Homeschooling in District of Columbia? Here’s your plan.

Home Instruction

• OSSE may grant a waiver when a parent without a diploma/equivalent demonstrates ability to provide thorough, regular education.
• No minimum number of instructional days is set. The regulation requires thorough, regular instruction of sufficient duration to implement the home school program (5-E DCMR 5204.1(a)).
• Standardized testing is voluntary; OSSE retains separate authority to review the required portfolio.
• D.C. Code 38-203(a) requires teachers of each educational institution to keep a daily attendance record, and 38-201(2A) defines educational institution to include a private instructor. The home schooling rules (5-E DCMR Chapter 52) require a portfolio of work and do not mention attendance records. Keeping a daily attendance log is the cautious reading.
• The notice is filed on OSSE's official online form at homeschool.dc.gov. Per OSSE's Homeschool Parent and Guardian Guide, the form asks for parent/guardian information, a high school diploma or GED document or a waiver request, acknowledgements, student information, prior school attended and last date of attendance, grade, and first day of homeschool.
• Upload the diploma or GED document when you have it. If you have the credential but not the document, or do not have the credential, you may submit a waiver request in the same application instead (OSSE Homeschool Parent and Guardian Guide, Step 1b; 5-E DCMR 5207.2).