Navigating Homeschool Laws in Delaware: What You Need to Know

Navigating Homeschool Laws in Delaware: What You Need to Know

In the United States, Delaware law offers three distinct choices for homeschooling, each with its own set of requirements. None of these options mandate specific teacher qualifications or standardized testing. Simply select the option that suits your preference and follow the outlined steps accordingly.

Option 1: Homeschooling as an individual family's education method

When a single-family homeschools, it implies that the child's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) take on the primary responsibility of educating the child within the confines of their own home.

1. Provide information on the number of students enrolled at the start of the academic year.

At the start of the school year on or before October, it is required for your homeschool to report the number of students enrolled by the last day of September. This report must be submitted through the Delaware Department of Education website, where you need to create an account and use the form provided by the department, which can be found here.

2. Report attendance at the end of the school year.

Each year, by July 31st or earlier, your homeschool needs to submit attendance information for the end of the year. To do this, you must create an account on the Delaware Department of Education website and fill out the form provided by the department, which can be found here.

A multi-family homeschool refers to a situation where children from multiple families are primarily educated by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), typically in their own homes or other designated locations. To establish a multi-family homeschool, it is necessary to collaborate with more than one family. The law mandates that multi-family homeschools designate a representative to act as a point of contact with the Department of Education. This representative will be responsible for submitting attendance and enrollment information for all families participating in the multi-family homeschool.

Option 2: Homeschooling as a multi-family homeschool

1. Report enrollment at the beginning of the school year.

Each year, by October 5th or earlier, your homeschool needs to provide a report of the number of students enrolled as of the last day of school in September. To do this, you must create an account on the Department of Delaware website and complete the form provided by the department, which can be found at the following link.

2. Report attendance at the end of the school year.

Each year, by July 31st or earlier, your homeschool needs to provide end-of-year attendance details. You will need to create an account on the Delaware Department website and fill out the form provided by the department, which can be found here.

Option 3: Homeschooling as a single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district

When a single-family homeschool is coordinated with the local school district, it means that the child's education is mainly conducted by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in their own home.

1. Contact the superintendent.

To become “coordinated” with the local public school district, you must ask the superintendent to determine in writing that your child is or will be provided with regular and thorough instruction by his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in the subjects prescribed for the public schools of the state and in a manner suitable to children of the same age and stage of advancement.

2. Report enrollment at the beginning of the school year.

Every year, on or before October 5, your homeschool must submit a statement of pupil enrollment as of the last school day in September. You will have to make an account on the Department of Delaware website and submit the form prescribed by the department, available here.

3. Teach the same subjects as those taught in the public schools.

4. Report attendance at the end of the school year.

Each year, before or on July 31, your homeschool is required to report attendance information for the end of the year. To do so, you need to create an account on the Delaware Department's website and fill out the specified form provided by the department, which can be found here.

-The Home Tribe team