Homeschool Laws

Sections
  Compulsory Education
  Parent Qualifications
  Required Paperwork
  Required Subjects
  Annual Testing
  Recordkeeping

The complete text of the Home-Based Instruction Law can be found here.

The Home-Based Instruction Law is also contained in the publication Washington State's Laws Regulating Home-Based Instruction (the "Pink Booklet") published by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Also see Knowledge is Power: Know Your Homeschool Law
A series of articles from the WHO's News exploring the homeschool law

I   Compulsory Education. RCW 28A.225.010

1. Compulsory education age in the state of Washington is 8 years old OR the age at which a child is officially enrolled in public school. RCW 28A.225.015
2. If a child is under 8 and has been officially enrolled in public school, the parent must formally withdraw the child to homeschool.
3. The Home-Based Instruction law affects children 8 years old and older.

II   To qualify to homeschool you must fulfill one of the following: RCW 28A.225.010 (4)

• Have earned 45 quarter units of college level credit.
• Attend a Parent Qualifying Course. This is highly recommended even if you are already qualified to homeschool.
• Work with a certified teacher who meets with your student on the average of an hour a week.
• Be deemed sufficiently qualified to provide home-based instruction by the superintendent of your local school district.

III   A declaration of intent to homeschool must be filed annually. RCW 28A.200.010 (1)

1. This form can be obtained from and must be returned to the school district's District Office. You may turn in your letter of intent to any school district that will accept it. It does not have to be your home district.
2. The information you need to include on the form is your children's names and ages, parents name, address, and indicate if qualifying to homeschool by using a supervising certified teacher (see IIC.), sign and date. Any other information you include is at your own discretion.
3. This form protects the school - they are not responsible for the education of the child.
   This form protects the parent - your child(ren) are not truant.
4. Your declaration of intent does not limit your ability to use the public school as a resource for classes and activities.

IV   The 11 required subjects need to be included in your curriculum. RCW 28A.225.010 (4)

1. The 11 required subjects are reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, and art and music appreciation.
2. These do not have to be taught separately. A unit study on frogs could include reading, writing, spelling, science, math, art and occupational education.

V   Your students must participate in annual testing. RCW28A.200.010 (3)

1. Testing can be accomplished one of two ways:
   
   Non-test assessments - an assessment of the student's academic progress is written by a Washington State certified teacher who is currently working in the field of education.
   
   Standardized testing - a standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education is administered annually to the child by a qualified individual.
   
   
2. Test results are part of your private homeschool record, no one else receives a copy.
3. WHO maintains a list of individuals who administer tests in your area.

VI   You must keep records. RCW 28A.200.010 (2)

1. Your homeschool records should include the student's annual test scores or assessment report (see V) and immunization records, together with any other records that are kept relating to instructional and educational activities.
2. The law is not specific on how or in what form these records are to be kept.
3. These are your private records and do not need to be shared with any state agency.
4. These records can, and probably will be, requested by school administration if your child is later enrolled in a traditional school setting.

RCW 28A.200.020 states that parents who are causing their children to receive home-based instruction shall be subject only to those minimum state laws and regulations which are necessary in ensuring that a sufficient basic educational opportunity is provided to the children receiving such instruction. Therefore, all decisions relating to philosophy or doctrine, selection of books, teaching materials and curriculum, and methods, timing and place in the provision or evaluation of home-based instruction shall be the responsibility of the parent except for matters specifically referred to in Chapter 28A.225 RCW.