HOMESCHOOLING IN WASHINGTON & HOMESCHOOL LAWS
You may be considering homeschooling your children in Washington, but don’t know where to start regarding Washington state law and requirements. This guide will walk you through what you need to know to successfully set up your own homeschool program legally in Washington. We’ll cover the history of homeschooling in Washington state, current Washington state law and regulations, required notifications and filings, curriculum and testing choices, high school transcripts, extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and special education services.
History of Homeschooling in Washington
Homeschooling has a long and rich history in Washington state, with a supporting home-based instruction law first passed in 1985. Prior to that, in the 1970s and early 1980s, some pioneering families began homeschooling their children, even though the legal status was uncertain at the time. These early homeschoolers often faced skepticism and even opposition from districts and state officials who were unfamiliar with the concept of parents taking full responsibility for their child’s education outside of the traditional school system.
In 1985, after lobbying efforts by homeschool advocates, the Washington state legislature passed Washington homeschool laws, which explicitly allowed for home-based instruction as a legal alternative to public or private school attendance. Washington’s homeschool laws set out the basic requirements for homeschooling, such as the minimum qualifications for homeschool instructors, required subject areas to be taught, and annual assessments of the student’s academic progress.
Since then, subsequent Washington homeschool laws have further clarified and defined the requirements and procedures for a home-based school. According to the Washington Homeschool Organization, there were an estimated 41,000 homeschooled students in the state as of 2019, representing about 3.4% of the total school-age population. This number has likely increased in recent years, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which has led many families to explore alternative educational options under the homeschool law.
Today, homeschooling is a well-established and thriving educational choice in Washington, with a wide variety of resources, support groups, and organizations available to help families navigate the legal requirements and succeed in their homeschooling journey.
Current Washington Homeschool Laws and Regulations
The minimum state laws regarding compulsory school attendance and homeschooling in Washington state are primarily covered in two sections of the Washington homeschool laws, which specifically addresses home-based instruction.
Here are some of the key provisions of these minimum state laws:
All children in Washington between the ages of 8 and 17 are required to attend a public institution, an approved private school, or receive home-based instruction.
Homeschooling, referred to in Washington state law as “home-based instruction”, is defined as educational activity that is planned and supervised by a parent or guardian, taking place primarily in the child’s home.
Parents who wish to homeschool their children must meet certain annual requirements in accordance with the home-based instruction law, including providing a minimum number of instructional hours, covering specified subject areas, and ensuring that their child completes an annual assessment or evaluation.
Failure to comply with the homeschool law can result in the child being considered truant, which can lead to various consequences and interventions from the district, such as conferences with parents, truancy petitions, and even referral to juvenile court in some cases. Washington legislature understands that homeschooling is structurally different from traditional schooling, and enforces the time requirement liberally, but it is still a good idea to try to meet the requirement when possible.
In addition to these homeschool laws, homeschoolers should also be aware of any relevant home-based instruction law or procedures adopted by their district, as districts have some discretion in how they implement and enforce the homeschooling laws. Overall, while Washington does regulate homeschooling to a degree, Washington’s homeschool laws are generally considered to be relatively homeschool-friendly compared to some other states.
How to Set Up a Homeschool In Washington
If you’re a parent or guardian in Washington who is considering homeschooling your child, here’s how to homeschool in Washington state:
Washington’s compulsory attendance laws apply to children aged 8-17. If your child is younger than 8, you can begin homeschooling without notifying anyone or meeting any specific requirements under homeschool laws in Washington state.
File a Declaration of Intent to homeschool with your district. This form must be submitted by September 15 or within 2 weeks of the beginning of school. You can find the form on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) website: Declaration of Intent. This form may be obtained from and returned to the superintendent of the school district in which you live, or the district that accepts the student as a transfer student.
In Washington, the parent or guardian providing the instruction must meet one of the following criteria:
Have earned 45 college-level credit hours or the equivalent in semester hours.
Have completed a parent qualifying course at a post-secondary institution or a vocational-technical institute.
Be deemed sufficiently qualified to provide home-based instruction by the local school superintendent.
Your curriculum must include instruction in the basic required subjects, which are: reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, art and music appreciation.
You must provide a minimum annual total of instructional hours: 1000 hours for grades 1-12, 450 hours for kindergarten, or 1000 hours across all grade levels if you are teaching multiple grades in your homeschool.
If you are withdrawing your child from school to begin homeschooling, no special notice is required beyond filing the Declaration of Intent in accordance with the homeschool law. If you are moving to Washington from another state and wish to continue homeschooling, you’ll need to file the Declaration of Intent and meet the other requirements to legally homeschool in Washington under the home-based instruction law.
Understanding the homeschooling laws in Washington state is crucial for parents considering alternative education options. To ensure compliance, it’s important to familiarize yourself with both the general homeschool law in Washington state and the specific homeschooling laws in Washington state. If you are planning to homeschool in Washington, laws regarding homeschooling will not be a barrier in your journey.
Maintaining Your Washington Homeschool
Once you have legally established your homeschool in Washington in accordance with the homeschool law, there are a few ongoing requirements you need to meet to maintain your homeschool’s status and avoid truancy issues:
File a Declaration of Intent annually in accordance with the home-based instruction law. Remember to submit a new Declaration of Intent to your local school district each school year by September 15 or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter.
Ensure that you are meeting the annual hourly requirements for your child’s grade level: 1000 hours for grades 1-12, 450 hours for kindergarten, or 1000 hours total if teaching multiple grades.
Your curriculum should include all of the mandatory subjects: reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, art and music appreciation.
Have your child complete an annual assessment.
Beyond these legal requirements under the home-based instruction law, there is no specific paperwork or filings that you must submit to the state on an ongoing basis to maintain your homeschool under the homeschool law.
Washington Homeschool Reporting Requirements
Homeschool records are not required to be submitted to the district in accordance with the homeschool law unless the district requests them. Take yearly assessments and keep proper records. Whichever assessment option you choose when you homeschool, Washington state law requires you as the parent to be responsible for ensuring that it is completed and for retaining the student’s annual test scores. You do not need to routinely submit the results to your district, but you must make them available if the district requests them. Your homeschool records should include the student’s annual test scores or assessment report and immunization records, together with any other records that are kept relating to instructional and educational activities.
Homeschool Testing In Washington
One of the key legal requirements for homeschooling programs in Washington is that your child must complete annual testing to demonstrate educational progress. You have several options for fulfilling this requirement:
Standardized achievement test. Your child can take a nationally standardized achievement test approved and administered by a qualified individual. The standardized test must be approved by the State Board of Education and administered according to the publisher’s guidelines.
Academic assessment by a certified teacher. A Washington state certified teacher can conduct an academic assessment of your child’s progress based on a review of their work. The teacher must be currently working in the field of education and hold a valid Washington state teaching certificate.
Portfolio review by a certificated teacher. Similar to the academic assessment, a Washington certificated teacher can also review a portfolio of your child’s work to evaluate their progress. The portfolio should include samples of the child’s work, assessments, and other relevant documentation.
Agreed-upon assessment. If your local school district agrees, you can use another form of assessment that is mutually agreed upon between you and the district superintendent. This option allows for some flexibility if the other methods are not feasible or appropriate for your situation.
Funding Your Washington Homeschool
One of the trade-offs of homeschooling is that the state does not provide any direct funding or resources to families, except in certain limited circumstances. This means that, in general, homeschool parents are responsible for covering the costs of curriculum, supplies, instructional and educational activities, and any outside classes or services they wish to use.
The rationale behind this policy is that the state allocates funding to public schools based on their enrolled student headcount. When a family chooses to homeschool, they are opting out of the system and therefore do not receive a share of this funding.
There are a couple of potential exceptions to this general rule:
Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) programs. Some districts offer ALE programs which can provide some public school resources and support to homeschoolers.
Part-time enrollment. A student receiving home-based instruction is defined as a ‘part-time student‘ in Washington. The school board of directors is required to permit the enrollment of part-time students in the same manner as other public school students, and to provide the same ancillary services to part-time students.
Ultimately, while homeschooling does require a financial investment from families, there are many ways to be resourceful and take advantage of the educational opportunities available in your local community and beyond.
Federal Tax Breaks
Homeschooling families may be eligible for certain federal tax benefits to help offset educational expenses. One option is a Coverdell Education Savings Account, which allows money to grow tax-free when used for qualified home education costs. Homeschool parents might also be able to deduct a portion of mortgage interest or rent if part of the home is used regularly and exclusively for homeschooling. Finally, tax credits or deductions could be available for required books, supplies, equipment and curricula used for homeschool instruction. To learn more about these potential tax advantages, homeschooling families should review the information and resources provided by the IRS.
Washington Immunization Requirements
When it comes to immunization requirements, homeschooled children in Washington have a different set of rules compared to students in public or private schools.
According to the Washington State Department of Health, homeschooled children are exempt from the state’s immunization records requirements. In other words, homeschool parents are not required to provide proof of immunization or immunity to their local school district.
Washington State Graduation Requirements
For homeschooled students in Washington who wish to earn a state-recognized high school diploma, it’s important to be aware of the state’s graduation requirements. These requirements apply to all students, regardless of whether they are in public school, a private school extension program, or homeschool.
To earn a diploma, Washington students must meet three types of requirements:
Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits in required subjects. These include:
4 credits of English/language arts
3 credits of Math
3 credits of Science
3 credits of Social Studies
2 credits of Arts
2 credits of World Language
2 credits of Health and Fitness
1 credit of Career and Technical Education
4 credits of electives
It’s important for families to research and carefully consider their diploma options, particularly if the student will be attending college or will pursue certain career paths that may have specific educational requirements. Consulting with homeschool organizations, experienced homeschoolers, and college admissions offices can help you determine the best path forward.
Washington Homeschool Charters
Unlike some other states, Washington does not have a specific system of homeschool charter schools. Charter schools, which are publicly funded schools that operate independently from traditional districts, are relatively new in Washington and are not specifically geared towards homeschoolers.
However, Washington does offer a different educational option that can provide some public school support and resources to families: Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) programs.
ALEs are public school programs that are designed to give students more flexibility and individualization in their learning. They encompass a wide variety of different learning models, including online learning, parent partnership programs, and contract-based learning.
Some key characteristics of ALEs:
They are overseen by local districts and must meet certain state requirements and regulations.
Students in ALEs are considered public school students and are counted towards the district’s enrollment and funding.
ALEs can offer a range of services and resources to students, such as instructional support from certificated teachers, access to curriculum materials and online courses, and funding for educational activities.
Families in ALEs have more flexibility and control over their students’ learning compared to a traditional classroom setting, but also have more accountability and oversight compared to independent homeschooling.
For families, ALEs can provide a sort of “middle ground” option – a way to access some of the resources and support of the public school system while still maintaining a degree of autonomy and flexibility in their children’s education.
However, it’s important to note that enrolling in an ALE program is different from traditional independent homeschooling. Students in ALEs are, by definition, public school students, and are subject to the rules and requirements of their ALE program and school district.
For more information on ALEs in Washington, check out the OSPI’s page.
Local Washington Homeschooling Resources
While Washington may not provide direct funding to independent homeschoolers, there are still many resources and opportunities available to support and enrich the homeschooling experience. Here are some key local resources to explore:
Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO): This statewide non-profit organization is dedicated to supporting and advocating for homeschoolers in Washington. They offer information, resources, events, and local chapter support. Visit their website.
Homeschool co-ops, groups, and programs: Connecting with other homeschool families can provide valuable support, socialization, and learning opportunities. Search for local groups on websites.
Public libraries: Libraries are a goldmine of free educational resources for homeschoolers. In addition to books and media, many libraries offer classes, workshops, and educational programs that are open to homeschoolers. Find your local library at the Washington State Library – WA Secretary of State.
Parks and recreation departments, community centers: These local government entities often offer a wide array of classes and programs in arts, sports, science, and more that can supplement your homeschool curriculum.
Homeschool curriculum suppliers and bookstores: While not unique to Washington, there are many online and brick-and-mortar retailers that cater specifically to homeschoolers’ needs.
Online learning platforms: In addition to the more traditional curriculum suppliers, there’s a growing number of online learning resources and platforms that offer courses, videos, interactive lessons, and more.
Educational service districts: Washington’s nine educational service districts (ESDs) provide various support services to local districts. Some also offer programs and resources that homeschoolers can access, such as online learning courses, special education services, or testing facilities.
Tutors and educational providers: For subjects or skills where you’d like extra help, consider working with a tutor, teacher, or specialist.
Remember, this is just a sampling of the many resources available to support your homeschooling journey in Washington. Don’t hesitate to reach out to local organizations, search online, and connect with other homeschool families to find the resources that will best meet your family’s needs.
