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 / filing | Required — see the filings below- Notice of Intent / Declaration — File through DC's official online portal (OSSE). First-time families: OSSE asks for your initial notice at least 15 business days before instruction begins.
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| Days / hours | No day or hour minimum is set by law. |
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| Subjects | Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health, PE |
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| Testing / evaluation | None required |
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| Records | Yes — records/portfolio must be kept (see the statute for what to retain). |
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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 Columbia | File the Notice of Intent with OSSE 15 business days before beginning home instruction in DC. 5-A DCMR § 5202 |
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| Moving OUT of District of Columbia | Notify OSSE in writing 15 days before discontinuing home schooling in DC (moving away included). 5-A DCMR § 5202 (discontinuation notice) |
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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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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 ·
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