Oregon Homeschool Record Keeping: Notification and Testing Records

Notify the local Education Service District

The Oregon Department of Education says families must notify their local Education Service District of the intent to homeschool within 10 days of withdrawing a child from school or beginning the school year. Keep the notice and the ESD’s confirmation.

Plan for testing in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10

ODE says homeschool students are tested at the end of grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 using an approved nationally normed test and a qualified neutral tester. Testing is due by August 15, subject to the state’s grace-period and other rules. Families retain the scores and submit them to the ESD when requested. A composite score at or above the 15th percentile does not trigger Oregon’s below-threshold process. If the score is below the 15th percentile, OAR 581-021-0026 requires another examination within one year; if later scores decline, the rule provides additional testing and possible ESD-directed supervision or school attendance steps.

A practical Oregon family file

The ESD notification and confirmation
Approved test results for required grade levels
A dated attendance or learning log
Course and curriculum lists
Representative work samples and progress notes
Official records from public, online, college, or outside providers
A running transcript and credit record for high school

Keep more detail before a high-school transfer

ODE warns that a public high school may not award credit for homeschool coursework when a student transfers. Clear course descriptions, dates, providers, grades, credits, and supporting work can help a receiving school evaluate the record, but the school decides what it accepts.

Source date and scope

This summary was checked against Oregon Department of Education material and OAR 581-021-0026 on September 18, 2026. It is educational information, not legal advice. Testing exceptions and activity-eligibility rules can differ, so confirm the current instructions with ODE and your ESD.

Common questions

When does an Oregon family notify the ESD?

ODE says to notify the local ESD within 10 days of withdrawing the child from school or from the start of the school year.

Which Oregon homeschool grades have required testing?

ODE identifies testing at the end of grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, subject to current grace-period, disability-plan, and activity-participation rules.

What happens if an Oregon homeschool test score is below the 15th percentile?

OAR 581-021-0026 requires another examination within one year. If later scores continue to decline, the ESD superintendent may require additional testing, licensed-teacher supervision selected at the parent’s expense, or other steps allowed by the rule.