Homeschooling in District of Columbia— notify OSSE 15 business days out, then re-notify every August 15.
The District of Columbia is a notification-and-portfolio jurisdiction run by OSSE. To start, you file an Initial Notification of Intent to homeschool at least 15 business days before instruction begins; after that, you file an annual Notification of Homeschool Continuation by August 15, both through homeschool.dc.gov. The instructing parent or guardian must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, or petition OSSE for a waiver. OSSE prescribes eight subject areas and conducts a student portfolio review, but there is no standardized-testing mandate. Lightstead tracks the 15-business-day and August 15 deadlines, holds your subject list, and stages the portfolio OSSE reviews.
What District of Columbia requires, at a glance.
- Initial notice
15 business days
Initial Notification of Intent filed with OSSE at least 15 business days before instruction begins, via homeschool.dc.gov.
- Annual notice
Aug 15 · annually
Notification of Homeschool Continuation filed each year by August 15 through homeschool.dc.gov.
- Days / hours
Not specified
OSSE's rules name no instructional day or hour count. The portfolio review is the proof artifact, not a clock.
- Subjects
8 areas
Language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education must all be included.
- Assessment
Portfolio review
OSSE conducts a student portfolio review; frequency and specifics are governed by OSSE policy guidance. No standardized testing is mandated.
- Parent qualification
Diploma or waiver
Parent/guardian holds a high school diploma or equivalent, or petitions OSSE for a waiver showing ability to provide a thorough, regular education.
- Filing portal
homeschool.dc.gov
Both the initial notification and the annual continuation are submitted through OSSE's homeschool.dc.gov portal.
§1
File the Initial Notification of Intent — 15 business days out.
Before you begin homeschooling in the District, you file an Initial Notification of Intent with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) at least 15 business days before instruction starts. The notification is submitted online through OSSE's homeschool.dc.gov portal. The 15-business-day lead time is a true blackout window — count business days, not calendar days, and file early enough that a holiday week doesn't push you past your intended start. A family beginning mid-year follows the same rule: notify OSSE 15 business days before instruction at home begins.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5-E, ch. 53; OSSE homeschool policy guidance (homeschool.dc.gov)
The DC filing wizard pre-fills your children's data and outputs the Initial Notification of Intent, then counts 15 business days back from your planned start so you file inside the window. The deadline shows on the dashboard from the moment you set a start date.
DC filing wizard
§2
Re-notify every year by August 15.
After the initial notification, the District requires an annual Notification of Homeschool Continuation, filed with OSSE by August 15 each year through homeschool.dc.gov. The continuation keeps your homeschool on record for the coming school year. The August 15 date is the single recurring deadline DC homeschoolers track. Miss it and your status can lapse until you re-file, so it is worth a standing reminder rather than something you rediscover each summer.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5-E, ch. 53; OSSE homeschool policy guidance (homeschool.dc.gov)
Lightstead surfaces the August 15 Notification of Homeschool Continuation as a dashboard deadline card from August 1 onward, so the annual re-file is a checkbox rather than a scramble. Each year's continuation is logged alongside your initial notification.
Continuation deadline on dashboard
§3
A diploma — or a waiver from OSSE.
The parent or guardian providing instruction must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. A family that does not meet this requirement may petition OSSE for a waiver by demonstrating the ability to provide a thorough and regular education. This is a qualification on the instructor, not a credentialing or licensure scheme — a high school diploma or GED satisfies it outright. The waiver path is the District's safety valve for households where the instructing parent lacks the diploma but can still show capability.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5-E, ch. 53; OSSE homeschool policy guidance (homeschool.dc.gov)
Lightstead records which qualifying route applies to your household — diploma/equivalent or an OSSE waiver — so the basis for your homeschool is captured next to your filings rather than living in a folder of emails. Your subjects and records sit in the same place if OSSE asks.
Subjects & records
§4
Eight subject areas, every year.
A District homeschool program must include eight subject areas: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. The list is broader than many states' core requirements — art, music, health, and physical education are named alongside the academic core. The rules prescribe the subjects, not the curriculum: you choose the materials, scope, and sequence for each area. Keeping a simple subject-by-subject record makes it straightforward to show OSSE that all eight are covered.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5-E, ch. 53; OSSE homeschool policy guidance (homeschool.dc.gov)
Lightstead's subjects list holds all eight required areas and what you're using for each, and the daily lesson log builds the running record of instruction under them. When portfolio time comes, the subject coverage is already documented.
Subjects list§5
Portfolio review — keep the record OSSE looks at.
The District requires a student portfolio review. OSSE conducts the review, and its frequency and specifics are governed by OSSE policy guidance published at homeschool.dc.gov. There is no standardized-testing mandate at the state level — the portfolio, not a test score, is how progress is shown. Because the portfolio is the assessment, the records you keep through the year are the assessment too. A collection of work samples, a subject list, and a daily log assembled as you go is far easier than reconstructing a year of evidence before a review.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5-E, ch. 53; OSSE homeschool policy guidance (homeschool.dc.gov)
Lightstead stages the portfolio OSSE reviews — work samples organized by subject, your daily lesson log, and the subject list, gathered into one packet. Nothing is sent to the state automatically, but when OSSE asks for a review the record is already assembled.
Portfolio packet
What people search for when they look up District of Columbia homeschooling.
Do I have to register my homeschool in the District of Columbia?
Yes. You file an Initial Notification of Intent with OSSE at least 15 business days before instruction begins, then an annual Notification of Homeschool Continuation by August 15 each year. Both are submitted through OSSE's homeschool.dc.gov portal.
How far in advance do I notify OSSE before starting to homeschool in DC?
At least 15 business days before instruction begins. Count business days rather than calendar days, and file early enough that a holiday week doesn't push you past your intended start date.
When is the DC homeschool continuation notice due?
By August 15 each year. The annual Notification of Homeschool Continuation is filed with OSSE through homeschool.dc.gov and keeps your homeschool on record for the coming school year.
How many hours or days does the District of Columbia require for homeschooling?
OSSE's homeschool rules don't set a specific number of instructional days or hours. The District's proof of education is the student portfolio review, not an hour or day count, so keeping good records matters more than logging a fixed total.
Does the District of Columbia require homeschool testing?
No. There is no standardized-testing mandate at the state level. The District uses a student portfolio review conducted by OSSE to assess progress; its frequency and specifics are governed by OSSE policy guidance at homeschool.dc.gov.
What subjects does the District of Columbia require homeschoolers to teach?
Eight areas: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. OSSE prescribes the subject areas but not the curriculum — you choose the materials, scope, and sequence for each.
Do I need a diploma to homeschool in the District of Columbia?
The instructing parent or guardian must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. A family that doesn't meet that bar may petition OSSE for a waiver by demonstrating the ability to provide a thorough and regular education.
What is the DC homeschool portfolio review?
OSSE conducts a review of a student portfolio to confirm progress. The exact frequency and specifics are set by OSSE policy guidance published at homeschool.dc.gov. Because the portfolio is the assessment, work samples, a subject list, and a daily log assembled through the year are what the review looks at.
Can I start homeschooling in DC mid-year?
Yes. The same rule applies — file the Initial Notification of Intent with OSSE at least 15 business days before instruction at home begins. The annual August 15 continuation then keeps your status current for each following school year.
Where do I file DC homeschool paperwork?
Through OSSE's online portal at homeschool.dc.gov. Both the Initial Notification of Intent and the annual Notification of Homeschool Continuation are submitted there.
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