Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in District of Columbia?

Yes. Notice goes to Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), via the online homeschool portal. Deadline: Notification of Intent at least 15 business days before home instruction begins; Notification of Homeschool Continuation by August 15 each year after that; 15 business days' notice before discontinuing It renews annual.

Homeschooling in District of Columbia

What the law requires, what you file and when, and what to keep — with the statute behind each rule.

notice and review 6 sources Verified 12 October 2026

What District of Columbia requires

Notify: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), via the online homeschool portal — Notification of Intent at least 15 business days before home instruction begins; Notification of Homeschool Continuation by August 15 each year after that; 15 business days' notice before discontinuing (annual)
Testing or evaluation: Not required.
Subjects set by the state: Yes — 8 required subjects, listed below
Teaching time: No set days or hours; instruction must be 'thorough, regular' and of sufficient duration to carry out the…
Compulsory school age: 5 until 18 — in detail
Records: A portfolio for each child (writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative work, assessments), kept at least one year and available to OSSE on written request.

Taking your child out of school in District of Columbia

First move: Tell the current school you intend to withdraw and file the Notification of Intent with OSSE (15 business days ahead).

Once OSSE approves, it issues a verification letter; give it to the school and complete the school's exit process. The child stays enrolled (and can accrue unexcused absences/truancy reports) until withdrawal is complete, and cannot be registered as homeschooled while still attending a public or charter school.

The legal routes

2 routes exist in District of Columbia. They carry different duties, and families often do not know the alternatives to the obvious one.

Home schooling under 5-A DCMR Chapter 52: Parent or legal guardian provides 'thorough, regular' instruction after filing notice with OSSE. OSSE says parents may teach only their own children (not other families' children), but may use any curriculum, including online programs.
Private/independent/parochial school: Enrollment in a private educational institution also satisfies compulsory attendance.

The notice, and who receives it

Goes to: Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), via the online homeschool portal
Deadline: Notification of Intent at least 15 business days before home instruction begins; Notification of Homeschool Continuation by August 15 each year after that; 15 business days' notice before discontinuing
Renews: annual
Form: Notification of Intent to Homeschool / Notification of Homeschool Continuation / Notification to Discontinue Homeschooling (OSSE online) — official form

Subjects District of Columbia requires

language arts
mathematics
science
social studies
art
music
health
physical education

See which courses here cover these subjects →

Compulsory school age

5 (if 5 on or before September 30 of the school year) until 18

Teaching time

No set days or hours; instruction must be 'thorough, regular' and of sufficient duration to carry out the program.

Who may teach

High school diploma or equivalent; a parent without one may petition OSSE for a waiver by showing ability to provide thorough, regular education.

Testing and evaluation

No required testing. OSSE may, at its discretion and with written notice (OSSE FAQ says at least 30 days), review the child's portfolio up to twice per school year.

If deficiencies are found, the parent must submit a corrective action plan; continued noncompliance can lead to an order to enroll in school (appealable to the State Superintendent and DC Superior Court). Free voluntary standardized testing is available at the child's zoned public school.

Records to keep

A portfolio for each child (writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative work, assessments), kept at least one year and available to OSSE on written request. CRHE notes D.C.

Code § 38-203 also calls for a daily attendance record.

High school, diplomas and transcripts

Parent may issue a homeschool diploma/transcript; OSSE does not issue report cards or transcripts. A DC state diploma is available through the GED or the National External Diploma Program (NEDP).

A student returning to a DC public school is placed and given credit based on evaluation.

Public school classes, sports and activities

No concurrent/part-time enrollment in DC public or charter schools. Sports: a homeschooler may petition the DC State Athletic Association, but needs written authorization from a member school's principal and athletic director plus an eligibility waiver.

Special education services end on withdrawal, though DCPS Child Find evaluations remain available.

Funding: education savings accounts, vouchers and tax credits

None for homeschoolers. The federally funded DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (voucher) applies only to private school tuition.

What we could not confirm

The OSSE FAQ used for sports, diploma and 30-day review notice is dated December 2019; no 2023-2026 law change found, but DCSAA petition rules should be confirmed for the current year. Could not open the online portal itself (homeschool.dc.gov) to confirm the current form names.

Listed because a legal summary that hides its gaps is harder to trust than one that names them. How these pages are checked.