Washington homeschool checklist for this year

Things to do, with their deadlines

• By September 15 (or within two weeks of the start of a public school quarter, trimester or semester)

  File a signed declaration of intent with the superintendent of the district where you live.

  Source: RCW 28A.200.010, home-based instruction duties of parents (Washington Legislature); OSPI: Home-Based Instruction
• Each year

  A state-approved standardized achievement test given by a qualified person, or a written assessment by a certificated person working in education.

  Source: RCW 28A.200.010, home-based instruction duties of parents (Washington Legislature)

The state's own form: Declaration of intent, in the format OSPI prescribes.

All year

• All year

  Teach the subjects Washington names: occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, appreciation of art and music.

  Source: RCW 28A.225.010, attendance mandatory and home-based instruction (Washington Legislature)
• All year

  Keep count of the hours. Home-based instruction must be provided for a number of hours equal to the annual program hours for approved private schools. The private school statute sets an annual average of 1,000 hours for grades 1 through 12 and at least 450 hours for kindergarten (or 180 school days or the equivalent). The home-based statute says these rules are to be liberally construed because home instruction is less structured.

  Source: RCW 28A.225.010, attendance mandatory and home-based instruction (Washington Legislature); RCW 28A.195.010, private schools minimum requirements (Washington Legislature)
• All year

  The yearly test or assessment becomes part of the child's permanent records. If the child moves to another school, the parent makes sure the test scores or assessment, immunization records and any other records kept about the instruction go to the new school. We did not find a rule in the statute asking for other records.

  Source: RCW 28A.200.010, home-based instruction duties of parents (Washington Legislature)

Good habits (not in the law)

• Keep a copy of everything you send, and of any acknowledgement you get back, with the date.

• Start simple records on day one: the days you teach, the books you read and a few samples of work in each subject. They help if you move, return to school or apply to college.