According to Washington Statute RCW 28A.225.010, “All parents in this state of any child eight years of age and under eighteen years of age shall cause such child to attend the public school of the district in which the child resides and such child shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when such school may be in session unless:

• The child is attending an approved private school for the same time or is enrolled in an extension program as provided in RCW 28A.195.010(4);
• The child is receiving home-based instruction as provided in subsection (4) of this section;
• The child is attending an education center as provided in chapter 28A.205 RCW;
• The school district superintendent of the district in which the child resides shall have excused such child from attendance because the child is physically or mentally unable to attend school, is attending a residential school operated by the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families, is incarcerated in an adult correctional facility, or has been temporarily excused upon the request of his or her parents for purposes agreed upon by the school authorities and the parent […].”

Thus, families in Washington state have the option to seek home-based instruction for their children, and they are supported with technical assistance through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). “RCW 28A.225.010(4) defines instruction as home-based if it consists of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities, including 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 provided for a number of hours per grade level established for approved private schools […] and if such activities are provided by a qualified parent.

The statute further states that the Legislature recognizes that home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential than the instruction normally provided in a classroom setting. Therefore, the provisions relating to the nature and quantity of instructional and related educational activities shall be liberally interpreted” (OSPI).

Per RCW 28A.200.020, “The state hereby recognizes that parents who are causing their children to receive home-based instruction under RCW 28A.225.010(4) shall be subject only to those minimum state laws and regulations which are necessary to insure 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 this chapter [Chapter 28A.200].”

Essentially, “It is the parent’s responsibility to provide materials and equipment necessary to meet the planned objectives for the home-based instruction” (OSPI). However, “A school district may establish regulations relating to the sale of materials at cost or to the lending or rental of [materials and equipment]” (OSPI).

What do I need to be eligible to be a homeschool parent?

If homeschooling in Washington, “RCW 28A.225.010(4) requires that the instructional and educational activities be:

• Provided by a parent who is instructing his or her child only and is supervised by a person certificated under Chapter 28A.410 RCW. The supervision consists of and includes planning of objectives by the certificated person and the parent, a minimum each month of an average of one contact hour per week with the child being supervised by the certificated person, and evaluation of such child’s progress by the certificated person. The number of children supervised by the certificated person shall not exceed 30.
• Provided by a parent who is instructing his or her child only and who has either earned 45 college-level credit hours or the equivalent in semester hours or has completed a course in home-based instruction at [a] postsecondary institution or a vocational-technical institute.
• Provided by a parent who is deemed sufficiently qualified to provide home-based instruction by the superintendent of the local school district in which the child resides” (OSPI).

Note that a public school district may provide supervision by certificated staff of students and parents in home-based instruction at district expense, but this is at the discretion of the school district (OSPI).

Do I need to notify the school district of my intent to homeschool my child?

Yes! “RCW 28A.200.010(1) states that each person whose child is receiving home-based instruction under RCW 28A.225.010(4) must file annually a signed declaration of intent that he or she is planning to cause his or her child to receive home-based instruction. The declaration is to be filed by September 15 of the school year or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester with

• the superintendent of the public school district within which the parent resides, or
• the superintendent of a nonresident public school district that accepts the transfer, in which case, the student is considered a transfer student of the nonresident district” (OSPI).

“The statement shall include the name and age of the child, shall specify whether a certificated person will be supervising the instruction, and shall be written in a format prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction” (RCW 28A.200.010). A sample Declaration of Intent to Provide Home-Based Instruction is provided on the OSPI website.

What educational options are available to my homeschooler?

As a homeschooler, you do have options. You may offer courses through postsecondary institutions or vocational-technical schools, or you may enroll your child in an extension program of an approved private school. See the “Pink Book” on the OSPI website for more information on these options.

Students receiving home-based instruction also may have access to part-time attendance in public schools: “RCW 28A.150.350(2) specifies that the board of directors of any school district is authorized and, in the same manner as for other public school students, shall permit the enrollment of […] part-time students who would be otherwise eligible for full-time enrollment in the school district. A student who is receiving home-based instruction which includes courses at and/or receiving ancillary services from the local school district is by definition a part-time school student” (OSPI).

Refer to the Request for Part-Time Attendance or Ancillary Services Form when making a request for your child to participate in public school courses.

Note: “A part-time student may use school district transportation at normal times and at the designated route stops” (OSPI).