State Requirements
Homeschooling in District of Columbia
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.
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District of Columbia takes a light-touch approach to homeschool law, with the main expectation being a one-time 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.
Before instruction begins, or promptly at the start of each school year, families in District of Columbia submit a notice of intent to the state Department of Education. Filing at the state level keeps the process out of the district's hands, which is a welcome simplification for families who move between districts.
The District of Columbia assessment requirement (portfolio review annually) is usually straightforward to plan around, especially if families track activities consistently through the year. Portfolio records are a core part of the District of Columbia homeschool year. Families keep samples of work, a log of activities, and evidence of instruction in required subjects, reviewed by a certified teacher or evaluator.
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. Tracking District of Columbia compliance doesn't have to mean spreadsheets and reminder alarms. Homeschool Fox turns everyday logs into the year-end reports evaluators and districts expect.
At a glance
Ages 5-18
Compulsory attendance
Flexible requirements
District of Columbia does not mandate specific hours or days.
Notice requirements
Notice is required
You must notify the state Department of Education of your intent to homeschool.
Need a head start? Use the free Notice of Intent generator to draft a District of Columbia-ready letter.
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
District of Columbia handles the transition from public school at the state level: send a withdrawal letter to the child's current school, then file a notice of intent directly with the state Department of Education. Homeschool Fox generates a compliant withdrawal letter from your family's details in a few clicks.
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 is required
- Type:
- Portfolio review
- Frequency:
- Annually
Standardized testing for homeschoolers walks through which test to choose, where to register, and how to prep. If District of Columbia lets you choose between portfolio review and a test, homeschool portfolio reviews vs standardized tests covers when each option is the better call.
Portfolio & records
Portfolio is required
Under 5-A DCMR 5205, families keep a portfolio of materials showing regular educational activity across the required subjects for at least one year. OSSE doesn't collect the portfolio — it's produced only on written request.
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.
Additional notes
Notify OSSE 15 business days before starting, then annually by Aug 15. Maintain portfolio for at least 1 year. OSSE may request portfolio review up to twice per year. Daily attendance records required.
Calculate your District of Columbia hours
District of Columbia doesn't mandate a minimum. Use 900 hours/year as a general guide to stay on pace.
Leave at 0 if you haven't started tracking yet
Enter an end date to see your targets
Target
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hours per day
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hours per week
Prefer a full-page version? Open the standalone hours calculator.
Sources
Verified May 2026
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 statesWant the cross-state comparison? Homeschool laws by state covers the legal regime in every state side by side.
What we track
Build your District of Columbia portfolio in minutes
Log activities by voice or text and Homeschool Fox rolls them up against District of Columbia's requirements automatically. Free for 14 days.
- Instruction hours per student
- Attendance days logged
- Subject coverage (core & non-core)
- Activity log (text, voice, AI-parsed)
- Portfolio-ready records & PDFs
- Transcripts with GPA & credits
- Test scores & evaluations
- Notice of intent & withdrawal letters
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