Delaware offers a high degree of flexibility for families choosing to educate their children at home. Under Delaware law, homeschools are categorized as nonpublic schools. This means that while families must interact with the state Department of Education for administrative reporting, they retain full control over their curriculum, instructional methods, and academic standards.

Compulsory Attendance

Children in Delaware must begin school the year they turn 5 on or before August 31. A parent may opt to delay the start of school for a 5-year-old for one year by notifying their local school district. Compulsory attendance continues until the child’s 18th birthday or until they complete the requirements for high school graduation.

Homeschooling Pathways

Delaware law (14 Del. C. § 2703) recognizes three distinct types of homeschools. Most families will choose the Single-family Homeschool option.

1. Single-family Homeschool

This is the standard pathway for a family educating their own children in their own home.

• Notification: Families must register their home school with the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) via an online portal. Registration opens in mid-August and should be completed by October 5.
• Qualifications: There are no teacher qualification requirements.
• Subjects: You must provide “regular and thorough instruction” in the English language in subjects typically taught in public schools (Math, Reading/Language Arts, Science, Social Studies).
• Reporting: You must file an end-of-year attendance report by July 31.

2. Multi-family Homeschool

This option allows multiple families to join together to form a single nonpublic school entity. This is often used for small co-ops that want to be treated as a single legal unit.

• Notification: One person is designated as the liaison/administrator and manages the DDOE registration for all participating families.
• Requirements: Same as single-family, but the designated head of the school handles the reporting for the group.

3. Single-family Homeschool Coordinated with a Local District

This is an uncommon pathway where the family chooses to coordinate their instruction with the local public school district. This requires the approval of the local superintendent and follows the district’s specific guidelines. Most Delaware families avoid this pathway in favor of the autonomy provided by the standard single-family option.

Step-by-Step Compliance Guide

1. Open a DOE Account: Visit the Delaware Department of Education’s Nonpublic School portal to create an account. This is usually done between August and early October.
2. File the Enrollment Report: By October 5, submit your enrollment report. This notifies the state that your child is being educated in a nonpublic school and satisfies compulsory attendance requirements.
3. Plan Your Curriculum: Delaware does not mandate a specific curriculum. You are free to choose materials that best suit your child, provided you cover the basic subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies).
4. Keep Records: While you do not have to submit grades or portfolios to the state, it is highly recommended to keep a record of your child’s work, especially for high school students, to create a transcript later.
5. File the Attendance Report: At the end of the school year (by July 31), log back into the DDOE portal to report the total number of days your child attended school. There is no specific number of hours required per day, but the schedule should reflect “regular” instruction.

Testing and Assessment

Delaware does not require homeschoolers to participate in state testing (Smarter Balanced Assessments) or any other form of standardized testing. Families may choose to test privately for their own information, but these results are not reported to the state.

ESA and School Choice

Currently, Delaware does not offer an Education Savings Account (ESA) or school choice vouchers for homeschool families. Public school choice is available for students moving between public districts, but this does not provide funding for private home-based education.

High School and Graduation

In Delaware, the parent or the administrator of the nonpublic school (the homeschool) is responsible for settting graduation requirements and issuing a diploma. The state does not issue diplomas to homeschoolers. Most colleges and employers accept parent-issued diplomas and transcripts, provided they are well-documented.