Homeschooling in Delaware: what the state requires
The rules for homeschooling in Delaware, in plain English, from the state’s own sources.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Delaware sources. State page: Delaware Department of Education — Homeschools and Private Schools. Compulsory school age: 5 to 16.
Single-family homeschool
Parent educates their own child mainly at home. A homeschool is a nonpublic school: the family registers with the Department of Education and reports enrollment each fall and attendance each summer.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. Enrollment statement no later than September 30 each year; end-of-year attendance on or before July 31 each year (14 Del. C. § 2704) — Register the homeschool with the DDOE (EdAccess account + nonpublic school application), then submit annual enrollment and end-of-year attendance reports through the Nonpublic School Application. Enrollment reporting window for 2026: August 11 – September 30. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | — 14 Del. C. § 2703 exempts homeschooled students under § 2703A; DDOE does not provide, approve or monitor curriculum. (The 'regular and thorough instruction in the subjects prescribed for the public schools' standard is stated for private schools in § 2703(a) and for the district-coordinated homeschool type.) |
| Days | DDOE: 'The DDOE does not require a specific number of days for nonpublic schools to be open during a school year.' Attendance report gives total days open and attendance days per student. |
| Hours | None stated. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not required. DDOE does not administer state assessments to nonpublic school students. |
| Records | Required. Annual enrollment and attendance reports to DDOE (§ 2704). DDOE keeps no student records and advises parents to keep an academic portfolio (grades, attendance, test scores). |
| Teacher | No parent qualification requirement found. |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade.
High school and graduation
DDOE does not issue diplomas for any nonpublic school; acceptance of a homeschool diploma is up to colleges/employers.
Official sources:
- 14 Del. C. ch. 27, subch. I (§§ 2702, 2703, 2703A, 2704)
- DDOE — Homeschools and Private Schools
- DDOE — Annual Reporting and Data
- DDOE — Homeschool/Private School FAQs
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Enrollment deadline: statute and DDOE homeschool page say September 30, but DDOE's Annual Reporting page says the window closes October 5 (count as of last school day in September); use September 30 to be safe.
Multi-family homeschool
Parents educate children who are not all siblings, mainly in one or more residences or other facilities; one person acts as liaison to DDOE for enrollment and attendance reporting for all families.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. Enrollment by September 30; attendance by July 31 (14 Del. C. § 2704) — Same registration and annual reporting as a single-family homeschool, filed by the designated liaison for all families. |
|---|---|
| Days | No state minimum. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not required. DDOE does not administer state assessments to nonpublic school students. |
| Records | Required. Annual enrollment and attendance reports (§ 2704). |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade.
High school and graduation
DDOE does not issue diplomas for nonpublic schools.
Official sources:
Single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district
Parent teaches mainly at home using a curriculum approved by the local superintendent, who determines in writing that the child receives regular and thorough instruction in the subjects prescribed for public schools.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. Curriculum approval and written determination by the local superintendent or designee. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | — Regular and thorough instruction in the subjects prescribed for the public schools of the State, suitable to the child's age and stage of advancement. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not required. |
By grade
No rule in this option changes with the grade.
High school and graduation
The state sets no graduation requirements for homeschools under this option; the parent, as the school’s administrator, sets them and issues the diploma.
Official sources:
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Whether this type also files DDOE enrollment/attendance reports was not confirmed; DDOE pages do not describe this type.
High school: the public-school diploma as a guide
Optional for homeschools in most states, but the credit plan most colleges and employers recognize, and a sound default for a homeschool transcript. Shown in the subject areas this site uses.
| English | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 4.0 |
| Science | 3.0 |
| Social Studies | 3.0 |
| Foreign Language World Language 2 | 2.0 |
| Physical Education & Health Physical Education 1; Health Education 0.5 | 1.5 |
| Career & Technical | 3.0 |
| Electives | 3.5 |
| Total | 24.0 |
|---|
14 DE Admin. Code 505 §5.1, beginning with the graduating class of 2019. Math must include Algebra II or Integrated Math III; science must include Biology; social studies must include U.S. History.
Source: 14 DE Admin. Code 505 High School Graduation Requirements and Diplomas
After graduation: what to plan for
Suggestions from Homeschool Corral, not state rules. Most families keep the college path open through 10th grade, then narrow.
- 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II, pre-calculus if they can), 3–4 science with 2 labs, 3–4 social studies, 2–3 years of one foreign language, 1 fine arts
- A one-paragraph description for every high-school course; the parent signs the transcript and diploma
- PSAT in 10th and 11th; SAT or ACT by spring of 11th; dual credit, AP or CLEP where it fits
- A log of activities, service and work from 9th grade; two adults who can recommend them
- A Scholarship Finder profile by 11th grade; FAFSA when it opens in the fall of 12th
- A diploma and transcript with 4 English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies; applied math every year
- Dual-credit career and technical courses in 11th–12th; OSHA 10 and first aid/CPR; a driver’s license
- Real projects and a part-time job logged as credits, with references; visit the union hall about pre-apprenticeships in 11th
- A parent-issued diploma and full transcript, signed and dated; recruiters ask for both
- Strong reading and arithmetic for the entrance test; a practice ASVAB in 11th
- Physical fitness as a logged course; service and leadership; for an academy or ROTC, the college list plus the SAT/ACT early
- The diploma and transcript anyway; personal finance and business basics as credits
- Work experience logged with hours and a reference from 10th grade; typing, spreadsheets, a clear email
- Keep the college path open: a foreign language and Algebra II cost little now
My Homeschool turns these into a checklist for each child, with the credits recorded in Transcripts counted against the plan.
Regulation 505 was read from the state's archive copy (last updated June 4, 2024); the current regulations.delaware.gov page did not render. Any later amendments (e.g., financial literacy) not verified.
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
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