How to Start Homeschooling in Delaware

Yes. Homeschooling is completely legal in Delaware. It is protected by statute and well established.

The primary law is 14 Del. C. Section 2703A. It defines home school programs, establishes the three program types, and lays out the requirements. The compulsory attendance law (14 Del. C. Section 2702) requires children to attend school, and 14 Del. C. Section 2703 lists the exceptions. Homeschooling is one of them. Administrative regulations in 14 DE Admin. Code 615 provide additional guidance.

Here is something important: the DDOE does not approve or deny homeschool applications. When you file your notification, you are informing the state, not asking for permission. There is no approval process. There is no denial process. Your notification is an informational filing. If anyone tells you that you need permission to homeschool in Delaware, that is not how Delaware homeschool laws work.

Delaware requires compulsory education for children ages 5 through 16 under 14 Del. C. Section 2702. The cutoff date is specific: your child must be 5 years old on or before August 31 of the current school year. If your child turns 5 after August 31, compulsory attendance starts the following year.

Children over age 16 may withdraw from school with parent consent and completion of an exit interview. Most homeschool families continue teaching through high school graduation, but the legal obligation ends at 16.

If your child is younger than 5, you have no legal obligation yet. Take your time. Talk to other homeschool families, research curricula, and figure out your approach before anything becomes mandatory.

Starting a homeschool in Delaware takes six steps. Here is exactly what to do.

Step 1: Create your EdAccess account. Go to education.delaware.gov/families/k12/homeschools-and-private-schools/ and apply for an EdAccess account. This is the online system Delaware uses for all homeschool enrollment. You cannot register without it, so do this first.

Step 2: Complete the Nonpublic School Application. The EdAccess system opens after August 11 each year. Log in and fill out the NPS Application. You will enter your family information, your child's name, date of birth, and grade level, and the type of home school program — single-family, multi-family, or coordinated group. Most families choose single-family. Starting after September 30? Call the DDOE at 302-241-2820 and say you need to arrange homeschool enrollment outside the standard window. They will set up an in-person appointment.

Step 3: Get your Acknowledgment Letter. After you submit the NPS Application, the DDOE sends you an Acknowledgment Letter. Do not skip this step and do not lose this letter. If your child is in public school, the school will not process withdrawal without it.

Step 4: Withdraw your child from school (if currently enrolled). Send written notice of withdrawal to your child's current school. Include these four things in your letter: (1) your name and contact information, (2) your child's name and date of birth, (3) the withdrawal date, and (4) a statement that your child will be enrolled in a home school program registered with the DDOE under 14 Del. C. Section 2703A. Attach a copy of your Acknowledgment Letter. If you are withdrawing mid-year, make sure your DDOE notification was filed within 14 days of the withdrawal date.

Step 5: Start teaching. Once your notification is submitted, begin immediately. There is no waiting period. The DDOE does not approve or deny your filing. You are registered and ready to go.

Step 6: Report attendance by July 31. Between June 1 and July 31, log into EdAccess and report your aggregate attendance — total school days and total student days attended. This is your only annual reporting requirement. Set a calendar reminder for June 1 so you do not miss it.

Everything goes through EdAccess under 14 Del. C. Section 2703A. You do not file with your local school district. All homeschool filings go to the DDOE at the state level.

The enrollment window runs from August 11 through September 30 each year. If you are starting after that window closes, call 302-241-2820. Tell them you need to enroll a home school program outside the standard window. They will arrange an in-person appointment. This is an administrative accommodation documented on the DDOE website, not a statutory requirement.

First-time families: apply for your EdAccess account, complete the NPS Application, and get your Acknowledgment Letter. Returning families: re-enroll through EdAccess during the August 11 to September 30 window each year. Everyone: report attendance between June 1 and July 31.

No curriculum submission. No progress reports. No test scores. The notification and the annual attendance report are the only two things the state asks of you.

If your child is currently in school, do these two things: submit your DDOE homeschool notification through EdAccess, and send written notice of withdrawal to your child's school.

Here is the order that works. Register through EdAccess and get your Acknowledgment Letter first. Public schools in Delaware typically will not process a withdrawal until they see that letter. Once you have it, write your withdrawal letter and send it to the school with a copy of the Acknowledgment Letter attached.

Your withdrawal letter should include your name and contact info, your child's name and date of birth, the date of withdrawal, and a statement that your child is enrolling in a home school program under 14 Del. C. Section 2703A. Keep it short. You do not need to explain your reasons or describe your curriculum.

If you are withdrawing mid-year, file your DDOE notification within 14 days of the withdrawal date. There is no mandatory waiting period. Homeschooling may begin as soon as you submit the notification. Nobody needs to approve anything.

Keep copies of every document you send. Your Acknowledgment Letter, your withdrawal notice, any emails with the school. A paper trail protects you if questions come up later.

Delaware recognizes three types of home school programs under 14 Del. C. Section 2703A. All three share the same compliance requirements — same four subjects, same 180 days, same EdAccess registration, same attendance reporting. The only differences are organizational.

Single-Family Home School Program. One family educates their own children. The parent provides or directs all instruction. This is the most common choice and the simplest path. If you are starting out, pick this one.

Multi-Family Home School Program. Two or more families teach together and share responsibilities. Each family registers individually through EdAccess. You collectively cover the four required subjects and meet the 180-day requirement. This works well when families want to split subjects based on strengths — you teach science, the other parent handles math.

Coordinated Home School Group. A coordinating entity organizes instruction for multiple families. There may be designated instructors teaching different subjects. Each family still registers individually. Think of this as a structured co-op. It is the most organized option but follows the exact same legal requirements.

Pick whichever structure fits your family. You can start as a single family and join a group later, or vice versa.

File with the DDOE, not your school district. This is the most common mistake Delaware homeschool families make. All filings go to the state through EdAccess. Your local school district does not oversee homeschools. Filing with the wrong entity does not count and can trigger truancy concerns.

Get the Acknowledgment Letter before you withdraw. If your child is in public school, complete your EdAccess registration first. Get the Acknowledgment Letter. Then send your withdrawal notice to the school with that letter attached. Doing it in this order prevents problems.

Keep these four things from day one. The law does not require recordkeeping. But start keeping records anyway — you will thank yourself later. Track these four: (1) attendance log showing your 180 days, (2) curriculum plans listing what you taught, (3) samples of your child's work, and (4) a list of textbooks and materials used. If your child ever re-enrolls in public school, the district will determine grade placement and may use placement assessments. Good records make that smoother. They are also essential for college applications.

You issue the diploma. Delaware does not provide a state homeschool diploma. You create and issue your child's high school diploma. You also create the transcript. There is no state template for either. For an alternative credential, students may take the GED at age 16 or older.

Special education: know what SB 106 changed. In 2021, Delaware passed SB 106. This was a significant expansion. Homeschooled students are now considered nonpublic school students under the law. That means your child may qualify for special education services through your district even while homeschooling. Federal Child Find obligations also apply — your district must evaluate children suspected of having disabilities, including homeschoolers. Here is what to do: call the Office of Exceptional Children Resources at 302-735-4210 and ask what services your child may be eligible for. You can also contact your local school district directly to request an evaluation.

Public school sports are not guaranteed. Delaware law does not require schools to let homeschoolers play sports or join extracurricular activities. Individual districts may allow it case by case. Call your district's athletic director and ask about their policy for homeschool students.

Connect with other Delaware families. The Delaware Home Education Association (DHEA) at dheaonline.org is the statewide homeschool organization. Having a community makes the journey better, especially when you are just starting out.