How to homeschool in Washington

Home-based instruction · RCW 28A.225.010(4); RCW 28A.200.010-.020

The parent teaches their own child at home and files an annual declaration of intent with the school district. Planning, curriculum, and teaching methods are the parent's responsibility.

Notice

• Send to: the superintendent of the public school district where you live (or a nonresident district that accepts a transfer).
• When: by September 15 of each school year, or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester.
• How often: annually.
• How: a signed declaration of intent in the format prescribed by OSPI, usually your district's own form.

Instruction time

Equivalent to approved private schools: an annual average of 1,000 hours for grades 1-12 (450 hours for kindergarten).

Required subjects

Occupational education (basic skills), Science, Mathematics, Language, Social studies, History, Health, Reading, Writing, Spelling, Appreciation of art and music.

Records to keep

• Annual standardized test scores or written progress assessments (these become part of the child's permanent record).
• Immunization records.
• Other instructional records you keep.
• Copies of each year's declaration of intent.

Testing / evaluation

Every year, either (1) a standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education, given by a qualified person (test publishers can authorize parents as proctors), or (2) a written assessment of academic progress by a certificated person currently working in education. Results are kept by the parent and forwarded if the child later enrolls in a school. If the child isn't making reasonable progress, make a good-faith effort to fix it.

Parent qualifications

The parent must meet one of: (a) be supervised by a certificated person (joint planning, an average of one contact hour per week, and progress evaluation); (b) have earned 45 college-level quarter credits (or the semester equivalent); (c) have completed a course in home-based instruction at a postsecondary or vocational-technical institution; or (d) be deemed sufficiently qualified by the local school district superintendent.

What the notice must include

• Each child's name and age.
• Whether a certificated person will supervise the instruction.
• Parent's signature.

Checklist

• File your declaration of intent with the school district: by September 15 each year, or within two weeks of the start of a public school term.
• Make sure you meet one parent qualification and keep proof: before you start.
• Give an approved standardized test or arrange an assessment by a certificated teacher: each year.
• Keep test results, assessments, and immunization records: ongoing.

Approved private school extension program · RCW 28A.195.010(4)

The child enrolls in a state-approved private school that runs an extension program, and the parent teaches at home under the supervision of a certificated employee of that school. Legally the child is a private school student, so the home-based instruction declaration and testing rules do not apply.

Notice

Not required.

Instruction time

Set by the private school (approved private schools must offer 180 days or the equivalent hours).

Testing / evaluation

No standardized test required; the school's certificated supervisor evaluates each student's progress.

Parent qualifications

Parent must be supervised by a certificated employee of the private school (planning together, an average of one contact hour per week each month, progress evaluation; no more than 30 students per supervisor).

Checklist

• Enroll with an approved private school that runs an extension program: before the school year starts.
• Meet with your certificated supervisor: an average of one hour per week, each month.