District of Columbia Homeschool Requirements
Moderate regulationEverything District of Columbia asks of homeschool families, organized by topic. Each point links to the official source we drew it from.
- Topics:
- 12
- Last reviewed:
- June 4, 2026
- Funding programs:
- 0 state · 3 national
Notice / Letter of Intent
Moderate regulationRequirements to notify the state or local district of intent to homeschool.
Parents must submit a Notification of Intent to Homeschool to OSSE at least 15 business days before starting. Annual continuation notices due by August 15.
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5-E DCMR §5202.1 requires written notification on OSSE's official form at least 15 business days prior. §5203.1 requires annual continuation by August 15. Only the OSSE online portal form is valid. OSSE issues a verification letter.
- 5-E DCMR §5202 — Written Notification · Regulation · primary
“Shall provide written notification on an official form at least 15 days, not including Saturdays, Sundays, or District holidays, prior to the first date of home instruction.”
Required Subjects
Moderate regulationSubjects the state mandates be taught.
DC homeschool programs must provide instruction in at least eight subjects: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. Need not follow public school curricula.
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5-E DCMR §5204.1(b) lists the eight required subjects. §5204.2 clarifies that programs need not include public school methods or adhere to specific curricular frameworks.
- 5-E DCMR §5204 — Home Schooling Program · Regulation · primary
“Shall provide instruction that includes language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education.”
Instructional Days / Hours
Low regulationMinimum instructional days or hours per year.
DC requires 'thorough and regular instruction of sufficient duration' but does not specify minimum days or hours per year.
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5-E DCMR §5204.1(a) requires thorough, regular instruction of sufficient duration. No specific day or hour count prescribed. OSSE evaluates through portfolio review, not day counts.
- 5-E DCMR §5204.1(a) · Regulation · primary
“Shall provide thorough, regular instruction of sufficient duration to implement the home school program.”
Assessment / Testing
Low regulationStandardized testing, portfolio review, or other assessment requirements.
No standardized testing required. Voluntary, free participation in public school standardized tests is available. OSSE may request up to two portfolio reviews per school year.
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5-E DCMR §5209.1: homeschooled students may participate free of charge in public school standardized testing. §5206.1: OSSE may request portfolio reviews at discretion, max two per school year, with written notice and mutually agreeable time/place.
- 5-E DCMR §5209 and §5206 · Regulation · primary
“A child receiving home schooling may participate free of charge in the regularly scheduled standardized testing programs.”
Recordkeeping / Portfolio
Moderate regulationRecords, attendance logs, or portfolios the family must maintain.
Parents must maintain a portfolio of homeschooling materials including evidence of current work. Portfolio kept for at least one year and available to OSSE upon written request with 30 days notice.
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5-E DCMR §5205.1 requires a portfolio including writings, worksheets, creative materials, and assessments. §5205.2: maintained at least one year. §5206.1: OSSE must give 30 days written notice for review, max two per year.
- 5-E DCMR §5205 — Educational Materials · Regulation · primary
“Shall maintain a portfolio of home schooling materials for each child which includes evidence of the child's current work.”
Parent Qualifications
Moderate regulationEducation level, certification, or other qualifications required of the teaching parent.
DC requires the home instructor to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Parents without a diploma may petition OSSE for a waiver.
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5-E DCMR §5207.1: parents must have a high school diploma or equivalent. §5207.2: a parent without a diploma may petition OSSE for a waiver by providing evidence of ability to provide thorough education. DC only permits parents to instruct their own children.
- 5-E DCMR §5207 — Parent Qualifications · Regulation · primary
“Parents or legal guardians who wish to be their children's instructors must have a high school diploma or its equivalent.”
Immunization / Health
Low regulationImmunization, vision/hearing screening, or health requirements for homeschooled students.
DC homeschool regulations do not impose specific immunization reporting requirements. DC school immunization laws (DC Code §38-501 et seq.) apply to enrolled students.
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5-E DCMR Chapter 52 does not include immunization mandates. DC Code §38-501 et seq. governs enrolled school students. Homeschooled students are not enrolled and therefore not subject to school immunization reporting.
- 5-E DCMR Chapter 52 · Regulation · primary
“The purpose of this chapter is to establish procedures for home schooling in accordance with DC school attendance and reporting laws.”
Special Needs / IEP
Moderate regulationProvisions for students with disabilities or IEPs in a homeschool setting.
Once withdrawn to homeschool, the right to FAPE under IDEA no longer applies. Students are no longer eligible for specialized instruction or related services from DC public schools.
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OSSE guidance states: students receiving services while enrolled lose eligibility once withdrawn. FAPE applies only to students enrolled in DC public schools. Families may access private services at their own expense.
- OSSE Homeschool Information — Special Education · State education agency · primary
“Students who receive specialized instruction while enrolled in public school are no longer eligible once withdrawn. FAPE applies only to students enrolled in a public school in DC.”
Withdrawal / Enrollment
Moderate regulationProcess to withdraw from public school or formally enroll as a homeschool student.
Parents must file the OSSE Notification and wait for the verification letter before withdrawing. The child must continue attending school during the 15-business-day waiting period to avoid truancy.
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5-E DCMR §5202 requires the 15-day wait. Pulling a child before the verification letter causes unexcused absences, potentially triggering CFSA referrals (ages 5-13) or AG referrals (ages 14-17). Re-enrollment under §5210.1 requires evaluation.
- 5-E DCMR §5202 and §5210 · Regulation · primary
“Placement and credits shall be determined by evaluation upon application to enroll in a DC public school from a home schooling program.”
Compulsory Education Age
Moderate regulationAge range during which education is compulsory.
DC compulsory education covers children ages 5 (by December 31 of school year) through age 17, with the obligation extending until the minor reaches 18 under DC Code §38-202.
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DC Code §38-202(a) covers minors age 5+ through age 18. OSSE guide summarizes as ages 5-17. Children who graduate are excused from further attendance.
- DC Code §38-202 — School attendance requirements · Statute · primary
“Every parent who has custody of a minor who has reached age 5 shall place the minor in regular attendance. This obligation extends until the minor reaches age 18.”
Graduation / Diploma
Low regulationRules around issuing a homeschool diploma or equivalent.
No state graduation requirements for homeschool programs. Parents issue their own diplomas and transcripts. Re-enrollment placement determined by evaluation.
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5-E DCMR §5210.1: upon re-enrollment, placement and credits determined by evaluation including standardized tests, exams, and interviews. DC Code §38-202(a)(2) excuses graduates from attendance.
- 5-E DCMR §5210 · Regulation · primary
“Placement and any credits to be awarded toward high school graduation shall be determined by evaluation.”
Sports / Extracurricular Access
Low regulationWhether homeschooled students may participate in public school sports or activities.
DC homeschooled students may petition the DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA) to participate in sports. No statutory right — participation is petition-based and discretionary. No Tim Tebow law.
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OSSE guidance: homeschooled students may petition DCSAA at dcsaasports.org. This is not a guaranteed right. DC also provides Kids Ride Free transit benefit and DC Educator Library Cards to homeschoolers.
- OSSE Homeschool Information — Sports · State education agency · primary
“Homeschooled students may petition the DC State Athletic Association to participate in sporting activities.”
Funding programs for District of Columbia families
All funding →Curiosity Harbor doesn't award or administer any of these. We track them so you can apply directly with the funder.
National programs
Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation · Scholarship · National
High school seniors (homeschoolers eligible), minimum unweighted GPA 3.75, SAT/ACT/AP/IB scores required, maximum household income $95,000. Must apply during senior year (no gap years).
Up to $55,000 · up to $55,000 per year, last-dollar award supplementing institutional aid
HSLDA Curriculum Grant
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) · Curriculum stipend · National
Must hold current HSLDA membership, demonstrate significant financial need, have homeschooled at least one child (ages 6-19) for minimum 3 months, fund homeschool privately (no public funds or ESAs), and have legal custody.
$300 – $400 · per child, may reapply annually
HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) · Disaster relief · National
Must have suffered damage from a regional natural disaster within past 18 months, be homeschooling at least one child aged 6-19, privately fund schooling, and hold a free My HSLDA Account.
Up to $650 · up to $650, delivered by check
Have a question about homeschooling in District of Columbia?
The assistant answers from these same requirements and cites the official source.
Ask Curiosity HarborThis page is general information, not legal advice. Curiosity Harbor Foundation summarizes District of Columbia law from the sources cited above; statutes and agency guidance change. Confirm with the official source or your state education agency before making decisions for your family.