Am I allowed to homeschool my child in Denmark?
Yes — Denmark has a duty to educate, not a duty to attend school, so you may teach your child at home. This follows from Constitution §76 and the Free Schools Act. The teaching must match what is generally required in the state school, and at minimum cover Danish, maths, English, history and the science subjects. You must notify the municipality in writing before you begin — it is not an application, and no approval is required. The municipality supervises and can test the child each year. The duty to educate lasts 10 years, from when the child turns 6 through the 9th grade; the 10th grade cannot be homeschooled. If supervision finds the teaching inadequate, the child can be sent back to school.
📋 The rules
- There is a duty to educate, not a duty to attend school
- The teaching must match the state school
- You must notify the municipality in writing first
- The municipality supervises and can test the child each year
- Applies from age 6 to the 9th grade, not the 10th
🔓 Exceptions
- A child with a significant disability can get free special-needs support at home
- A homeschooled child can sit the state-school final exams as a private candidate
- The municipality can exempt a family from supervision if the teaching is good
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no direct fine for homeschooling. If supervision finds the teaching inadequate, the child is retested after 3 months, and if it is still too poor, the child must attend school.
📎 Official sources
- Ministry of Education · Homeschooling →
- Free Schools Act §§34–36 · Retsinformation →
- Constitution §76 · Parliament →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I homeschool my child?
Yes. Denmark has a duty to educate, not a duty to attend school, so you may teach your child at home.
Must I apply for permission?
No. You must notify the municipality in writing before you begin, but it is not an application, and no approval is required.
What requirements are there for the teaching?
It must match the state school and at minimum cover Danish, maths, English, history and the science subjects.
Does the municipality supervise?
Yes. The municipality supervises and can test the child each year in the five core subjects.
What if the teaching is not good enough?
The child is retested after 3 months, and if it is still too poor, the child must attend the state school or another school.
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