How to withdraw your child from public school and homeschool in Delaware

Step by step

1. Step 1. Know what Delaware requires to start

   Registration with the Delaware Department of Education is required: the parent opens a single-family homeschool through the department's online Nonpublic School system (EdAccess account), adds the child as a student, and submits it for the department's review. The department opens or denies the school, there is no downloadable paper form, and the statute does not list required letter contents.

2. Step 2. Leave the school the right way

   The department says the homeschool must be open and the child enrolled in it first, then the parent gives the public school the Acknowledgement Letter printed from the Nonpublic School system, because public schools will not withdraw a child to a nonpublic school without it. Without it the child is treated as truant at the public school. A child who was never enrolled in a Delaware public school does not need to withdraw.

3. Step 3. Watch the deadlines

   The system is closed August 1 to 11, so a homeschool for the next school year can be opened only after August 11. Once open, an attendance report is due on or before July 31 (window June 1 to July 31) and an enrollment statement no later than September 30 each year. No exit meeting or waiting period appears in the department pages we read.

4. Step 4. Ask for your child’s records

   The department says it keeps no student records for homeschools, so the family keeps the portfolio. FERPA gives a parent the right to inspect and request a copy of the child's education records.

5. Step 5. If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan

   14 Del. C. 2703A treats homeschooled children as parentally placed private school children for services under the federal special education law (IDEA). Federal rule 34 CFR 300.300(b)(4) lets a parent revoke consent to special education services in writing, which ends the services after the district gives prior written notice. No Delaware-specific form or wait was found in the sources we read.

Before you pull your child out

A letter you can fill in

Fill in the boxes and copy the letter. It is built from what we found above for Delaware: it goes to your child's current school to withdraw, and the state filing described above is a separate step. Check it against the state office before you send it.

[today's date]

To: The principal of my child's current school [name and address]

Re: Withdrawal from school and home education, [child's full name]

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am the parent of [child's full name], born [date of birth], who is currently enrolled in grade [grade] at [name of current school]. Please accept this letter as notice that I am withdrawing my child from [name of current school], effective [start date]. I will be providing a home education program under 14 Del. C. 2703, 2703A and 2704.

My family has registered a homeschool with the Delaware Department of Education, and the Acknowledgement Letter printed from the Nonpublic School system is attached.

I also request a copy of my child's education records, including the cumulative file, attendance and any testing records. Please send them to the address below.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[your name]
[your address]

Who to ask in Delaware

Delaware Department of Education, Homeschools and Private Schools, last checked October 2026.

A plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the current rules with the state office before you send anything.

Questions