Romeschool

Delaware homeschool requirements

Delaware treats home schools as nonpublic schools: register with the Department of Education and file annual enrollment and attendance reports. No subjects mandated and no testing.

Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · Sources below

Minimal regulation Notice required Attendance reports
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Delaware homeschool requirements at a glance

Notice
RequiredWhere it goes: Delaware Department of Education (DDOE). When: Before beginning instruction; annual enrollment report by Oct 5; annual attendance report by Jul 31.
Required subjects
No set list
Instruction time
Attendance reportsAnnual attendance report (ADM/ADA) to DDOE by Jul 31; enrollment statement (name, address, DOB, grade) by Oct 5.
Testing or evaluation
NoNo standardized testing, portfolio reviews, or evaluations required.
Records
Yes — enrollment records, attendance
Parent qualifications
Not required
Compulsory attendance ages
5–16
Ways to homeschool
Nonpublic home-school registration with DDOE (single-family / multi-family / coordinated)
Law
14 Del. C. (Title 14)

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Delaware?

Yes. Delaware requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Delaware Department of Education (DDOE). How: Register as a nonpublic home school via the DDOE online portal (Single-Family, Multi-Family, or Single-Family Coordinated). When: Before beginning instruction; annual enrollment report by Oct 5; annual attendance report by Jul 31. Registration is not approval. Failure to file the annual reports closes the school and withdraws the enrolled students.

What subjects does Delaware require homeschoolers to teach?

Delaware does not spell out a list of required subjects for homeschoolers. No specific subjects mandated; law requires 'regular and thorough instruction' but does not enumerate subjects.

How many days or hours of instruction does Delaware require?

Delaware's rule: Annual attendance report (ADM/ADA) to DDOE by Jul 31; enrollment statement (name, address, DOB, grade) by Oct 5.

Is standardized testing required to homeschool in Delaware?

No. Delaware does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. No standardized testing, portfolio reviews, or evaluations required.

What records do I need to keep to homeschool in Delaware?

Delaware requires these records: enrollment records (name, address, DOB, grade) and attendance records (ADM/ADA). Submitted annually to DDOE.

Do parents need a teaching certificate or other qualification to homeschool in Delaware?

No. Delaware does not set a general qualification for homeschooling parents.

What ages does Delaware's compulsory attendance law cover?

Delaware's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 5 to age 16.

What are the ways to homeschool in Delaware?

In Delaware, families homeschool under this pathway: nonpublic home-school registration with DDOE (single-family / multi-family / coordinated).

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Delaware, as it is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Delaware treats home schools as nonpublic schools: register with the Department of Education and file annual enrollment and attendance reports. No subjects mandated and no testing.

How to get started in Delaware

1
Register your homeschool with the Department of Education
Register before you begin teaching, through the Department's online portal, as a single-family, multi-family, or single-family coordinated homeschool. Registration is not an approval process.
Official resource (education.delaware.gov) →
2
File your enrollment report by October 5
Each year, report the students enrolled in your homeschool (name, address, date of birth, and grade) to the Department.
3
File your attendance report by July 31
Each year, report your homeschool's attendance (average daily membership and average daily attendance) to the Department. Keep a simple attendance record through the year so the numbers are ready.
4
Don't miss a report
If the annual reports aren't filed, your homeschool is closed and its enrolled students are withdrawn. Put both dates on your calendar.
5
Teach regularly and thoroughly
Delaware law requires regular and thorough instruction but lists no required subjects for single-family or multi-family homeschools. There is no standardized testing, portfolio review, evaluation, or parent-qualification requirement.
What Romeschool tracks for you: Activity log and portfolio.

Sources for Delaware

Official source (education.delaware.gov) ↗HSLDA's Delaware summary ↗
Statute: 14 Del. C. (Title 14)
Last reviewed: June 5, 2026

Every requirement above comes from our review of Delaware’s rules, last checked against these sources on June 5, 2026. Homeschool law changes, and a state can amend its rules between our reviews — read the official source before you file anything or rely on a date here. How we review state requirements.

Nearby states

States that share a border with Delaware:

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