Washington State Homeschool Laws and Unschooling

 



The Home-Based Instruction Law is also contained in the publication Washington State's Laws Regulating Home-Based Instruction (the "Pink Booklet") published by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.


Also see Knowledge is Power: Know Your Homeschool Law

A series of articles from the WHO's News exploring the homeschool law


I Compulsory Education. RCW 28A.225.010

Compulsory education age in the state of Washington is 8 years old OR the age at which a child is officially enrolled in public school. RCW 28A.225.015

     A.  If a child is under 8 and has been officially enrolled in public school, the parent must formally withdraw    the child.

     B.  The Home-Based Instruction law affects children 8 years old and older.

II To qualify to homeschool you must fulfill one of the following: RCW 28A.225.010 (4)

     A.  Have earned 45 quarter units of college level credit.

     B.  Attend a Parent Qualifying Course. This is highly recommended even if you are already qualified to homeschool.

     C.  Work with a certified teacher who meets with your student on the average of an hour a week.

     D.  Be deemed sufficiently qualified to provide home-based instruction by the superintendent of your local school district.

III A declaration of intent to homeschool must be filed annually. RCW 28A.200.010 (1)

This form can be obtained from and must be returned to the school district's District Office. You may turn in your letter of intent to any school district that will accept it. It does not have to be your home district.

The information you need to include on the form is your children's names and ages, parents name, address, and indicate if qualifying to homeschool by using a supervising certified teacher (see IIC.), sign and date. Any other information you include is at your own discretion.

This form protects the school - they are not responsible for the education of the child.

This form protects the parent - your child(ren) are not truant.

Your declaration of intent does not limit your ability to use the public school as a resource for classes and activities.

IV The 11 required subjects need to be included in your curriculum. RCW 28A.225.010 (4)

The 11 required subjects are reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, and art and music appreciation.

These do not have to be taught separately. A unit study on frogs could include reading, writing, spelling, science, math, art and occupational education.

V Your students must participate in annual testing. RCW28A.200.010 (3)

Testing can be accomplished one of two ways.
     A.  Non-test assessments - an assessment of the student's academic progress is written by a Washington State certified teacher who is currently working in the field of education.
     B.  Standardized testing - a standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education is administered annually to the child by a qualified individual.
Test results are part of your private homeschool record, no one else receives a copy.

WHO maintains a list of individuals who administer tests in your area.


VI You must keep records. RCW 28A.200.010 (2)

Your homeschool records should include the student's annual test scores or assessment report (see V) and immunization records, together with any other records that are kept relating to instructional and educational activities.

The law is not specific on how or in what form these records are to be kept.

These are your private records and do not need to be shared with any state agency.

These records can, and probably will be, requested by school administration if your child is later enrolled in a traditional school setting.

RCW 28A.200.020 states that parents who are causing their children to receive home-based instruction shall be subject only to those minimum state laws and regulations which are necessary in ensuring that a sufficient basic educational opportunity is provided to the children receiving such instruction. Therefore, all decisions relating to philosophy or doctrine, selection of books, teaching materials and curriculum, and methods, timing and place in the provision or evaluation of home-based instruction shall be the responsibility of the parent except for matters specifically referred to in Chapter 28A.225 RCW.

The homeschool law also states that the legislature recognizes that home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential than the instruction normally provided in a classroom. Therefore, the provisions relating to the nature and quantity of instructional and related educational activities shall be liberally construed.


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Copyright 2000-2008 Washington Homeschool Organization

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Wow. So this is a lot to comprehend when new to homeschooling let alone unschooling so lets break it down even more.




I Compulsory Education. RCW 28A.225.010



This is telling the unschool family that they must submit an annual declaration of intent to homeschool form from ages 8 to 16 in the state of Washington (see III). This form can be downloaded from http://www.washhomeschool.org/homeschooling/declaration.html.



II To qualify to homeschool you must fulfill one of the following: RCW 28A.225.010



For unschooling families C and D do not really work out for us so I recommend A or B. If you do not have the 45 college credits don’t worry. Family Learning Organization (FLO) has a Natural Learning Certification program/course approved for Washington State that I have personally taken and loved. The course is geared toward Natural Learning or Child-Led learning perfect for unschoolers. http://familylearning.org/



III A declaration of intent to homeschool must be filed annually. RCW 28A.200.010



(See I)



IV The 11 required subjects need to be included in your curriculum. RCW 28A.225.010



This part seems overwhelming to some parents. I always recommend the FLO Natural Learning Course (http://familylearning.org/) because you receive such awesome material and references in how to incorporate daily life into the 11 required subjects. FLO also has counselors that families can call for additional help with filling out assessments.



V Your students must participate in annual testing. RCW28A.200.010



Non- test assessments are a legal way to go. Many unschooling families do not know the legalities of unschooling and hear of the many myths that unschooling is illegal because unschooling families do not test. In Washington State assessments are just as legal as testing. (See lV)



VI You must keep records. RCW 28A.200.010



These records are private and do not need to be shared by any state agency. If your child ever chooses to go to traditional schooling these will come in handy or if your child would like formal documentation for maybe a high school diploma.





Well that is really it. If you have any other questions check out these sites:
http://www.washhomeschool.org/index.html

http://familylearning.org/ Or call Family Learning Organization @ (509) 467-2552 (toll free: 800-405-8378)



* You can also attend Natural Unschooling Together Support (N.U.T.S.) in Grant County. For more info just respond to post. Blessing and great luck to your unschooling journey!!