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
Include: parent name and contact, student name age dob grade, address where instruction takes place, educational program description, instructor names, hs diploma or ged copy. Attach: hs diploma or ged copy
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)
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
Ongoing
Required subjects
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health, Physical Education
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 180 days/year.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records, student portfolio. Records may be reviewed by the district.
More details
Portfolio must include: writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials, assessments.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by Before each school year.
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
Your notice must include:
- •parent name and contact
- •student name age dob grade
- •address where instruction takes place
- •educational program description
- •instructor names
- •hs diploma or ged copy
Required attachments:
- •hs diploma or ged copy
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
5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
Instructional time
- Days per year:
- 180
5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
Recordkeeping
- ✓Attendance records
- ✓Student portfolio
Records may be reviewed by the district.
Portfolio must include:
- •writings
- •worksheets
- •workbooks
- •creative materials
- •assessments
5-E DCMR Section 5200 et seq.
Reporting
- Annual renewal
- Required by Before each school year
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)
Documentation of qualifications is required.
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.
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