Washington Homeschool Laws & Requirements

Compulsory School Attendance Age

Washington compulsory attendance generally applies to children age 8 through under age 18, subject to statutory exceptions.

Special attendance rules can apply to younger children age 6 or 7 who are voluntarily enrolled in public school.

Annual Declaration of Intent

Parents must file a signed Declaration of Intent every year.

The declaration is generally due by September 15 or within 2 weeks after the beginning of a public-school quarter, trimester, or semester.

It is filed with the superintendent of the resident public-school district or an accepted transfer district and includes the child's name and age and whether a certificated person will supervise instruction.

Parent Qualification Options

Home-based instruction must be provided under one of Washington's qualification options:

• The parent is supervised by a Washington-certificated person • The parent has completed at least 45 college-level quarter credits or the semester equivalent • The parent has completed an approved course in home-based instruction • The local superintendent determines the parent is sufficiently qualified

Instructional Days and Hours

Washington requires planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities for a number of hours equivalent to the annual program hours required for approved private schools.

Washington law directs that these requirements be interpreted liberally because home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential than classroom instruction.

Required Subjects

Washington home-based instruction includes occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and development of an appreciation of art and music.

Annual Assessment

Every year, the parent must ensure that either:

• The student takes a standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education and administered by a qualified individual, or • A certificated person currently working in the field of education prepares a written annual assessment of the student's academic progress.

The test or assessment becomes part of the student's permanent records. If it shows that the student is not making reasonable progress, the parent must make a good-faith effort to address the deficiency.

Attendance and Records

Washington does not require routine submission of grades or portfolios to the state, but parents are responsible for maintaining permanent records including annual tests or assessments and other instructional records they choose to keep.

When the student transfers to another school, required records must be forwarded.

Curriculum Freedom

Parents choose curriculum and instructional methods. Homeschooled students are exempt from the state's learning goals, learning standards, and public-school high-school assessments.

Graduation

Washington does not automatically issue a public-school diploma for completion of independent home-based instruction.

Families should establish a clear high school course plan and maintain a transcript, grades, credits, and graduation documentation. Public schools retain authority over acceptance of homeschool work for public-school credit.

Alabama Church School Services for Washington Families

Washington families may choose Alabama Church School for complete curriculum, academic records, attendance resources, report cards, transcripts, diplomas, graduation documentation, and educational support.

Enrollment with Alabama Church School does not replace Washington's annual Declaration of Intent, parent-qualification requirements, annual assessment, required subjects, or instructional-hour requirement.