WASHINGTON HOMESCHOOL LAW

Compulsory School Age: 8 - 18

Washington state law offers two legal homeschooling options: 1) establish and operate a homeschool or 2) operate a homeschool under the direction of an approved private school.

1. The first option is to establish and operate a homeschool. Parents who wish to school their children under this option must file a notice of intent with the local school superintendent by September 15 of each year or within two weeks of starting a homeschool program. Homeschool students are required to attend 180 days or 1000 hours of instruction per year and are to be instructed in the following subjects: occupational education, science, math, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and music and art appreciation. Students are also required to be assessed each school year. Assessments may take the form of either a state approved standardized test administered by a qualified person or an evaluation performed by a certified teacher. Parents/teachers must meet or submit to one of the following conditions in order to be considered qualified to teach:

   1. be supervised by a certified teacher;

   2. completed 45 college quarter credit hours (or a number equivalent in college semester credit hours);

   3. completed a home education course; or

   4. be approved by the local school superintendent.

   Parents are also responsible for and required to keep and maintain results from standardized tests, academic progress reports, and immunization records.

2. The second option is to operate a homeschool under the direction of an approved private school. Children schooling under this option are required to attend 180 days or 1000 hours of instruction per year. Required subjects include occupational education, science, math, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and music and art appreciation. The child's progress will be evaluated by a certified teacher employed by the private school, and the parent providing instruction will also be supervised by a certified teacher employed by the private school. There are no requirements regarding school board notification or recordkeeping for this option.

Find a homeschool group in Washington.

View these websites for more information about Washington homeschool laws:

• Home School Legal Defense Association

• National Home Education Network

• Washington Education Code for Homeschooling

• Washington State Board of Education

Please note: This is a brief summary of Washington homeschool law and is presented for informative purposes only and not as legal advice.