How to start homeschooling in Washington
Everything Washington asks of a homeschool family, in order, from the state’s own sources, checked October 1, 2026. Each step links to a free tool that does it, and there’s a checklist to print at the end.
Step 0: choose how you’ll homeschool
Washington gives families 2 legal ways to homeschool. Each has its own steps below. Choose one to see its steps.
Home-based instruction: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
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.
Required school ages in Washington: 8 to under 18 ("eight years of age and under eighteen years of age"). Teacher qualification for this option: 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.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Washington also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
When: By September 15 of the school year, or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester or semester; annually.
What it includes: 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.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Washington sets a minimum.
No days requirement; requirement is stated in hours. 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.
Cover the 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.
Keep the records the state asks for
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.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
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 for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: No minimum record retention period found. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Approved private school extension program: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
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.
Required school ages in Washington: 8 to under 18 ("eight years of age and under eighteen years of age"). Teacher qualification for this option: 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.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Washington doesn’t require a separate notice under this option, so the letter is the school’s record that your child has left.
No notice to file
Washington doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
Child is enrolled in the approved private school; no separate home-based declaration of intent identified for this option.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Washington sets a minimum.
Approved private schools: no less than 180 school days or the equivalent in annual minimum instructional hour offerings (RCW 28A.195.010). 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).
Cover the 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.
Keep records anyway
Washington doesn’t require records under this option.
Kept by the private school; parent duties not specified.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
Set by the approved private school.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: Graduation/diploma rules for private school extension students were not confirmed on an official source. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Your Washington checklist
Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Washington · homeschoolcorral.com
- Read Washington’s rules for “Home-based instruction”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice (By September 15 of the school year, or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester or semester; annually)
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks (meeting the state minimum)
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Note the testing or evaluation years and deadlines
- Start the required records from day one
- Make a first-week plan and start
- Read Washington’s rules for “Approved private school extension program”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks (meeting the state minimum)
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Note the testing or evaluation years and deadlines
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
Questions Washington parents ask
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Washington?
Home-based instruction: Yes. When: By September 15 of the school year, or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester or semester; annually. What to file: 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.
Approved private school extension program: No. Washington doesn’t require a notice or registration under this option.
How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Washington?
Home-based instruction: No days requirement; requirement is stated in hours. 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.
Approved private school extension program: Approved private schools: no less than 180 school days or the equivalent in annual minimum instructional hour offerings (RCW 28A.195.010). 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).
Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Washington?
Home-based instruction: Yes, 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.
Approved private school extension program: Yes, every year. The certificated supervisor evaluates each student's progress.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Washington?
Home-based instruction: 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.
Approved private school extension program: 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.
What subjects are required in Washington?
Home-based instruction: Occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, development of an appreciation of art and music.
Approved private school extension program: Occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, development of appreciation of art and music.
What records do I need to keep in Washington?
Home-based instruction: 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.
Approved private school extension program: Washington doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Keep going
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.
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