In order to homeschool a child, the parent must have one of the following qualifications. The parents must have earned 45-quarter units of college level credit or its equivalent in semester hours. They must attend a parent qualifying course. Washington State law states the parent must complete a course in home-based instruction at a postsecondary institution or a vocational-technical institute.
Additional qualifications include the parent working with a certified teacher that meets with the child at least one hour per week, and lastly, the local school superintendent must certify the parent qualified in home-based instruction. Additionally, parents can only homeschool their own children, no one else’s.
Parents with children over the age of eight that attended public school must officially withdraw them from the public school system.
According to Washington State law, each year, parents must file a Declaration of Intent to Provide Home Based Instruction with the superintendent of the local school district. Parents obtain this form from the school superintendent. The declaration does not prevent parents from using the public school system for part-time use or ancillary services.
Parents must include the eleven required courses in the home-based curriculum. The eleven courses encompass reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, and art and music appreciation.
The curriculum does not require separate instruction of each topic. One topic can simultaneously cover multiple areas of the curriculum. The curriculum must last the same number of hours as the total annual hours per grade level set by approved private schools.
Parents must have their children participate in standardized testing approved by the State Board of Education. A qualified individual (no specifics on what qualifications required) must administer the standardized test. The parents can opt to have an annual assessment given by a Washington State certified teacher. The assessment determines the child’s progress compared against standard grade-level criteria.
Parents must retain all assessment and immunization records. These records remain the private property of the parent; they need not get shared with any state agencies. Should the parents re-enroll the child in public school, the parents must share the records with the local school system as required.