Is homeschooling legal in Washington, D.C.?
Yes, homeschooling is fully legal in Washington, D.C.. Homeschooling in the District is a well-marked path: you file one online notification with OSSE, teach a broad set of subjects, and keep a simple portfolio of your child's work. There is no testing requirement and no one grading your curriculum choices. Once the notification is in, the day-to-day is fully yours.
Washington, D.C. homeschool requirements at a glance
| Notice required | Yes, an online Notification of Intent to OSSE, renewed each year by August 15. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | Yes, eight subjects including language arts, math, science, and social studies. |
| Testing / assessment | No tests; OSSE may ask to review your portfolio. |
| Recordkeeping | Yes, a portfolio of current work, kept at least one year. |
| Parent qualifications | High school diploma or equivalent (waiver available by petition). |
Washington, D.C. homeschool law in detail
We link the governing law so you can read it yourself instead of taking our word for it. The governing law is 5-E DCMR Chapter 52 (DCMR 5200 Homeschooling), adopted 2008.
Notice / letter of intent
Under the District's homeschool regulations (Chapter 52 of Title 5-E DCMR, adopted 2008), the parent or guardian files a Notification of Intent to Homeschool with OSSE, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, at least 15 business days before home instruction begins. The notification is submitted through OSSE's secure online form and covers the child's name, age, address, and the name of the person providing instruction. For every year you continue, you file a Notification of Homeschool Continuation by August 15. Stopping requires a Notification to Discontinue Homeschooling with at least 15 business days notice.
Required subjects
Your homeschool program must provide thorough and regular instruction that includes, at minimum, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. OSSE does not approve or prescribe curriculum, so how you cover those subjects is up to you. Compulsory attendance in the District runs from age 5 until 18.
Required days or hours
There is no set number of days or hours. The regulation's standard is thorough and regular instruction of sufficient duration across the required subjects.
Recordkeeping
You must maintain a portfolio of your child's educational materials with evidence of current work in a range of subjects, such as writing samples, completed math work, and assessments. The portfolio must be kept for at least one year and be available to OSSE for review upon request. A simple binder or digital folder updated as you go is plenty.
Testing and assessment
The District requires no standardized testing and no annual evaluation of homeschooled students. Oversight works through the portfolio: OSSE may request to review it, so the practical obligation is keeping it reasonably current. If OSSE raises concerns about a program, the regulations set out a review process before any further action
Withdrawing from public school
A student cannot be registered to homeschool while still enrolled in a DC public or public charter school, so the two steps must connect. File your Notification of Intent with OSSE; once it is processed, OSSE issues a verification letter that you give to the current school to complete the official withdrawal. Notify the school in writing as well, and keep copies of the OSSE letter and your correspondence.
Good to know
OSSE runs the whole process online, including the initial notification, the August 15 continuation, and discontinuation, so bookmark the OSSE homeschool page rather than calling your neighborhood school. Note for reviewers: sources cite the regulation as Chapter 52 of Title 5-E DCMR (OSSE posts it as DCMR 5200 Homeschooling), though some references say Subtitle A; the OSSE PDF is the authoritative copy.
How to start homeschooling in Washington, D.C.
- Step 1: Confirm the instructing parent has a high school diploma or its equivalent, or prepare a waiver petition to OSSE showing you can provide a thorough, regular education.
- Step 2: Complete OSSE's online Notification of Intent to Homeschool at least 15 business days before your planned first day of instruction.
- Step 3: If your child attends a DC public or charter school, use OSSE's verification letter to finish withdrawing them, since concurrent enrollment is not allowed.
- Step 4: Plan a program covering the eight required subject areas and start a portfolio folder on day one.
- Step 5: Each year you continue, file the Notification of Homeschool Continuation by August 15, and keep each year's portfolio for at least a year.
File your notice
The District of Columbia requires a Notification of Intent to Homeschool submitted to OSSE at least 15 business days before instruction begins, filed through the official online portal.
No login and no fee to file. If you need wording, our fill-in-the-blank letter template is just below.
Form links checked when we built this page.
Homeschool funding in Washington, D.C.
We're verifying Washington, D.C.'s funding programs against official sources right now, dollar amounts and rules change yearly, and we'd rather be right than first. Check back soon.
Free Washington DC homeschool notification checklist template
Fill-in-the-blank and ready to send. Free, no email required.
Download the free templateFind homeschool families near you in Washington, D.C.
Co-Op
- Capitol Hill Learning Group · Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
A Christian University-Model micro-school on Capitol Hill blending classroom days with home-based learning for preschool through 8th grade. Families get teacher-led, hands-on learning days paired with at-home instruction in a close-knit parent community.
Visit website - JBAB Home Educators · Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (Southwest D.C.)
An inclusive support group for military, DHS, and Coast Guard homeschool families with access to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Members enjoy group classes, field trips, clubs, sports, curriculum swaps, and annual proctored group testing, all welcoming every homeschooling philosophy.
Visit website - Sankofa Homeschool Community · Washington, D.C. (Northeast)
An African-centered homeschool community for families of color who want to grow, learn, and build together. Now past its 20th year, it offers fall, winter, spring, and summer class sessions plus field trips and a true homeschool village of parents and youth.
Visit website
Forest & Nature School
- City Blossoms · Washington, D.C. (Northwest, gardens citywide)
A D.C. nonprofit creating kid-driven community green spaces across the city. Their Early Growers program brings nature-connected garden learning to ages 2-6, alongside school garden partnerships and a youth entrepreneurship cooperative for teens.
Visit website - City Kids Wilderness Project · Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C. (Northwest)
A long-term outdoor adventure program for D.C. youth that begins in 6th grade and grows with kids through high school. School-year hiking, kayaking, biking, and winter sports around the region lead into summers at their Broken Arrow Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Visit website - Common Good City Farm · LeDroit Park, Washington, D.C. (Northwest)
A working urban farm in LeDroit Park nurturing a community space grounded in food justice, education, and connection. Kids get their hands dirty through youth education programs, field trips, and Seed to Table workshops in growing, cooking, and food preparation.
Visit website - Kingman Island Environmental Education (Living Classrooms) · Kingman Island (Northeast D.C.)
Living Classrooms' environmental education team leads K-12 field trips and after-school programs year-round on these wild islands in the Anacostia River. Families can also join wildlife hikes, fishing clinics, family events, and the free Green Boats citizen science paddles.
Visit website - THEARC Farm (Building Bridges Across the River) · THEARC, Southeast Washington, D.C.
Building Bridges' urban farm at THEARC campus east of the river, providing Southeast communities with greater access to healthy, affordable food and urban agriculture education. Families can join workshops, classes, and regular community events on the farm.
Visit website - Washington Youth Garden (Friends of the National Arboretum) · U.S. National Arboretum (Northeast D.C.)
FONA's garden classroom tucked inside the U.S. National Arboretum, where kids learn science through growing food. Programs include school garden support, the Green Ambassador youth program, and hands-on garden and nature events for children and families.
Visit website
Homeschooling in nearby states
Washington, D.C. homeschooling FAQ
Who do I notify in DC, the school district or someone else?
Neither DCPS nor a charter school: homeschool oversight in the District belongs to OSSE, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The notification is filed online through OSSE's system.
Do I need a college degree to homeschool in the District?
No. The requirement is a high school diploma or its equivalent, and even that can be waived: you may petition OSSE with evidence that you can provide your child a thorough and regular education.
Will OSSE inspect my home or test my child?
There is no testing requirement and no routine inspection. OSSE's tool is the portfolio: keep evidence of your child's current work available, because OSSE may request to review it.
What goes in the portfolio?
Evidence of current work across your subjects: writing samples, completed math pages, projects, reading lists, and any assessments you use. Keep each portfolio for at least one year.
What if I move into DC mid-year or want to start mid-year?
The same rule applies: file the Notification of Intent at least 15 business days before home instruction begins. If your child is in a DC public or charter school, coordinate the withdrawal through OSSE's verification letter so there is no enrollment gap on paper.
Has DC changed its homeschool rules recently?
The core regulation has been in place since 2008; the most visible recent change is procedural, with OSSE moving notifications to a secure online form. No 2024-2026 substantive amendments surfaced in our research, but check OSSE's homeschool pages for current forms and deadlines.
Sources
- OSSE, Apply to Homeschool
- OSSE, Homeschooling in the District: Local Requirements
- OSSE, DC Homeschool Regulation (DCMR 5200 PDF)
- HSLDA, District of Columbia
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Homeschool laws change, always confirm current requirements with your state's official sources before relying on them.