Homeschool laws by state / District of Columbia

Homeschool Laws & Requirements in District of Columbia

Every requirement below is verified against District of Columbia's actual statutes and links to the official text. Last verified: 2026-07-29 — re-checked weekly against primary sources.

What District of Columbia requires

Notice / filingRequired — see the filings below
  • Notice of Intent / DeclarationFile through DC's official online portal (OSSE). First-time families: OSSE asks for your initial notice at least 15 business days before instruction begins.
Days / hoursNo day or hour minimum is set by law.
SubjectsLanguage Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health, PE
Testing / evaluationNone required
RecordsYes — records/portfolio must be kept (see the statute for what to retain).

Citations: 5-A DCMR SS 5202, 5203; NOI to OSSE 15 business days before starting, then annually by Aug 15

What District of Columbia law does NOT require

Most websites won't say this plainly, so we will — because knowing what the law doesn't ask of you matters as much as knowing what it does:
  • No minimum number of school days or instructional hours is set by law.
  • No standardized testing or annual evaluation is required.

Moving to or from District of Columbia

Moving INTO District of ColumbiaFile the Notice of Intent with OSSE 15 business days before beginning home instruction in DC.
5-A DCMR § 5202
Moving OUT of District of ColumbiaNotify OSSE in writing 15 days before discontinuing home schooling in DC (moving away included).
5-A DCMR § 5202 (discontinuation notice)

Keep District of Columbia's records without thinking about District of Columbia's rules

SpeedyRecord tracks all of this for you — log your day by talking, and attendance, hours, subjects, and District of Columbia's paperwork take care of themselves. If the law above ever changes, the app tells you.

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Other states: Wyoming · Alabama · Alaska · All states

SpeedyRecord is a recordkeeping tool, not a law firm, and this page is not legal advice. We verify these requirements against District of Columbia's statutes and link the official text so you can read the law yourself; laws change, and the "last verified" date above tells you when we last checked. For legal questions about your family's specific situation, talk to a licensed attorney. © MyAiGuidanceCounselor LLC · Privacy · Terms · Compliance disclaimer