homepen

Homeschool laws › Oregon

Homeschool laws in Oregon

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 6 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Oregon to-do

For “Home instruction by a parent or legal guardian”. 1 other legal way below.

  1. Notify your Education Service District First year
    Within 10 days of the start of the school year when you begin homeschooling.
  2. Notify your ESD after withdrawing from school If leaving a school
    Within 10 days of withdrawing your child from school during the year.
  3. Notify your new ESD after moving Every year
    When you move outside your school district (to a new ESD region, or within the same ESD region), notify the ESD in writing.
  4. Finish the grade 3, 5, 8 or 10 test Every year Grades 3, 5, 8, 10
    By August 15 after the end of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android

What Oregon asks

Oregon parents notify their local Education Service District (ESD) in writing within 10 days of starting to homeschool or withdrawing their child, and again if they move to a new ESD. The child takes an approved nationally normed test with a neutral qualified tester at the end of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 (by August 15), and the family keeps the scores and sends them to the ESD if asked.

School age: Ages 6–18. Children between ages 6 and 18 who have not finished grade 12 must attend school or be homeschooled; a child counts as 6 if the sixth birthday is on or before September 1. The Department describes this as age 6 by September 1 through age 18. A 5-year-old enrolled in public school must attend while enrolled.

Oregon has 2 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Home instruction by a parent or legal guardian

ORS 339.030(1)(e), 339.035; OAR 581-021-0026 · Level 4: More involved

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Once: Written notice (online or by mail) to the local Education Service District within 10 days of the start of the school year, or within 10 days of withdrawing the child from school. Notify the new ESD in writing after moving out of the school district, and tell the ESD if you stop homeschooling.
The state's form
Time
No set number of days or hours
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
Standardized test: End of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10: a State Board-approved nationally normed achievement test given by a qualified neutral tester (not related by blood or marriage). First test at least 18 months after leaving public school, or before the end of grade 3 if the child never attended school. Below the 15th percentile: retest within a year. Children with an IEP or privately developed plan are evaluated per the plan; students in interscholastic activities test every year.
Testing must be completed by August 15; scores go to the ESD only when the ESD asks.
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • test scores (sent to the ESD when it asks)
Teacher
No qualification required

Deadlines

  • Notify your Education Service District: Within 10 days of the start of the school year when you begin homeschooling.
  • Notify your ESD after withdrawing from school: Within 10 days of withdrawing your child from school during the year.
  • Notify your new ESD after moving: When you move outside your school district (to a new ESD region, or within the same ESD region), notify the ESD in writing.
  • Finish the grade 3, 5, 8 or 10 test: By August 15 after the end of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.
The Department says short-term homeschooling (less than one academic year) does not require testing.
If scores keep declining below the 15th percentile, the ESD superintendent may require supervision by a licensed teacher chosen by the parent or order the child back to school for up to 12 months.
Oregon has no official homeschool diploma; school districts may not accept homeschool coursework for credit.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Reading list, Report card, Year-end summary, High-school transcript.

Another option: Private teacher

ORS 339.030(1)(d), 339.035 · Level 4: More involved

All the details, deadlines
Notice
Once: Written notice to the Education Service District when the child is taught or withdrawn from public school to be taught by a private teacher, and to the new ESD after a move. The Department gives 10 days from the start of the school year or from withdrawal.
The state's form
Time
Not verified yet: check with your state
Subjects
  • the courses of study usually taught in kindergarten through grade 12 in the public school
Assessment
Standardized test: End of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10, with the same approved tests, neutral testers and retest rules as home instruction.
Testing must be completed by August 15; scores go to the ESD only when the ESD asks.
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • test scores (sent to the ESD when it asks)
Teacher
Not verified yet: check with your state

Deadlines

  • Notify your Education Service District: When the child starts being taught by a private teacher (the Department gives 10 days from the start of the school year or from withdrawal).
  • Finish the grade 3, 5, 8 or 10 test: By August 15 after the end of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Report card, High-school transcript.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Oregon Department of Education.

Keep your Oregon records without the paperwork

Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Oregon asks for.

Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android