Homeschooling in Washington: what the state requires
The rules for homeschooling in Washington, in plain English, from the state’s own sources.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Washington sources. State page: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) — Home-Based Instruction. Compulsory school age: 8 to under 18 ("eight years of age and under eighteen years of age").
Home-based instruction (RCW 28A.225.010(4); RCW 28A.200)
A qualified parent instructs their own child at home, files an annual declaration of intent with the school district, and has the child tested or assessed each year, keeping the results.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. By September 15 of the school year, or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester or semester; annually — Signed declaration of intent filed annually with the resident district superintendent (or a nonresident district that accepts transfer), stating the child's name and age and whether a certificated person will supervise the instruction. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, development of an appreciation of art and music — Planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities, including a curriculum and instruction in the basic skills listed. |
| Testing or evaluation | Required every year. Annually, either a standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education, or an annual written assessment of academic progress by a certificated person currently working in the field of education. Results become part of the child's permanent records; not submitted to the district unless the child later enrolls in a school. If the child is not making reasonable progress consistent with age or stage of development, the parent must make a good faith effort to remedy the deficiency. |
| Records | Required. Parent keeps the standardized test scores or annual assessments, immunization records, and any other records kept relating to instructional and educational activities; forwarded if the child transfers to a school. |
| Teacher | Parent instructing only their own child must meet one: (a) supervised by a person certificated under chapter 28A.410 RCW; (b) has earned 45 college-level quarter credit hours or the equivalent in semester hours, or has completed a course in home-based instruction at a postsecondary or vocational-technical institute; or (c) is deemed sufficiently qualified by the local district superintendent. |
| Other | Immunization records must be kept (RCW 28A.200.010). Part-time attendance or ancillary services may be requested from the district. |
By grade
| kindergarten | 450 hours a year |
|---|---|
| Grade 1–12 | 1000 hours a year |
Hours equivalent to the total annual program hours per grade level for approved private schools (RCW 28A.225.010(4)); for approved private schools RCW 28A.195.010 sets 1,000 hours for grades 1–12 and at least 450 hours for kindergarten. RCW 28A.225.010(5): home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential, and subsection (4) is to be liberally construed.
High school and graduation
OSPI: no statutes authorize issuance of a high school diploma for home-based students; parents may issue a diploma, and colleges, employers and the military set their own criteria for accepting it.
Official sources:
- RCW 28A.225.010 — Attendance mandatory; exceptions; home-based instruction
- RCW 28A.200.010 — Home-based instruction: duties of parents
- RCW 28A.195.010 — Private schools: minimum requirements
- OSPI — Home-Based Instruction
- OSPI — Washington State's Laws Regulating Home-Based Instruction (Pink Book)
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: No minimum record retention period found.
Approved private school extension program (RCW 28A.195.010(4))
Child is enrolled in an approved private school's extension program and taught at home by the parent under the supervision of a certificated person employed by the school.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Not required. Child is enrolled in the approved private school; no separate home-based declaration of intent identified for this option. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, development of appreciation of art and music — Private school curriculum requirement (RCW 28A.195.010). |
| Testing or evaluation | Required every year. The certificated supervisor evaluates each student's progress. |
| Records | Kept by the private school; parent duties not specified. |
| Teacher | Parent teaches under a person certificated under chapter 28A.410 RCW employed by the school, spending a minimum average each month of one contact hour per week with each student; a supervisor may supervise no more than 30 extension-program students. |
| Other | OSPI: immunization requirements in chapter 246-105 WAC apply to these students. |
By grade
| kindergarten | 180 days or 450 hours a year |
|---|---|
| Grade 1–12 | 180 days or 1000 hours a year |
Approved private schools: school-wide annual average of 1,000 instructional hours for grades 1–12 and at least 450 hours for kindergarten (RCW 28A.195.010).
High school and graduation
Set by the approved private school.
Official sources:
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Graduation/diploma rules for private school extension students were not confirmed on an official source.
High school: the public-school diploma as a guide
Optional for homeschools in most states, but the credit plan most colleges and employers recognize, and a sound default for a homeschool transcript. Shown in the subject areas this site uses.
| English | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Science | 3.0 |
| Social Studies | 3.0 |
| Foreign Language World Languages 2 | 2.0 |
| Fine Arts Arts 2 | 2.0 |
| Physical Education & Health Health 0.5; Physical Education 1.5 | 2.0 |
| Career & Technical | 1.0 |
| Electives | 4.0 |
| Total | 24.0 |
|---|
17 core credits plus 7 flexible credits. Science includes at least 2 laboratory science. One arts credit and both world language credits may be personalized pathway requirements; a district may waive up to 2 flexible credits for an individual student. Each student must also have a High School and Beyond Plan (WAC 180-51-220); graduation pathway requirements are in separate law not reviewed here. WAC amended effective April 1, 2023.
Source: WAC 180-51-210 — High school graduation requirements, class of 2021 and beyond
After graduation: what to plan for
Suggestions from Homeschool Corral, not state rules. Most families keep the college path open through 10th grade, then narrow.
- 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II, pre-calculus if they can), 3–4 science with 2 labs, 3–4 social studies, 2–3 years of one foreign language, 1 fine arts
- A one-paragraph description for every high-school course; the parent signs the transcript and diploma
- PSAT in 10th and 11th; SAT or ACT by spring of 11th; dual credit, AP or CLEP where it fits
- A log of activities, service and work from 9th grade; two adults who can recommend them
- A Scholarship Finder profile by 11th grade; FAFSA when it opens in the fall of 12th
- A diploma and transcript with 4 English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies; applied math every year
- Dual-credit career and technical courses in 11th–12th; OSHA 10 and first aid/CPR; a driver’s license
- Real projects and a part-time job logged as credits, with references; visit the union hall about pre-apprenticeships in 11th
- A parent-issued diploma and full transcript, signed and dated; recruiters ask for both
- Strong reading and arithmetic for the entrance test; a practice ASVAB in 11th
- Physical fitness as a logged course; service and leadership; for an academy or ROTC, the college list plus the SAT/ACT early
- The diploma and transcript anyway; personal finance and business basics as credits
- Work experience logged with hours and a reference from 10th grade; typing, spreadsheets, a clear email
- Keep the college path open: a foreign language and Algebra II cost little now
My Homeschool turns these into a checklist for each child, with the credits recorded in Transcripts counted against the plan.
RCW 28A.200.010 last amended 2019 c 252.
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
Other states: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming