Washington homeschool requirements

To homeschool in Washington, file a Declaration of Intent with your district by September 15, meet one of four parent-qualification options, provide ~1,000 hours, and complete an annual test or certified-teacher assessment (kept on file).

Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · Sources below

Moderate regulation Notice required Instruction time set Testing or evaluation

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Washington homeschool requirements at a glance

Notice: RequiredWhere it goes: Local school district superintendent (or OSPI). When: By September 15 (or within 2 weeks of the start of a quarter/semester if starting mid-year).
Required subjects: Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, History, Health, Occupational Education, Art & Music Appreciation
Instruction time: 1,000 hours1,000 hours/year for grades 1–12 (450 for kindergarten), equivalent to ~180 days. (The '2,700 hours' figure sometimes cited is not in WA law.)
Testing or evaluation: Yes — annualAnnual assessment for all grades; results are kept by the family, not submitted. If progress is inadequate, the parent must make a good-faith effort to remedy it.
Records: Yes — assessment results, immunizations
Parent qualifications: Required
Compulsory attendance ages: 8–18
Ways to homeschool: Independent (annual Declaration of Intent)
Law: RCW 28A.200.010; 28A.225.010
Official source: ospi.k12.wa.us ↗

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Local school district superintendent (or OSPI). How: Signed Declaration of Intent, filed annually. When: By September 15 (or within 2 weeks of the start of a quarter/semester if starting mid-year). Re-filed annually.

What subjects does Washington require homeschoolers to teach?

Washington requires instruction in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, History, Health, Occupational Education, and Art & Music Appreciation. 11 subjects (RCW 28A.200.010); they need not be taught separately — integrated unit studies are acceptable.

How many days or hours of instruction does Washington require?

Washington's rule: 1,000 hours/year for grades 1–12 (450 for kindergarten), equivalent to ~180 days. (The '2,700 hours' figure sometimes cited is not in WA law.)

Is standardized testing required to homeschool in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires a test or another accepted form of evaluation. How often: Annual (all grades, not grade-pegged). What is accepted: A State-Board-approved standardized achievement test administered by a qualified individual, or a written annual assessment by a Washington-certified teacher currently working in education. Annual assessment for all grades; results are kept by the family, not submitted. If progress is inadequate, the parent must make a good-faith effort to remedy it.

What records do I need to keep to homeschool in Washington?

Washington requires these records: standardized test results or written assessment and immunization records. How long, or where they go: Kept on file (not submitted to the district). Assessment results become part of the child's permanent record, kept by the family.

Do parents need a teaching certificate or other qualification to homeschool in Washington?

Yes. Washington sets a qualification for the parent who teaches. Satisfy one of four options: 45 college quarter-credits (any field); a qualifying parent course approved by OSPI/a district; supervision by a Washington-certified teacher (at least 1 contact hour/week); or be deemed qualified by the local superintendent.

What ages does Washington's compulsory attendance law cover?

Washington's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 8 to age 18.

What are the ways to homeschool in Washington?

In Washington, families homeschool under this pathway: independent (annual Declaration of Intent).

Is homeschooling legal in Washington?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Washington, as it is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To homeschool in Washington, file a Declaration of Intent with your district by September 15, meet one of four parent-qualification options, provide ~1,000 hours, and complete an annual test or certified-teacher assessment (kept on file).

How to get started in Washington

File a Declaration of Intent every year

File a signed Declaration of Intent with your local school district superintendent by September 15 — or within two weeks of the start of a quarter or semester if you begin mid-year. Washington's compulsory attendance age runs from 8 to 18, and you re-file the declaration every year.

Official resource (ospi.k12.wa.us) →

Meet one parent-qualification option

The teaching parent must meet one of four options: 45 college quarter-credits in any field; a qualifying parent course approved by OSPI or a school district; supervision by a Washington-certified teacher (at least one contact hour a week); or being deemed qualified by your local school district superintendent.

Teach the 11 required subjects

Reading, writing, spelling, language, mathematics, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, and art and music appreciation. They don't have to be taught as separate classes — integrated unit studies count.

Provide 1,000 hours a year

Provide 1,000 hours of instruction a year for grades 1–12 (450 hours for kindergarten) — roughly the equivalent of 180 school days. Keep your own record of hours. The '2,700 hours' figure sometimes cited is not in Washington law.

Annual test or assessment

Each year, either have your child take a State Board-approved standardized achievement test given by a qualified individual, or get a written assessment of their academic progress from a Washington-certified teacher currently working in education. Keep the results as part of your child's permanent record, along with immunization records — you don't submit them to the district. If the results show your child isn't making adequate progress, you must make a good-faith effort to remedy it.

What Romeschool tracks for you: Hour tracking, assessment reminders, filing reminders.

Generate your Washington Notice of Intent →Washington funding & ESAs Find field trips in Washington

Sources for Washington

Official source (ospi.k12.wa.us) ↗HSLDA's Washington summary ↗

Statute: RCW 28A.200.010; 28A.225.010

Last reviewed: June 5, 2026

Every requirement above comes from our review of Washington’s rules, last checked against these sources on June 5, 2026. Homeschool law changes, and a state can amend its rules between our reviews — read the official source before you file anything or rely on a date here. How we review state requirements.

Nearby states

States that share a border with Washington:

Idaho Oregon

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