Please follow the steps below to notify OSSE of your intent to homeschool. Additional information about homeschooling in the District of Columbia is available in the family and local education agency (LEA) guides below.

• Homeschool Information for District of Columbia Families
• Homeschooling in the District of Columbia: An Informational Guide for LEAs

Complete the Notification of Intent to Homeschool

To homeschool, parents/legal guardians must complete a Notification of Intent to Homeschool at least 15 business days prior to the first date of home instruction. This nonfiction is completed and submitted securely online. Reference this step-by-step Homeschool Application User Guide for additional details.

Notify your Child’s Current School of their Transition to Homeschooling

When transitioning a student from public schooling to homeschooling, parents/legal guardians must notify their student’s school of their intention to withdraw the student. OSSE provides parents/legal guardians with a verification letter after approving their Notification of Intent to Homeschool. This letter should be given to the school to begin the official withdrawal process.

A family should follow the school's/LEA’s exit process. A student may not be registered to homeschool while concurrently attending a public or public charter school. Until a student has been officially withdrawn, they will remain registered in the school, accrue unexcused absences, and are subject to the school’s truancy reporting requirements.

Annual Homeschool Notification

For any year a parent/legal guardian chooses to continue a homeschooling program, they must complete a Notification of Homeschool Continuation by Aug. 15. Parents/legal guardians may choose to discontinue a homeschooling program at any time and, to do so, must complete a Notification to Discontinue Homeschooling at least 15 business days prior to discontinuation.

Additional Homeschool Information

For additional information about homeschooling in the District of Columbia, please select the links below.

 

Contact Us

For questions or additional information, please email [email protected].

Homeschool policy and guidance are managed within OSSE’s Division of Systems and Supports, K-12.

[Last Updated: Jan. 30, 2024]