Homeschool Requirements in Washington

Washington calls homeschooling "home based instruction." You file one short form each year with your school district. Then you test or assess your child every year and keep the results at home. Here's the whole year, in plain English.

Natalie

Homeschool mom of two and co-founder of Packet Day

✓ Last verified October 2026 against the Revised Code of Washington and ospi.k12.wa.us

Washington declarations of intent are due to your school district superintendent by September 15 each year, or within two weeks of the start of a public school quarter, trimester, or semester.

The short answer ⚡

Yes. File a signed declaration of intent with your school district superintendent by September 15 each year. Then give your child a standardized test or get a written assessment every year, and keep the results in your records.

Washington at a glance 📋

Declaration of intent: Yes; File it each year by September 15
Approval: Not needed; The law has you file a declaration, not ask permission
Parent qualification: One of four; A supervising certificated teacher, 45 college quarter credits, a home based instruction course, or your superintendent's okay
Subjects: Listed; A list in the law, including reading, writing and math
Yearly test or assessment: Yes; Kept in your records, not sent to the district
Ages: 8 to 17; Compulsory attendance starts at age 8

Pick your path 🛤️

Washington law lets families meet compulsory attendance in a few ways. This guide covers home based instruction, and the four ways a parent can qualify to teach.

Most common

1. Home based instruction

You file a declaration of intent each year, teach the subjects the law names, and test or assess your child each year. The law says families who follow these duties are presumed to be providing home based instruction.

Other option

2. Approved private school or extension program

A child can attend an approved private school, or an extension program of one. OSPI's guide says an extension student counts as a private school student, not a home based student, so the home based rules don't apply.

School options

3. Public school

Your district's public school. Families who homeschool can also ask their district for part time classes or services. The "Good to know" box below covers that.

Your Washington school year, step by step 🗓️

Your declaration goes to your school district superintendent. It isn't a request for permission. Your district may have its own form or letterhead for it.

What goes on your declaration

Your child's name and age
Whether a certificated person will supervise the instruction
Your signature, as the parent, guardian or legal custodian

By September 15 each year, or within two weeks of the start of a public school quarter, trimester, or semester: file your signed declaration of intent with your resident district superintendent.
Pick which of the four parent options you meet: a supervising Washington certificated teacher, 45 college quarter credits, a home based instruction course, or your superintendent's okay.
All year: teach the subjects the law names and keep your own records.
Once a year: give your child an approved standardized test, or get a written assessment from a certificated person who works in education. Keep the results in your child's permanent records.
If the test or assessment shows your child isn't making reasonable progress for their age or stage: make a good faith effort to fix it.

The four parent options (meet any one)

A certificated person supervises you. You plan objectives together, they spend an average of one contact hour a week with your child each month, and they evaluate your child's progress. One certificated person can supervise up to 30 children.
You've earned 45 college level quarter credits, or the semester equivalent
You've completed a home based instruction course at a postsecondary institution or a vocational technical institution
Your local superintendent deems you sufficiently qualified. OSPI's guide says the law gives no criteria for this and doesn't clearly require a superintendent to review the request.

Good to know

Homeschooled students can ask their district for part time classes and ancillary services. OSPI's guide lists sports and testing among them.
If your child moves to a public or private school, send test scores or assessments, immunization records and any other instruction records you kept. A public school superintendent may require a standardized test and decides grade and course placement after talking with you.

Source: RCW 28A.200.010: Home based instruction, duties of parents

Want this as a printable? Get the free Washington checklist.

Records to keep 🗂️

Washington's home based instruction law doesn't ask you to send records to the district. It does ask you to keep test or assessment results, and a few other copies will save you a headache:

Your yearly test or assessment results the law says they become part of your child's permanent records
Immunization records and other instruction records the law says to forward these if your child transfers to another school
A copy of each declaration of intent with the date you filed itOur suggestion
A simple log of subjects and hours the law doesn't say to keep one, but it makes the hours question easyOur suggestion
A few work samples handy for a written assessment or a transferOur suggestion

One folder per school year keeps it simple.

Testing: what Washington actually requires 🧪

Every year, you do one of two things. Either your child takes a standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education, given by a qualified individual. Or a certificated person who is currently working in the field of education writes an annual assessment of your child's progress.

The State Board of Education keeps a list of example tests. WAC 180-52-070 also lets parents use a test that isn't on the list if a test evaluation organization the Board recognizes has evaluated it. OSPI's guide says test companies can authorize who proctors their tests, and that this can include parents. Ask the test company.

The statute doesn't say to send results to the district. They go in your child's permanent records. If the result shows your child isn't making reasonable progress for their age or stage, the law asks you to make a good faith effort to fix it.

What to teach 📚

Washington's law says home based instruction includes curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of:

Core skills: reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, language
Content areas: science, social studies, history, health
Also named: occupational education, and the development of an appreciation of art and music

You choose the philosophy, books, materials and curriculum. The law ties your hours to what approved private schools offer, which their law puts at an annual average of 1,000 hours for a school, and says the hour and activity rules are to be liberally construed.

6 mistakes new Washington homeschoolers make ⚠️

1. Missing the deadline.
The declaration is due every year, not just the first year. The law says by September 15, or within two weeks of the start of a public school quarter, trimester, or semester.
2. Assuming you need approval.
You file a declaration of intent. OSPI's sample form is a statement that you plan to provide home based instruction, not a request.
3. Skipping the yearly test or assessment.
Every year needs one or the other. The law says missing your duties counts as the child not attending school.
4. Having the wrong person write the assessment.
A written assessment must come from a certificated person who is currently working in the field of education. The law names no other kind of writer for this option.
5. Throwing away the results.
The law says the test or assessment becomes part of your child's permanent records, and those records go with your child if they transfer.
6. Worrying about a 6 or 7 year old.
Compulsory attendance starts at 8, and the law doesn't require a 6 or 7 year old to get home based instruction. But if you enroll a 6 or 7 year old in public school, they must attend.

Washington homeschool FAQ 💬

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Washington?

Yes. Each year, file a signed declaration of intent with the superintendent of your school district, by September 15 or within two weeks of the start of a public school quarter, trimester, or semester. It includes your child's name and age and whether a certificated person will supervise.

Who can homeschool in Washington?

A parent qualifies in any one of four ways: a Washington certificated teacher supervises you, you've earned 45 college quarter credits (or the semester equivalent), you've completed a home based instruction course at a postsecondary or vocational technical institution, or your local superintendent deems you sufficiently qualified.

Do I send my child's test scores to the school district?

No, the law doesn't say to. It says the test or assessment becomes part of your child's permanent records. If your child later transfers to a public or private school, forward the scores or assessments, immunization records and any other instruction records you kept.

What counts as the yearly assessment in Washington?

Either a standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education, given by a qualified individual, or a written annual progress assessment from a certificated person currently working in the field of education. The Board keeps a list of example tests, and parents can use others a recognized evaluator has reviewed.

What subjects does Washington require?

The law says home based instruction includes curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music. You pick the books, materials and methods.

How many hours do I have to teach in Washington?

The law says home based instruction is provided for a number of hours equivalent to the annual program hours of approved private schools. Washington's private school law names an annual average of 1,000 hours for a school. It also says the hour and activity rules are to be liberally construed.

Does my 6 or 7 year old need a declaration of intent?

Compulsory attendance in Washington covers children 8 and older, and the law says it doesn't require a 6 or 7 year old to enroll in school or receive home based instruction. OSPI's sample declaration form is written for children between the ages of 8 and 18.

Can my homeschooled child take classes at the public school?

Yes. Washington law lets a student who is receiving home based instruction take courses at, or receive ancillary services from, the local school district as a part time student. Ask your district for its request form. OSPI's guide lists sports, testing and counseling among ancillary services.

Get your free Washington checklist ✅

We turned this whole page into a 1 page printable checklist: every filing step, every parent option, every yearly assessment. Stick it in your homeschool binder and you're covered.

Plus, make your first learning packet free. 11 to 17 pages, generated around your kiddo in a minute or two.

Sources 📖

RCW 28A.200.010: Home based instruction, duties of parents (checked October 2026)
RCW 28A.200.020: Home based instruction, parent decisions (checked October 2026)
RCW 28A.225.010: Compulsory attendance, ages and exceptions (checked October 2026)
RCW 28A.225.015: Ages six and seven (checked October 2026)
RCW 28A.150.350: Part time students (checked October 2026)
RCW 28A.195.010: Private school hours (checked October 2026)
WAC 180-52-070: Approved standardized tests (checked October 2026)
OSPI: Home based instruction (checked October 2026)
OSPI: Sample declaration of intent (A-2) (checked October 2026)
OSPI: Washington State's Laws Regulating Home Based Instruction (Pink Book, September 2017) (checked October 2026)
State Board of Education: Home instruction FAQ (checked October 2026)

Last verified October 2026. Requirements are summarized from the sources above.

This page summarizes public information for general reference. It is not legal advice. Laws change; confirm current requirements with your school district, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, or a qualified attorney before making decisions for your family.

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