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DE

Medium regulation

Homeschool laws in Delaware

Delaware allows homeschooling as a single-family homeschool, a multi-family homeschool, or a single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district. The usual single-family and multi-family options require annual reporting to the Delaware Department of Education, including enrollment at the start of the school year and attendance at the end of the year. Delaware does not require teacher certification or standardized testing for these homeschool options.

Last verified

2026-04-20

Compulsory age range

5-16

Quick-start checklist

What parents need to do first

This is the plain-English checklist a parent can follow to get started without reading a mountain of legal text.

  1. 1Choose whether you will homeschool as a single-family homeschool, a multi-family homeschool, or the coordinated district option.
  2. 2If your child is currently in public school, withdraw them so there is a clear record.
  3. 3Create your Delaware DOE reporting account before the school year filing deadline.
  4. 4File your annual enrollment report by September 30.
  5. 5Keep attendance and course records all year so you can complete the July 31 attendance report.
  6. 6If you are joining a multi-family homeschool, decide who will serve as the liaison and handle the filings.
  7. 7Start a transcript early if your student is doing high school-level work.

Full breakdown

Every field is designed to answer the real-world compliance questions parents ask first.

Legal status
Homeschooling is legal in Delaware through three recognized options, with the single-family homeschool option being the most common.
Compulsory age range
5-16
Notification required
Yes. Delaware homeschoolers using the common single-family or multi-family options must file annual enrollment and attendance reports. The coordinated option also involves the local superintendent.
Who you notify
Usually the Delaware Department of Education through its reporting system. The coordinated option also requires contact with the local superintendent.
Notification deadline
Enrollment is due on or before September 30 each year, and end-of-year attendance is due on or before July 31.
Required subjects
No fixed statewide subject list is highlighted for the common single-family and multi-family homeschool options in the source materials., For the coordinated option, instruction must cover the subjects taught in Delaware public schools in a suitable way for the child's age and progress.
Hours or days required
The source materials do not highlight a separate statewide homeschool hour requirement for the common single-family and multi-family options. Families must complete the required annual attendance reporting, and the coordinated option must provide regular and thorough instruction comparable to public school expectations.
Record keeping
Keep copies of your annual enrollment and attendance filings, attendance logs, course lists, work samples, and high school records. If you run a multi-family homeschool, the liaison should keep the reporting records for the group.
Testing and evaluation
No statewide standardized testing is required for Delaware homeschool options covered here.
Testing frequency
Not required.
Teacher qualifications
Parents do not need a teaching license or specific degree to homeschool in Delaware.
Curriculum freedom
Broad for the common single-family and multi-family homeschool options. The coordinated option is more restrictive because it must satisfy the superintendent that instruction is regular, thorough, and aligned with public school subjects.
Umbrella school option
Yes. Delaware allows a multi-family homeschool option for families who want to coordinate together, though it is not the same as a classic church-school umbrella in some other states.
Virtual school option
Yes. Families may use online curriculum privately, and public online options may also exist, but public virtual enrollment is different from independent homeschooling.
Special education
Access to special education services can depend on district practice and whether the student is enrolled in a public program. Independent homeschoolers may have more limited access than full-time public school students.
High school diploma
Parents can generally issue a homeschool diploma and transcript for a student who completes the family's high school program.
College admission
Colleges usually review homeschool transcripts, course descriptions, outside coursework, dual-enrollment credits, and test scores when available.
Sports access
Public school sports access is not guaranteed in a simple statewide way for every homeschooler, so eligibility often depends on district and athletic rules.
Dual enrollment
Yes. Homeschool students may be able to use dual enrollment or college classes if they meet local admissions and program requirements.
Notes
First-pass draft. Delaware's official DOE URL in the inventory redirected to the main education site during source capture, so the practical step-by-step filing details rely heavily on HSLDA and the statute links. HSLDA also notes that the coordinated single-family option exists in Delaware law but is not recognized by the Delaware Department of Education and is usually not recommended because it adds extra requirements.

Official sources

Parent-friendly reminder

This page is designed to reduce confusion, not replace legal advice. If something changes or feels unclear, verify with your state Department of Education before making compliance decisions.

Want more homeschool guidance and encouragement? Follow Dani at @thedanicerrato.