District of Columbia Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in District of Columbia, based on D.C. Code Section 38-202. District of Columbia is classified as Moderate regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home Instruction. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Deadline: Before instruction begins; renewed annually before each school year.
Deadline: Before instruction begins; renewed annually before each school year
More details
Notification must include parent/guardian name and contact info, student name/age/DOB/grade, address where instruction occurs, description of educational program and subjects, name of instructor(s), and copy of high school diploma or GED. OSSE reviews and issues a verification letter. Must use official online form at homeschool.dc.gov. No fee.
Send a withdrawal letter
If your child is currently enrolled in school, send a withdrawal letter to Current school principal or registrar.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
Must BOTH file notification with OSSE AND withdraw from current school. OSSE issues a verification letter after reviewing your notification -- give this letter to the school to begin the official withdrawal process. Doing only one step can trigger truancy enforcement. DC has aggressive truancy enforcement via MPD, CFSA, and OAG. Cite D.C. Code Section 38-202 in withdrawal letter. Request student records (transcripts, immunization records). Charter schools may have their own withdrawal procedures. You must also notify OSSE 15 days before discontinuing homeschooling.
Confirm your qualification
This pathway requires a high school diploma or GED. Alternatives: OSSE waiver (must demonstrate ability to provide thorough, regular education).
Deadline: Before you start
More details
Parents/guardians must have a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) to homeschool. A copy must be submitted with the initial notification. Parents without a diploma may petition OSSE for a waiver by providing evidence of their ability to provide thorough, regular education. Instructor must be identified by name. Parents cannot instruct students from other families.
Ongoing
Required subjects
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health, Physical Education
More details
DC regulations require instruction in at a minimum: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. Parents need not use public school programs or methods, nor adhere to any specific curricular framework. No prescribed textbooks or pedagogical approaches.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 180 days/year.
More details
Programs must provide 'thorough and regular instruction of sufficient duration' during the period when public schools are in session. No specific hourly or daily minimum is stated independently. Families need not follow the DCPS calendar dates or traditional school hours. Maintain internal records of instructional days but do not submit to OSSE.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records, student portfolio. Records may be reviewed by the district.
More details
Must maintain daily attendance records and a portfolio of the student's educational materials, including writing samples, completed work in mathematics, assessments, and creative materials demonstrating regular educational engagement across required subjects. Portfolio must be maintained for at least one year. Records are maintained by the parent but NOT routinely submitted to OSSE. OSSE may request portfolio review with 30 days' written notice. If deficiencies are found, OSSE issues a corrective action plan with specific improvement steps.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by Before each school year.
More details
Annual notification renewal to OSSE is the only recurring reporting obligation. No quarterly reports, no annual assessment submissions, no mid-year check-ins.
Good news
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
- Deadline
- Before instruction begins; renewed annually before each school year
- How often
- annual
- Official form
- Download / access form
Notification must include parent/guardian name and contact info, student name/age/DOB/grade, address where instruction occurs, description of educational program and subjects, name of instructor(s), and copy of high school diploma or GED. OSSE reviews and issues a verification letter. Must use official online form at homeschool.dc.gov. No fee.
D.C. Code Section 38-202; 5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓Language Arts
- ✓Mathematics
- ✓Science
- ✓Social Studies
- ✓Art
- ✓Music
- ✓Health
- ✓Physical Education
DC regulations require instruction in at a minimum: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. Parents need not use public school programs or methods, nor adhere to any specific curricular framework. No prescribed textbooks or pedagogical approaches.
5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
Instructional time
- Days per year:
- 180
Programs must provide 'thorough and regular instruction of sufficient duration' during the period when public schools are in session. No specific hourly or daily minimum is stated independently. Families need not follow the DCPS calendar dates or traditional school hours. Maintain internal records of instructional days but do not submit to OSSE.
5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
Recordkeeping
- ✓Attendance records
- ✓Student portfolio
Records may be reviewed by the district.
Must maintain daily attendance records and a portfolio of the student's educational materials, including writing samples, completed work in mathematics, assessments, and creative materials demonstrating regular educational engagement across required subjects. Portfolio must be maintained for at least one year. Records are maintained by the parent but NOT routinely submitted to OSSE. OSSE may request portfolio review with 30 days' written notice. If deficiencies are found, OSSE issues a corrective action plan with specific improvement steps.
5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
Reporting
- Annual renewal
- Required by Before each school year
Annual notification renewal to OSSE is the only recurring reporting obligation. No quarterly reports, no annual assessment submissions, no mid-year check-ins.
5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
Instructor qualifications
The instructor must have a high school diploma or GED.
Alternatives: OSSE waiver (must demonstrate ability to provide thorough, regular education)
Parents/guardians must have a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) to homeschool. A copy must be submitted with the initial notification. Parents without a diploma may petition OSSE for a waiver by providing evidence of their ability to provide thorough, regular education. Instructor must be identified by name. Parents cannot instruct students from other families.
5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
What you don't need to worry about
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Related guides
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your District of Columbia checklistRequirements sourced from D.C. Code Section 38-202. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026