Homeschooling in Washington, D.C., Made Simple

Homeschooling in Washington, D.C.? Homeschooling in the District of Columbia is more structured than in most states — a notification form, a portfolio, and eight required subjects — but it’s still entirely manageable, and thousands of D.C. families do it well. The heaviest lift isn’t the paperwork. It’s teaching every subject yourself while keeping a portfolio and your week intact. That’s what Get Classically Educated was built to solve. Live, expert-led classical classes carry the teaching load, so your child gets a rigorous education and your family keeps its time — on just four hours a week.

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Is Homeschooling Legal in the District of Columbia?

Not legal advice. Get Classically Educated is an education provider — not a law firm or legal counsel. This is a plain-English summary for general information only; homeschool laws change and can vary by district, so always confirm current requirements with your state before you begin.

Yes. D.C. regulations recognize home education as a legal option, administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Here’s what’s required:

• Meet the parent qualification. You need a high school diploma or its equivalent. If you don’t have one, you can petition OSSE for a waiver by showing you can provide a thorough, regular education.
• File a notification form. Submit OSSE’s official homeschool notification form at least 15 business days before you begin, and every year after by August 15.
• Teach thoroughly and regularly. Your program must provide instruction of sufficient duration during the period public schools are in session — it doesn’t need to match public school hours exactly.
• Maintain a portfolio. Keep a portfolio of your child’s current work — writing samples, worksheets, assessments, and similar materials — for at least one year. OSSE may request to review it up to twice a year, but only when there’s reason to believe a thorough education isn’t happening.
• Notify OSSE if you stop homeschooling. Send written notice 15 days before discontinuing.

None of this requires you to teach every subject alone — and that’s where we come in.

What D.C. Requires You to Teach

Not legal advice. The subjects and rules described here are general information. Get Classically Educated is an education provider, not a law firm or legal counsel — confirm requirements with your state.

D.C. regulations require instruction in eight subject areas:

1. Language arts
2. Mathematics
3. Science
4. Social studies
5. Art
6. Music
7. Health
8. Physical education

Here’s where Get Classically Educated fits, and we’ll be straight with you about it: our program covers language arts, social studies, and the fine arts (art and music) deeply — great books, writing, logic, rhetoric, history, and civics are the heart of a classical education — and we add science through hands-on research and experiments. The subjects we intentionally leave to you are mathematics, health, and physical education, so you can round those out with whatever fits your family. Because our program only takes about four hours of live class a week, you’ll have plenty of room to do so. You stay fully compliant with D.C. law, and your child gets a classical education most schools can’t touch.

How to Start Homeschooling in the District of Columbia

Not legal counsel. This is a general guide, not legal advice. Verify the current steps with your state or school district before you begin.

1. Confirm you meet the parent qualification (high school diploma/GED, or a waiver from OSSE).
2. File OSSE’s homeschool notification form at least 15 business days before starting (then annually by August 15).
3. Choose a curriculum covering the eight required subjects and begin keeping a work portfolio.
4. Renew your notification each year and keep your portfolio current in case OSSE requests a review.

We take the heaviest part — the actual teaching — off your plate.

Why Washington, D.C. Families Choose Get Classically Educated

Washington, D.C. gives you the freedom to homeschool. We give you a way to do it well without losing your life to it. That promise has a name: 4 Hours to Freedom. Your child attends about four hours of live, expert-led class each week and does no more than four hours of independent work a day — leaving real time for family, faith, activities, and rest.

What sets the program apart:

• Live, expert-led classes. Real teachers, real discussion — not videos your child watches alone.
• A true classical education. The trivium — grammar, logic, and rhetoric — taught through great books, writing, and Socratic discussion, so your child learns to think, not just memorize.
• Science, research, and experiments built in. The base program trades rote math drills for hands-on science and real research skills.
• Grades 3 through 12, one continuous journey. A coherent, rigorous path from the elementary years to graduation.
• One flat tuition. $1,200 per year for the full-year base program — no per-course surprises.

D.C. Homeschool FAQ

Do I have to notify OSSE to homeschool in D.C.?
Yes. File OSSE’s official notification form at least 15 business days before you begin, and every year after by August 15.

Do I need a specific qualification to homeschool in D.C.?
You need a high school diploma or GED. If you don’t have one, you can petition OSSE for a waiver by demonstrating your ability to provide a thorough, regular education.

D.C. requires eight subjects — does GCE cover them all?
GCE covers language arts, social studies, art, and music deeply, plus science through research and experiments. Mathematics, health, and physical education are left to your family; our four-hour weekly schedule leaves plenty of room to add them.

Does my child have to be tested?
Testing isn’t mandatory, but you must maintain a portfolio of your child’s work that OSSE can request to review up to twice a year.

What grades do you serve?
Grades 3 through 12 — one continuous classical education from the elementary years through high school graduation.