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Oregon 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 Oregon'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 Oregon

File
A written notice, once, that you are teaching your child at home. Again if you move to another ESD; tell them if you stop. §
To
Your local Education Service District (ESD). §
By
Within 10 days of the start of the school year, or of taking your child out of school. §
Keep
Test results only: keep the score and send it if the ESD superintendent asks. §
Test
An approved test in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10, given by a neutral person; the department says by August 15. §
Starting this year
  • Within 10 days of withdrawing your child or of the start of the school year: Notify your Education Service District (ESD) in writing, online or by mail.
  • By August 15, in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10: Testing must be done by the August 15 deadline.
Already homeschooling
  • By August 15, in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10: Testing must be done by the August 15 deadline.
Leaving a school mid-year

Notify your ESD within 10 days of taking your child out of school. Children can move between homeschooling and the public system without restriction, but a public high school may not count the homeschool coursework toward graduation credit.

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

Checked . § = source: Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 339 (Oregon Legislature). Information, not legal advice.

Quick answers

Notice
One-time noticeTell your local Education Service District (ESD) in writing that you are teaching your child at home. The Department of Education says to do this within 10 days of the start of the school year, or within 10 days of taking your child out of school. Tell the new ESD again if you move to a different ESD, and tell your ESD if you stop homeschooling. The ESD must acknowledge it in writing. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 339 (Oregon Legislature), Oregon Department of Education: Home Schooling, Information for Families
Days or hours
No number givenFor a child educated at home by a parent or legal guardian, the statute names no number of days or hours. (The separate private-teacher route says teaching for a period equal to what public school children get.) Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 339 (Oregon Legislature)
Subjects
The law does not list required subjects for home education. Families choose their own curriculum. The state academic standards may be used as a guide, but the Department of Education says there is no requirement to follow them. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Oregon Department of Education: Home Schooling, Information for Families
Testing or evaluation
A testChildren taught at home are tested in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 with a test the State Board of Education has approved, given by a neutral person who is not related to the child. The first test comes at least 18 months after leaving public school. The Department says testing is due by August 15. A score below the 15th percentile means another test within a year. Children with an IEP or a private plan may follow that plan instead. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 339 (Oregon Legislature), Oregon Department of Education: Home Schooling, Information About Testing
Records
The law asks for test results only: a family keeps the score it gets from the tester and sends it to the ESD if the ESD superintendent asks for it. We did not find any other record-keeping rule in the home-education statute. Checked October 27, 2026. Source: Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 339 (Oregon Legislature)
Who must attend school
Children from age 6 (a child counts as 6 if the birthday is on or before September 1) through age 18 who have not finished 12th grade must attend public school, unless an exemption applies. Being educated at home by a parent or legal guardian is one exemption (ORS 339.010, 339.030).
Education savings accounts and vouchers
No program foundWe did not find a state-funded education savings account or voucher open to homeschool families. The Oregon Department of Education's private-schools FAQ says Oregon does not have an education savings account, school choice or voucher program (checked 2026-10-27). Source: Oregon Department of Education: Private Schools FAQ

What to do first

  1. Read Oregon's own pages, linked under each row below, so you know what applies to your situation.
  2. Notice: Within 10 days of the start of the school year or of withdrawing the child To: Your local Education Service District (ESD).
  3. If your child is in school now: Notify your ESD within 10 days of taking your child out of school. Children can move between homeschooling and the public system without restriction, but a public high school may not count the homeschool coursework toward graduation credit.
  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.
  6. Put the testing or evaluation date on your calendar.

Other legal routes in Oregon

  • Private or parochial school. Children taught in a private or parochial school that teaches the courses usually taught in grades K through 12, for a period equal to public school, are also exempt from public school attendance (ORS 339.030).
  • Private teacher. Children taught by a private teacher the courses usually taught in grades K through 12 in public schools, for a period equal to public school, are exempt too. The statute's notice and testing rules also cover a child taught by a private teacher.

Records to keep

The law asks for test results only: a family keeps the score it gets from the tester and sends it to the ESD if the ESD superintendent asks for it. We did not find any other record-keeping rule in the home-education statute. 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: the statute says a parent, legal guardian or private teacher; we did not find a teacher-qualification rule for parents in the statute.
  • Sports and activities: a homeschooled student may take part in interscholastic activities at the resident school (ORS 339.460). The Department of Education says those students must test every year by August 15.
  • Short-term homeschooling of less than one academic year does not require testing, according to the Department of Education.
  • The statute's last amendments (the history line on the Oregon Legislature's page) are dated 2013 for the testing and notice section and 2017 for the exemptions section. We found no newer change.

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.