District of Columbia vs Virginia: Homeschool Laws Compared

Virginia is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while District of Columbia requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 4 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, required subjects, testing or evaluation, and the portfolio.

Rules compared

9

Differences

4

Same in both

5

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from District of Columbia to Virginia

Once you are a Virginia resident you homeschool under Virginia's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the local school district in Virginia rather than the state education department.
2. Virginia names no required subjects. District of Columbia's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
3. Virginia requires parent's choice of assessment, annually. District of Columbia had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
4. Virginia does not require a portfolio. Bring District of Columbia's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.

Moving from Virginia to District of Columbia

Once you are a District of Columbia resident you homeschool under District of Columbia's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the state education department in District of Columbia rather than the local school district.
2. District of Columbia names 8 required subjects (language arts, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, physical education). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
3. District of Columbia requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Virginia's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
4. Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: District of Columbia requires one and Virginia did not.

What stays the same

District of Columbia and Virginia match on hours or days per year, progress reports, compulsory school ages, ESA funding, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither District of Columbia nor Virginia takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• District of Columbia vs Maryland 3 rules differ
• Maryland vs Virginia 3 rules differ
• North Carolina vs Virginia 4 rules differ
• Tennessee vs Virginia 5 rules differ
• Virginia vs West Virginia 4 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 31 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 16 states in one table
• States That Require a Homeschool Portfolio All 6 states in one table