Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Delaware?

Yes (for single-family homeschool, the option most families use). You send notice to the Delaware Department of Education (Nonpublic School system), before your child is withdrawn from public school (or before starting); new-year registrations open after August 10-11. How often: registration once; enrollment reported every year by September 30. Create an EdAccess account (Nonpublic School account), submit a homeschool application with your children's information in the NPS system, then print the Acknowledgement Letter.

What subjects do I have to teach in Delaware?

Delaware doesn't set a required subject list (for single-family homeschool, the option most families use). Most families still cover reading, writing, math, science and social studies.

How many days or hours of homeschool does Delaware require?

Not specified (you report the number of days your school was open and each child's days attended).

What records should I keep when homeschooling in Delaware?

Acknowledgement Letter from the NPS system (print a new copy whenever your school or enrollment status changes); Daily attendance, so you can report days open and days attended; An academic portfolio (tests, assignments, report cards) is recommended for re-enrolling in public school.

How to homeschool in Delaware

Low regulationChecked against official sources October 9, 2026

In Delaware a homeschool is a nonpublic school: you register it online with the Delaware Department of Education, enroll your children, and print the Acknowledgement Letter the public school needs before it will withdraw your child. Each year you report enrollment by September 30 and attendance by July 31; if you miss a report, the state closes your homeschool. There are no required subjects, tests, or teacher qualifications for the usual single-family or multi-family homeschool.

Homeschooling in Delaware at a glance: notice of intent required (send to the Delaware Department of Education (Nonpublic School system)); instruction time: not specified (you report the number of days your school was open and each child's days attended); no required subject list; testing: none…

Option 1: Single-family homeschool

The option most families use.

Single-family homeschool · 14 Del. C. §§ 2703, 2703A, 2704

A parent or legal guardian educates their own child, mainly in their own home. You open the homeschool as a nonpublic school in the Department of Education's online Nonpublic School (NPS) system and act as its administrator.

Notice: Send to: the Delaware Department of Education (Nonpublic School system).
When: before your child is withdrawn from public school (or before starting); new-year registrations open after August 10-11.
How often: registration once; enrollment reported every year by September 30.
How: create an EdAccess account (Nonpublic School account), submit a homeschool application with your children's information in the NPS system, then print the Acknowledgement Letter.
Instruction time: Not specified (you report the number of days your school was open and each child's days attended).
Records to keep: Acknowledgement Letter from the NPS system (print a new copy whenever your school or enrollment status changes).
Daily attendance, so you can report days open and days attended.
An academic portfolio (tests, assignments, report cards) is recommended for re-enrolling in public school.
Testing / evaluation: None required.
Parent qualifications: None.
Also: Report end-of-year attendance (days the school was open and days each student attended) by July 31.
Report pupil enrollment each year by September 30.
Missing either report closes the homeschool and withdraws the enrolled students, which can lead to truancy issues.

Official form: Delaware DOE: Register for a Nonpublic School (EdAccess / NPS system)

What the notice must include

School (homeschool) contact and address information.
Each enrolled child's information, linked to a parent or guardian.

Checklist

Open your homeschool in the NPS system and enroll your children: before withdrawing from public school / before starting.
Give the Acknowledgement Letter to the public school to withdraw: after the homeschool is opened.
Report annual enrollment in the NPS system: each year by September 30 (window opens about August 10).
Report end-of-year attendance in the NPS system: each year June 1 to July 31.
Keep daily attendance records: ongoing.

Option 2: Multi-family homeschool

Multi-family homeschool · 14 Del. C. §§ 2703A(b)(1), 2704

Children from more than one family (not all siblings) are taught mainly by their own parents, in one or more homes or other facilities. One person acts as the liaison/administrator who registers the school and reports enrollment and attendance for every family.

Notice: Send to: the multi-family homeschool's liaison, who registers and reports to the Delaware Department of Education.
When: before your child is withdrawn from public school.
How often: enrollment and attendance reported annually by the liaison.
How: contact the liaison/administrator to be enrolled; the liaison gives you a copy of the Acknowledgement Letter.
Testing / evaluation: None required.
Parent qualifications: None.

Checklist

Have the liaison enroll your child and get your Acknowledgement Letter: before withdrawing from public school.
Give the liaison your attendance information: in time for the July 31 attendance report.

Option 3: Single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district

Single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district · 14 Del. C. § 2703A(b)(3)

A parent teaches at home using a curriculum approved by the local superintendent, who must determine in writing that the child receives regular and thorough instruction in the subjects prescribed for public schools. HSLDA reports the Department of Education does not recognize this option in practice and does not recommend it.

Notice: Send to: the local school district superintendent (curriculum approval).
When: before starting.
How: request the superintendent's written determination and curriculum approval.
Required subjects: The subjects prescribed for Delaware public schools.

Checklist

Get written curriculum approval from the local superintendent: before starting.

Leaving a public school

Open your homeschool and enroll your child in the NPS system first. Public schools will not withdraw a child to homeschool without the Acknowledgement Letter from the NPS system; until the child is withdrawn, absences count as truancy. A district that has already started truancy proceedings may continue them even after you enroll in a homeschool.

Common questions about homeschooling in Delaware

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Delaware?: Yes (for single-family homeschool, the option most families use). You send notice to the Delaware Department of Education (Nonpublic School system), before your child is withdrawn from public school (or before starting); new-year registrations open after August 10-11. How often: registration once; enrollment reported every year by September 30. Create an EdAccess account (Nonpublic School account), submit a homeschool application with your children's information in the NPS system, then print the Acknowledgement Letter.
What subjects do I have to teach in Delaware?: Delaware doesn't set a required subject list (for single-family homeschool, the option most families use). Most families still cover reading, writing, math, science and social studies.
How many days or hours of homeschool does Delaware require?: Not specified (you report the number of days your school was open and each child's days attended).
Are standardized tests or evaluations required in Delaware?: None required.
Do parents need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Delaware?: None.
What records should I keep when homeschooling in Delaware?: Acknowledgement Letter from the NPS system (print a new copy whenever your school or enrollment status changes); Daily attendance, so you can report days open and days attended; An academic portfolio (tests, assignments, report cards) is recommended for re-enrolling in public school.

Worth double-checking

The Department says children from age 5 (by August 31) to 18 must be enrolled in a public or nonpublic school, but families with a child 16 or older are welcome, not required, to open a homeschool.
The enrollment deadline is September 30 in the current Delaware Code and on the Department's registration page, but the Department's annual reporting page quotes October 5 and lists its window as closing in early October. File by September 30 to be safe.
The NPS system closes each year from August 1 to about August 10 while it rolls over to the new school year; you cannot register or update during that time.

Sources

This is a plain-language summary to help you get organized, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the details with your state or school district before you file.