District of Columbia Homeschool Laws and Requirements
What District of Columbia requires, in plain English — and a free way to track it without spreadsheets. Log activities, watch your pace, and generate records when you need them.
The short answer
District of Columbia has light but formal homeschool requirements with no mandated hour or day minimums, and you'll file notice with the state Department of Education.
District of Columbia at a glance
Verified September 2026- Required hours
- No state minimum
- Required subjects
- 8 subjects
- Notice
- Required each year
- Testing / evaluation
- Not required
- Portfolio
- Required
Jump to the full District of Columbia requirements for plain-English detail on each of these.
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District of Columbia doesn't set a minimum. If you want a personal target, 900 hours/year is a common one. Enter your end date to see the pace.
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What Homeschool Fox tracks for District of Columbia
The records District of Columbia asks you to keep, plus the rest of your year, in one place. No spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.
- Required subjects
- Portfolio records
- Daily activity logs
- Printable PDF reports
- Progress tracking
- High school transcripts
See it work
Log a homeschool day in seconds
Type or speak what you did in plain English. Homeschool Fox sorts it into subjects, adds up the time, and updates your District of Columbia progress automatically.
You write
Homeschool Fox logs
- Reading 45 min
- Math 30 min
- History / Social Studies 20 min
Today's total
1 hr 35 min
Your District of Columbia requirements, in plain English
Tap any item for the details.
Notice requirements
Required
Required hours
Flexible
Required subjects
8 subjects
Testing / evaluation
Not required
Recordkeeping & portfolio
Portfolio required
Withdrawing from public school
Letter + notice
Full guide
Homeschooling in District of Columbia: the complete guide
District of Columbia takes a light-touch approach to homeschool law, with the main expectation being a filing so local officials know a family is teaching at home. Because the compulsory attendance age in District of Columbia runs from 5-18, families plan their homeschool schedule around that window.
Because District of Columbia law doesn't specify hours or school days, the shape of a homeschool year is a family decision. A common internal benchmark is 900 hours a year, loose enough to accommodate life's interruptions but firm enough to keep a program moving forward.
Families in District of Columbia file a notice of intent with the state Department of Education each year. The withdrawal section below gives the deadline and the form. District of Columbia sets what the notice has to carry. Where the state publishes its own form, start from that rather than a letter of your own.
Portfolio records are a core part of the District of Columbia homeschool year. Families keep samples of work and evidence of instruction in the required subjects.
District of Columbia expects instruction in language arts, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. How those subjects show up day-to-day is entirely a family's call. Keeping District of Columbia homeschool records doesn't have to mean spreadsheets and reminder alarms. Homeschool Fox turns everyday logs into a printable record of the year.
Notice requirements
Notice is required
Yes, District of Columbia requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify the state Department of Education. The notice is filed again each school year.
Need a head start? Use the free Notice of Intent generator to draft your District of Columbia filing, then check the withdrawal section below for the form or affidavit District of Columbia expects it on.
Deeper guides: how to write a notice of intent to homeschool covers the language admins look for, and when and where to file your notice of intent covers state-by-state deadlines and recipients.
Generate your notice of intentWithdrawing from public school
Washington, D.C. requires notice to OSSE at least 15 business days before you begin, then an annual continuation notice by August 15. Notify the current school so attendance reflects the change, and keep a copy. Maintain a portfolio; OSSE may request a review up to twice a year, in writing, at a time you both agree on.
For the play-by-play, how to withdraw your child from public school walks through the conversation, the timing, and the paperwork. What to send the district when you pull your child covers exactly what the letter should and shouldn't say.
Assessment requirements
Assessment not required
The District requires no assessment. OSSE may ask, at its discretion, to review a child's portfolio to confirm thorough, regular instruction, no more than twice in a school year and at a time and place you both agree on (5-A DCMR 5206.1). The section ends: "Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require a regular periodic review of all portfolios." Standardized testing is voluntary; 5-A DCMR 5209 lets a home-schooled child sit the public schools' tests free of charge.
Portfolio & records
Portfolio is required
Under 5-A DCMR 5205.1, families keep a portfolio of the student's current work showing thorough, regular activity in a range of subjects. 5205.2 says it "should be maintained for at least one year." OSSE doesn't collect it. It may ask in writing to review the portfolio, no more than twice in a school year, at a time and place you both agree on (5206.1).
Building a high-school transcript? Start with our free transcript template. Homeschool portfolio reviews vs standardized tests covers what evaluators actually look at and how to curate samples without drowning in worksheets.
Required subjects
District of Columbia requires instruction in the following subjects.
Looking for curriculum?
Browse our curriculum directory to find the right fit for your family, then log the year in Homeschool Fox.
Additional notes
Notify OSSE 15 business days before starting, then file an annual continuation notice by Aug 15. Maintain a portfolio of current work, which the rule says "should be maintained for at least one year." OSSE may request a portfolio review up to twice per school year, in writing, at a time and place you both agree on. DC does not impose a minimum day count or daily attendance logs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to notify anyone to homeschool in District of Columbia?
How many hours do I need to homeschool in District of Columbia?
Does District of Columbia require testing for homeschoolers?
Do I need to keep a portfolio in District of Columbia?
What subjects must I teach in District of Columbia?
Nearby states
View all statesHow District of Columbia compares
Nine rules side by side with the states families move between most, and what changes in each direction.
- District of Columbia vs Maryland (3 rules differ)
- District of Columbia vs Virginia (4 rules differ)
Want the cross-state comparison? Homeschool laws by state covers the legal regime in every state side by side.
Free District of Columbia printables
Three ready-to-use PDFs for District of Columbia homeschoolers. No account needed.
Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.
Get notified when District of Columbia changes its rules
We track District of Columbia's statute and department pages and email you when the requirements move. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
District of Columbia last verified September 25, 2026.
Reviewed and sourced
Last verified: September 2026. We review District of Columbia's requirements against official sources and update this page when the rules change.
Our monitor last confirmed the source pages were live on Sep 28, 2026.
Sources
Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We turn public homeschool requirements into practical tracking tools for families. Always confirm details with your state or a qualified advisor.
More District of Columbia guides
District of Columbia in context: one of 36 states that require notice · one of 6 states that require a portfolio · one of 31 states that name required subjects.
- How to Start Homeschooling in District of Columbia A step-by-step guide from withdrawal to your first logged day.
- Homeschooling High School in District of Columbia Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
- Record Keeping in District of Columbia What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.
- How to Withdraw From School in District of Columbia The steps, the letter, and timing to avoid truancy issues.
- Moving to District of Columbia What to file when you arrive and whether your records transfer.
- Public School Sports in District of Columbia Whether homeschoolers can play, what it takes, and who to ask.
- Required Subjects in District of Columbia The list, how much time each needs, and proving you taught them.
- District of Columbia Letter of Intent Who to file with, when it's due, and a free generator.
- District of Columbia Homeschool Portfolio What belongs in it, who can ask to see it, and a printable checklist.
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