational institution while DC public schools are in session. The duty lasts until the minor reaches age 18 (D.C. Code 38-202). Source: D.C. Code 38-202, school attendance requirements (Council)
Education savings accounts and vouchers
No program foundWe did not find a DC education savings account or voucher open to homeschool families (checked 2026-10-27). The only publicly funded scholarship we found is the Opportunity Scholarship under the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (D.C. Code 38-1853.01 and following), whose funds are for enrolling in a participating private school. Check OSSE for any change. Source: D.C. Code 38-1853.07, Opportunity Scholarship use of funds (Council)

What to do first

  1. Read District of Columbia's own pages, linked under each row below, so you know what applies to your situation.
  2. Notice: At least 15 business days before starting; continuation by Aug. 15 each year To: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
  3. If your child is in school now: To move a child from a public or public charter school, tell the school you are withdrawing the child. OSSE sends a verification letter after it approves your notification; give it to the school. A child cannot be registered to homeschool while still attending a public or public charter school, and until the withdrawal is complete the child stays registered there, accrues unexcused absences and is subject to truancy reporting.
  4. Plan the year around the days or hours and the subjects below.
  5. Start your records on day one: a simple attendance log, a list of books read and a work sample or two for each subject.

The state's own form or page: osse.dc.gov/node/1637381

Records to keep

Keep a portfolio for each child with evidence of current work, such as writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials and assessments, across a range of subjects. Keep it for at least one year. OSSE may ask in writing to review it, at least 30 days ahead, and the regulation allows no more than two reviews a school year. Whatever the law asks, many families also keep a simple attendance log, a list of books read and a few work samples for each subject; they cost nothing and help if you move or return to school.

Good to know

  • Who may teach: parents or legal guardians need a high school diploma or its equivalent, or may petition OSSE for a waiver with evidence they can provide a thorough and regular education. Parents may not provide home instruction to other parents' students.
  • If an OSSE portfolio review finds the program is not meeting the minimum requirements, OSSE gives a corrective action plan. The regulation sets steps: a written Notification of Deficiencies, a written response and Corrective Action Plan from the parent within 30 days (not counting weekends and District holidays), and an appeal in writing to the State Superintendent within 15 calendar days of a Letter of Non-Compliance.
  • Special education: a student who received specialized instruction or related services in public school is no longer eligible for those services once withdrawn, because the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) applies only to students enrolled in a DC public school. A family may request an evaluation at any time.
  • Since the 2023-24 school year, students homeschooled in DC may take Advanced Placement exams at their local DC Public Schools high school.
  • If a homeschooled child later applies to a DC public school, placement and credits are decided by evaluation, which may include standardized tests, other examinations and interviews.

Where this comes from

Checked on October 27, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; check your state's own page, and confirm with your school district or the department before you rely on a date. Something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.