How to start homeschooling in Delaware
The legal steps, in order, checked against Delaware law.
Short answer: Delaware treats a homeschool as a nonpublic school. A parent registers the homeschool with the Department of Education through the online Nonpublic School Application, then reports student enrollment each fall and end-of-year attendance by July 31. The law defines three types of homeschool: single-family, multi-family, and single-family coordinated with the local school district.
Checked against 14 Del. C. 2703 on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 5 to 16. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Delaware gives you 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick one and follow its steps.
Option 1: Single-family homeschool
A parent or legal guardian teaching their own child, mainly in their own home.
Steps
- Create an EdAccess account with the Department of Education, choosing a Nonpublic School Account.
- In the Nonpublic School Application, add a school, choose the homeschool type, enter the school's contact information, and add each student linked to a parent or guardian. Submit and wait for department review.
- Once approved, print the Acknowledgement Letter from the application's Records tab.
- If your child is in public school, give the Acknowledgement Letter to the school to withdraw your child. The department says the child should be enrolled in the open homeschool before withdrawal.
- Each year, submit the enrollment statement in the fall and the end-of-year attendance report by July 31.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: The Delaware Department of Education, through the Nonpublic School Application in EdAccess When: Register before withdrawing from public school; enrollment statement each fall and attendance report on or before July 31 each year |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Not confirmed in our check. Ask the state education department. |
| Time | None required by law |
| Parent qualifications | None required by law |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law |
| Records to keep | The law requires the annual enrollment and attendance reports. The department reports days the school was open, each student's days attended, withdrawal dates, and graduation dates for grade 12. It recommends, but does not require, keeping portfolios and records. |
The law: 14 Del. C. 2703 14 Del. C. 2703A(b)(2) 14 Del. C. 2704 DDOE Opening a Nonpublic School DDOE Annual Reporting
Option 2: Multi-family homeschool
Parents or guardians educating children who are not all siblings, in one or more homes or other facilities.
Steps
- Join or form a multi-family homeschool. One person serves as the liaison to the Department of Education.
- The liaison registers the school, adds students, and handles annual enrollment and attendance reporting for all families, and gives each parent a copy of the acknowledgement.
- Contact the liaison for your family's specific steps, and use the acknowledgement to withdraw your child from public school if needed.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: The Delaware Department of Education, filed by the multi-family homeschool's liaison When: Enrollment statement each fall and attendance report on or before July 31 each year |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Not confirmed in our check. Ask the state education department. |
| Time | None required by law |
| Parent qualifications | None required by law |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law |
| Records to keep | The liaison files the annual enrollment and attendance reports for all participating families. |
The law: 14 Del. C. 2703A(b)(1) 14 Del. C. 2704 DDOE Opening a Nonpublic School
Other legal routes
Delaware law also allows these. We have not confirmed their full rules, so ask the state education department before you choose one.
- Single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district: A parent or guardian teaching their own child at home using a curriculum approved by the local superintendent.
Leaving public school mid-year
The Department of Education says the student must be enrolled in an open homeschool before withdrawal, or the student may be considered truant. Public schools will not withdraw a student to a nonpublic school without the department's Acknowledgement Letter. Families new to Delaware and children entering kindergarten do not need to withdraw. Enrolling in a nonpublic school does not stop truancy charges already filed by the district.
High school, transcripts and diplomas
The Department of Education does not issue, validate, or keep copies of diplomas. The nonpublic school, including a homeschool, issues the diploma, and colleges, employers, or licensing bodies decide whether to accept it. The department does not keep academic records or issue report cards; the homeschool administrator does. To qualify for the SEED and INSPIRE scholarships, a student must be registered in a public or nonpublic school at graduation.
Public school sports and activities
The department's FAQ says DIAA Regulations 1008 and 1009 require a student to be enrolled full time at a DIAA member school to play interscholastic sports for that school.
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in Delaware?
Yes, under the single-family homeschool route, you notify the Delaware Department of Education, through the Nonpublic School Application in EdAccess register before withdrawing from public school; enrollment statement each fall and attendance report on or before July 31 each year.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in Delaware?
No. Delaware law does not require testing under the single-family homeschool route.
What ages must be schooled in Delaware?
Ages 5 to 16, per state law.
Sources
- 14 Del. C. 2703
- DDOE Opening a Nonpublic School
- DDOE Annual Reporting
- Homeschools and Private Schools, Delaware Department of Education
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.