Homeschool funding & ESAs in Washington

Can I get paid to homeschool in Washington?

No. Washington has no ESA or voucher that independent homeschooling families can use. Nationwide grants are listed below, each with its own eligibility rules. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. It runs the other way too: Washington's homeschool rules require a test or an evaluation each year. The accepted options, and who administers each, are in the testing line below. If the option you choose charges a fee, plan for it.

What does Washington require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

Washington requires a test or an evaluation each year. That is the part of the year a family arranges ahead of time. Which options Washington accepts — and who administers each one — is in the testing line below, in the reviewed rules' own words. If the option you choose charges a fee, plan for it. What Washington asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

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.

Testing or evaluation

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.

Days and hours

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.)

Records

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.

Full Washington homeschool requirements →

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →