Delaware Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026In Delaware a homeschool is a nonpublic school. That single classification drives everything: you register your school with the Department of Education, and then you report attendance each summer and enrollment each fall. Delaware sets no required curriculum, no minimum number of days, and no state testing for nonpublic schools. The reporting is what keeps your school open.
Last Reviewed: August 15, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 15, 2027.
Delaware Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in Delaware |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | A child between 5 and 16 years of age must be enrolled in school under the compulsory attendance statute |
| Notification or registration | Register the school with the Department of Education through an EdAccess account and the Nonpublic School application |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | A homeschool is considered a nonpublic school. Three types are recognized: single-family, multi-family, and single-family coordinated with the local school district |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | None identified in the department's homeschool guidance |
| Required subjects | None prescribed. The department does not provide, endorse, accredit, approve, or monitor curriculum for any nonpublic school |
| Instructional time | The department does not require a specific number of days for nonpublic schools to be open during a school year |
| Testing or evaluation | No state testing, evaluation, or portfolio review is required of homeschools |
| Required records | Attendance and enrollment are reported to the state. Academic records and portfolios stay with the family, and the department strongly encourages keeping them |
| Responsible government agency | The Delaware Department of Education registers the school and collects the two reports. Your district handles withdrawal from public school |
The Three Recognized Types
Single-family homeschool. The education of an individual's own child, primarily by the parent or legal guardian, mainly in their own residence.
Multi-family homeschool. The education of children, primarily by the parents or legal guardians, mainly in one or several residences or other facilities, when the children are not all related to each other as brother or sister.
Single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district. This type uses a curriculum approved by the local superintendent, which is the one arrangement where a district reviews what you teach.
The state requirements described in this guide are the same across the types. What differs is what a multi-family homeschool may add on its own: a multi-family school is its own organization and may set its own curriculum, calendar, attendance expectations, or membership policies. Those are that school's policies, not Delaware law, so ask before you join.
How to Start Homeschooling in Delaware
- Decide which type fits. Single-family, multi-family, or single-family coordinated with your district.
- Create an EdAccess account. Select the Nonpublic School account type and complete the multi-factor authentication setup.
- Submit the nonpublic school application. It asks for your school's demographic and contact information and the students you are enrolling. The department notifies you when the school is open.
- Withdraw from public school. Registering a new nonpublic school during the current school year requires withdrawing your students from public school.
- Put both reporting windows on your calendar now. They are the ongoing obligation.
Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping
Delaware requires no standardized testing of homeschooled students, no evaluation, and no portfolio submission. Nothing about your child's academic progress goes to the state.
What does go to the state is a count. Attendance is reported in a window that opens June 1 and closes July 31. Enrollment is reported in a window that opens August 10 and closes October 5, with the exact dates published each year. The school administrator, which in a family homeschool is you, submits both through the nonpublic school application.
Take these deadlines seriously, because the consequence is specific rather than vague. If a nonpublic school fails to report attendance during the attendance window, the school will be closed and enrolled students will be withdrawn. The same applies to the enrollment window. Missing a report does not trigger a warning letter; it closes your school.
Everything academic stays with you. The department strongly encourages nonpublic schools to maintain and retain a portfolio and records for their students, and notes that a student may need that information years down the road. It is a recommendation rather than a requirement, and it is the only record of your student's work that will exist.
Official Delaware Homeschool Resources
- Delaware Department of Education, Homeschools and Private Schools
- Register for a Nonpublic School
- Annual Reporting and Data
- Delaware Code title 14, chapter 27, school attendance
Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?
Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.
Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.