Washington Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Washington, based on RCW 28A.200.010. Washington is classified as High regulation.
This is the general checklist for Standard Home-Based Instruction (45 College Credits), the most common of Washington's 5 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to superintendent of the local school district. Deadline: September 15 of each school year, or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter if beginning mid-year.
Deadline: September 15 of each school year, or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter if beginning mid-year
More details
Declaration of Intent must include name and age of each child, parent/guardian name, family address, statement of intent to provide home-based instruction, and specification of qualification pathway. This is a notification, not a request for approval. If the family moves to a new district mid-year, a new Declaration must be filed. No fee.
Send a withdrawal letter
If your child is currently enrolled in school, send a withdrawal letter to superintendent of the local school district and the child's current school.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
File Declaration of Intent with the district superintendent and notify the child's current school. If withdrawing mid-year, the declaration must be filed within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter. Obtain the child's educational records from the school.
Confirm your qualification
This pathway requires the required qualifications.
Deadline: Before you start
More details
Parent must have earned 45 or more college-level quarter credits (approximately 30 semester credits) from an accredited institution. Credits do not need to be in education and do not need to result in a degree. Community college credits count.
Ongoing
Required subjects
reading, writing, spelling, language, mathematics, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, art and music appreciation
More details
The statute lists 11 subjects: occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and 'the development of an appreciation of art and music.' History is listed separately from social studies. Family has full discretion in selecting curricula, materials, and methods (RCW 28A.200.020). Subjects need not be taught as separate courses.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 1000 hours/year, 180 days/year. You must track and document hours.
More details
1,000 hours for all grades 1-12; 450 hours for kindergarten. The home-based instruction statute references private school hour requirements (RCW 28A.195.010), which set 1,000 hours for grades 1-12. The 1,080-hour figure applies only to public schools (RCW 28A.150.220), not homeschools. Provisions shall be 'liberally construed' per RCW 28A.225.010(5).
Show your child's progress
Standardized test or Teacher evaluation — annually.
More details
Option 1: Standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education (SBE maintains approved list including Iowa Assessments, Stanford, Woodcock-Johnson, Wechsler, ACT, PSAT/SAT, and others) administered by a qualified person. No minimum score required. Option 2: Annual written assessment by a certificated person currently working in education who determines whether the child is making reasonable progress. If progress is inadequate, parent must make a 'good faith effort' to remedy any deficiency (RCW 28A.200.010(1)(c)). Results retained by parent; not required to be submitted proactively.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records.
More details
Parents must maintain: (1) standardized test results or assessment records, (2) immunization records, (3) instructional hour logs demonstrating 1,000 hours met. Records are private and need not be shared with any state agency. RCW 28A.200.020 affirms broad parental autonomy. Records must be forwarded to any school the child later transfers to (RCW 28A.200.010(1)(b)). Upon transfer to public school, the superintendent may request records and determine grade placement.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by September 15.
More details
Annual Declaration of Intent must be filed by September 15. No regular progress reports beyond the annual declaration. Test results must be available but proactive submission is not required.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- superintendent of the local school district
- Deadline
- September 15 of each school year, or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter if beginning mid-year
- How often
- annual
Declaration of Intent must include name and age of each child, parent/guardian name, family address, statement of intent to provide home-based instruction, and specification of qualification pathway. This is a notification, not a request for approval. If the family moves to a new district mid-year, a new Declaration must be filed. No fee.
RCW 28A.200.010(1)(a) (declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction)
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓reading
- ✓writing
- ✓spelling
- ✓language
- ✓mathematics
- ✓science
- ✓social studies
- ✓history
- ✓health
- ✓occupational education
- ✓art and music appreciation
The statute lists 11 subjects: occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and 'the development of an appreciation of art and music.' History is listed separately from social studies. Family has full discretion in selecting curricula, materials, and methods (RCW 28A.200.020). Subjects need not be taught as separate courses.
RCW 28A.225.010(4) (curriculum and instruction in basic skills)
Instructional time
- Days per year:
- 180
- Hours per year:
- 1000
1,000 hours for all grades 1-12; 450 hours for kindergarten. The home-based instruction statute references private school hour requirements (RCW 28A.195.010), which set 1,000 hours for grades 1-12. The 1,080-hour figure applies only to public schools (RCW 28A.150.220), not homeschools. Provisions shall be 'liberally construed' per RCW 28A.225.010(5).
RCW 28A.225.010(4) (hours equivalent to approved private schools per RCW 28A.195.010); RCW 28A.195.010 (1,000 hours grades 1-12, 450 hours kindergarten, 180 days)
Testing and assessment
- Accepted types
- Standardized test, Teacher evaluation
- Frequency
- annually
Option 1: Standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education (SBE maintains approved list including Iowa Assessments, Stanford, Woodcock-Johnson, Wechsler, ACT, PSAT/SAT, and others) administered by a qualified person. No minimum score required. Option 2: Annual written assessment by a certificated person currently working in education who determines whether the child is making reasonable progress. If progress is inadequate, parent must make a 'good faith effort' to remedy any deficiency (RCW 28A.200.010(1)(c)). Results retained by parent; not required to be submitted proactively.
See our full assessment guide for Washington for details.
RCW 28A.200.010(1)(c) (annual standardized test or assessment by certificated person)
Recordkeeping
- ✓Attendance records
Parents must maintain: (1) standardized test results or assessment records, (2) immunization records, (3) instructional hour logs demonstrating 1,000 hours met. Records are private and need not be shared with any state agency. RCW 28A.200.020 affirms broad parental autonomy. Records must be forwarded to any school the child later transfers to (RCW 28A.200.010(1)(b)). Upon transfer to public school, the superintendent may request records and determine grade placement.
RCW 28A.200.010(1)(b) (test scores, assessments, and immunization records must be forwarded upon transfer); RCW 28A.200.010(1)(c) (assessment records)
Reporting
- Annual renewal
- Required by September 15
Annual Declaration of Intent must be filed by September 15. No regular progress reports beyond the annual declaration. Test results must be available but proactive submission is not required.
RCW 28A.200.010(1)(a) (annual declaration of intent)
Instructor qualifications
The instructor must have the required qualifications.
Parent must have earned 45 or more college-level quarter credits (approximately 30 semester credits) from an accredited institution. Credits do not need to be in education and do not need to result in a degree. Community college credits count.
RCW 28A.225.010(4)(b) (45 or more college-level quarter credit hours)
Other ways to homeschool in Washington
This checklist covers Standard Home-Based Instruction (45 College Credits), the most common pathway. Washington offers 5 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Standard Home-Based Instruction (45 College Credits)(this checklist) : You file a Declaration of Intent with your local superintendent by September 15 and teach at home. You must have at least 45 college-level quarter credits (about 30 semester credits) from any field. Required subjects include reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and several others. Your child must be tested or evaluated annually (no minimum score), and you must log 1,000 instructional hours per year. The most common Washington pathway.
- •Home-Based Instruction (Approved Course) : You complete a course in home-based instruction at a postsecondary institution or vocational-technical institute, then file a Declaration of Intent by September 15. Same subject, instructional hour, and assessment requirements as the standard pathway. This pathway exists for parents who do not have 45 college credits but can complete a qualifying course.
- •Home-Based Instruction (Certified Teacher Supervision) : You teach at home under the supervision of a certificated person (certified under chapter 28A.410 RCW), and file a Declaration of Intent by September 15. The statute requires a minimum average of one contact hour per week with your child and planning of objectives. The supervising teacher may oversee up to 30 children. Same subject, instructional hour, and assessment requirements as the standard pathway. Good for parents who lack college credits but know a certificated teacher willing to supervise.
- •Home-Based Instruction (Deemed Qualified by Superintendent) : You request that your local superintendent deem you qualified to provide home-based instruction, then file a Declaration of Intent by September 15. The superintendent makes a case-by-case determination based on your education, experience, and instructional plans. Same subject, instructional hour, and assessment requirements as the standard pathway. A fallback option for parents who do not meet the other three qualification pathways.
- •Private School Extension Program : You enroll in a private school extension program that handles administrative filings, recordkeeping, and compliance on your behalf. No separate Declaration of Intent or parent credential is required. The private school provides oversight and coordinates assessment. You teach at home under the school's guidance. Best for families who want hands-off compliance management or who do not meet the instructor qualifications for the standard pathways.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Washington
Related guides
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Washington checklistRequirements sourced from RCW 28A.200.010. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026