Homeschooling in Oregon? Here’s your plan.

Homeschooling in Oregon begins with a notification to your local Education Service District (ESD), not the school district. Oregon has 19 ESDs, and each typically provides its own notification form. You must notify within 10 days of withdrawing from public school or beginning home education, and by August 15 for continuing students. The notification is simple: your child's name, age, address, and a statement that the child is being taught at home.

Oregon does not mandate specific subjects, instructional hours, or days of instruction. There is no curriculum approval and no requirement to log attendance. Your primary accountability comes through standardized testing at grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, administered by a qualified neutral person (not the parent). Tests must be a nationally normed standardized achievement test — historically the ITBS, Stanford, CAT, MAT, or others approved by the State Board of Education. If your child scores below the 15th percentile on any subtest, the ESD may require additional educational services or further evaluation, though this response is discretionary.

One of Oregon's standout features is its statutory protection for homeschool students' access to public school resources. Under ORS 339.035, home-educated students have the right to take individual public school courses and to participate in interscholastic activities including sports, subject to the same eligibility requirements as full-time students. This is written into the statute — not a district courtesy.

The primary pathway is home education under ORS 339.035, which is what most families use. Alternatively, families may form or join a private school under ORS 339.030(1)(a). The private school route avoids ESD notification and the standardized testing at grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, but the child is technically enrolled in a private school rather than homeschooling. Some families prefer this option specifically to avoid the testing requirement.

First-time grace period. New homeschoolers get an 18-month grace period before the first standardized test is required. Children never previously enrolled in school must test by the end of grade 3.

Testing is not annual. You only test at grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 — not every year. The test must be administered by a qualified neutral person, not the parent.

Public school courses are a right. Under ORS 339.035, your child can take individual courses at the local public school at no cost. This is not subject to district approval.

Sports access is guaranteed. The same statute gives homeschool students the right to participate in interscholastic activities at the local public school, with the same eligibility rules as full-time students.

Special needs protections are strong. Oregon requires your district to proactively offer special education services when it learns you are homeschooling a child with a disability. The district must hold an IEP meeting to discuss providing services alongside your homeschool program.

No recordkeeping is required. Oregon has no statutory recordkeeping obligations, but keeping copies of ESD notifications, test results, and work samples is wise — especially for high school transcripts and college applications.