Homeschooling in Washington

Taking your child out of school in Washington

First move: File a signed declaration of intent with the district superintendent (within two weeks of the start of the quarter/trimester/semester if starting mid-year) and notify the school.

For a 6- or 7-year-old, formally withdraw the child from enrollment.

The legal routes

3 routes exist in Washington. They carry different duties, and families often do not know the alternatives to the obvious one.

Home-based instruction (RCW 28A.225.010(4), 28A.200)

Parent who meets a qualification option files an annual declaration of intent with the district superintendent, teaches the 11 required subjects for the required hours, and does an annual test or assessment kept at home.

Approved private school extension program (RCW 28A.195.010(4))

Child is enrolled in an approved private school's extension program; parent teaches at home under a certificated school employee who plans with the parent, averages one contact hour per week, and evaluates progress. No declaration of intent; child counts as a private school student.

Approved private school

Attending an approved private school for the same time as public school satisfies compulsory attendance.

The notice, and who receives it

Goes to

Superintendent of the school district where the parent lives (or of a nonresident district that accepts a transfer)

Deadline

September 15 each year, or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter, trimester or semester (for mid-year starts).

Renews

annual

Form

Declaration of Intent to Provide Home-Based Instruction (OSPI Appendix A-2; asks for district, child's name and birthdate, whether a WA-certificated person supervises, parent signature and address) — official form

Subjects Washington requires

• occupational education
• science
• mathematics
• language
• social studies
• history
• health
• reading
• writing
• spelling
• appreciation of art and music

See which courses here cover these subjects →

Compulsory school age

8 to under 18. Six- and seven-year-olds must attend only if enrolled full-time in public school and not formally withdrawn; exceptions at 16+ for lawful employment, emancipation, graduation or certificate of educational competence.

Teaching time

Hours equivalent to the annual program hours required of approved private schools (180 days, or a school-wide annual average of 1,000 hours; 450 hours for kindergarten).

Who may teach

Parent may teach only their own children and must meet one of: (a) be supervised by a certificated person (planning, average one contact hour per week, progress evaluation); (b) have 45 college quarter credit hours (or semester equivalent) or have completed a home-based instruction course at a postsecondary or vocational-technical institution; or (c) be deemed sufficiently qualified by the local district superintendent.

Testing and evaluation

Each year, either (a) a state board-approved standardized achievement test given by a qualified individual, or (b) a written assessment of academic progress by a certificated person currently working in education. No passing score; if results show the child is not making reasonable progress, the parent must make a good-faith effort to remedy it.

Results are kept by the parent, not submitted to the district. Homeschoolers are not required to take state assessments.

Records to keep

Annual test scores or progress assessments (part of the child's permanent record), immunization records, and other instructional records; forward them to any school the child later transfers to. A public school may require a standardized test for placement on transfer.

High school, diplomas and transcripts

Parent issues the diploma/transcript for home-based instruction. Graduation requirements are set by the parent; a district or private school decides credit and placement if the student later enrolls.

Public school classes, sports and activities

Home-based students eligible for full-time enrollment may enroll part-time in district courses and receive ancillary services in the same manner as other students (RCW 28A.150.350). WIAA sports: home-based students may participate through their home high school by signing an academic plan contract (semester or trimester) to establish academic eligibility.

Funding: education savings accounts, vouchers and tax credits

None known for homeschoolers (Washington has no ESA, voucher or tax credit program). Public parent-partnership/Alternative Learning Experience programs are public school enrollment, not home-based instruction.

What changed recently

No enacted changes 2023-2026 found. 2026 SB 6261, which would have required parents of 6- and 7-year-olds to declare homeschool intent and submit education plans, stalled in Senate committee after a Jan.

28, 2026 hearing and was not enacted.

What we could not confirm

No 2023-2026 changes were found in the RCW sections read (latest amendments 2017-2021), but session laws were not searched directly. Running Start/dual-credit access for homeschoolers not confirmed.

Listed because a legal summary that hides its gaps is harder to trust than one that names them. How these pages are checked.

Statutes and sources

Statute and regulation

• RCW 28A.225.010
• RCW 28A.225.015
• RCW 28A.200.010
• RCW 28A.200.020
• RCW 28A.195.010
• RCW 28A.150.350

Statute text

• RCW 28A.200.010 - Home-based instruction: duties of parents
• RCW 28A.200.020 - Home-based instruction: parental rights
• RCW 28A.225.010 - Compulsory attendance; home-based instruction defined
• RCW 28A.225.015 - Attendance of 6- and 7-year-olds
• RCW 28A.195.010 - Private schools; extension programs; minimum hours
• RCW 28A.150.350 - Part-time students and ancillary services

State agency

• OSPI - Home-Based Instruction
• OSPI - Declaration of Intent to Provide Home-Based Instruction (PDF)

Secondary sources

• WIAA - Student Eligibility Center
• HSLDA - Bad Bills Thwarted in Washington, South Dakota (Feb 3, 2026)