Medium regulation

Homeschool laws in District of Columbia

The District of Columbia requires a yearly notice of intent, a parent with a high school diploma or equivalent unless OSSE grants a waiver, instruction in a list of required subjects, and a portfolio showing thorough and regular education. Standardized testing is not generally required, but OSSE may request to review the portfolio up to two times per year if it has reason to question whether a thorough and regular education is being provided.

Last verified

2026-04-21

Compulsory age range

5-18

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.

1Make sure the teaching parent has a high school diploma, GED, or an OSSE waiver before you begin.
2If your child is enrolled in school now, withdraw them clearly so absences are not misread as truancy.
3File the OSSE homeschool notice about 15 days before you start and calendar the annual August 15 refiling date.
4Choose a curriculum that covers language arts, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education.
5Start a portfolio right away and keep dated samples of work across subjects.
6Keep permanent copies of notices, high school records, and any correspondence with OSSE or schools.

Full breakdown

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

Legal status

Homeschooling is legal in the District of Columbia if the family follows the home education regulations, including notice, subject coverage, and portfolio rules.

Compulsory age range

5-18

Notification required

Yes. Families must file a homeschool notice with the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Who you notify

District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).

Notification deadline

File 15 days before starting homeschooling, and then file again each year by August 15 according to HSLDA's District of Columbia guidance.

Required subjects

language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, physical education

Hours or days required

The regulations require thorough, regular instruction of sufficient duration. The available sources do not give one simple statewide hourly minimum, but HSLDA says families should provide instruction during the period of the year when public schools are in session.

Record keeping

Maintain a portfolio for at least one year that includes evidence of the student's current work, such as writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials, assessments, or other materials showing regular educational activity across subjects. It is also wise to keep attendance records, curriculum information, correspondence, and permanent high school records.

Testing and evaluation

No general standardized testing requirement was identified for District of Columbia homeschoolers.

Testing frequency

Not required, although homeschooled students may be eligible to take some public-school-sponsored tests, including Advanced Placement tests under current DC law.

Teacher qualifications

The parent or instructor generally must have a high school diploma or equivalent. HSLDA says OSSE may grant a waiver if the parent shows an ability to provide a thorough, regular education.

Curriculum freedom

Moderate. Families can choose their curriculum, but they must cover the required subjects and be able to show a thorough, regular home education program through the portfolio process.

Umbrella school option

No traditional umbrella-school option was identified in the available District of Columbia sources.

Virtual school option

Yes. Families may use online curriculum, but using online materials does not replace the District's homeschool notice and portfolio requirements. Public virtual enrollment would be a different legal arrangement from independent homeschooling.

Special education

There are no extra homeschool requirements specifically for children with special needs in the available HSLDA guidance, but homeschooling is treated as private instruction and access to services is described as limited.

High school diploma

Parents can generally prepare a homeschool transcript and issue a parent-directed diploma for a student who completes the family's high school program.

College admission

Colleges will usually want a homeschool transcript and may also ask for course descriptions, outside coursework, and test scores when available.

Sports access

There is no broad District-wide law guaranteeing homeschool access to public school classes and activities. Policies may vary by school or district, although District residents who are timely certified by OSSE can sit for Advanced Placement tests at their right-to-attend DCPS school under current law.

Dual enrollment

The available sources do not show a clear statewide dual-enrollment right for independent homeschoolers in the District of Columbia, so families should confirm current school or college program rules directly.

Notes

First-pass draft. The raw HSLDA article URL in the source bundle returned 404, but the current HSLDA legal page and the article URL with "the" in the slug were reachable and provided usable guidance. The raw official OSSE homeschool service URL returned 404 during source capture, and the DCRegs link was reachable but did not yield an easy-to-read regulation text extract in the raw bundle, so this entry relies substantially on current HSLDA materials and keeps official-law wording cautious.

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.