Washington Homeschooling Law
"If we were left solely to the wordy wit of legislators in Congress for our guidance, uncorrected by the seasonable experience and the effectual complaints of the people, America would not long retain her rank among the nations."

—Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience


I am a strong believer in reading the law itself. It is not difficult though it may not be spell binding. There are a number of sources for interpretation of our law. Some are better than others. After years of homeschooling and talking with numerous people, I have come to view the material on the Washington Homeschool Organization to be the best. They give you the law and they give you the law in laymans terms. Read them both. If you have questions, if you don't see the interpretations in the same light, discuss this with other homeschoolers. Or read the laws here.
The WHEN email list has been in existance for more than a decade. People are welcome to discuss the law, legislation and everyday issues.
Take advantage of it.
Resources to understanding Washington’s Homeschooling law.

First, we operate under a law called Home-based Instruction, not homeschooling. However homeschooling has been and is used in conversations with public officials and legislators since 1985 and it is known as a family who takes full responsibility for educating their child(ren) - homeschooling.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) oversees all three educational options in WA State – public, private and homeschooling.
http://www.k12.wa.us/
From the pull down menu, click on Support/Operations and choose Home-based Instruction

You can read all A 1-8 but I would concentrate on A2, 3, 5, 6, and 7.
I no longer recommend the “Pink Book” given it has at least one terrible error and OSPI isn’t in a hurry to correct it.

The Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) has a great site and I encourage all to become members and support the work they do.
http://www.washhomeschool.org/

Be aware that some people call programs at the local school “homeschool programs”. They are not. These are public school programs that resemble homeschooling but do not operate under the Home-based Instruction laws.
This is not an opinion; it is a fact of law. If you are not sure, ask.
We, as parents, still control the curriculum, the timing of what is learned, how information is presented, and assessment of progress. Schools have no right to our attendance or test records nor do we submit learning goals or curriculum outlines for approval.
Homeschoolers and private schoolers are allowed to take select classes at a public school, ie. we can be part time students and still retain our Home-based Instruction status.  If we avail ourselves of part time enrollment, we are handing over that part of our children’s learning to someone else but nothing else.

Compulsory Attendence

All parents in this state of any child eight years of age and under eighteen years of age
shall cause such child to attend the public school of the district in which the child resides
and such child shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time
when such school may be in session unless:
Home-based Instruction law
Duties and Responsibilites of parents

Talks about the Declaration of Intent to Homeschool which we file annually. Also mentioned is record keeping and annual testing/assessments. With the standardized testing, there is mention of the School Board of Education's (SBE)  approved list of tests . This is only a SAMPLE. If you wish to have a test considered, email the SBE and/or look the test up on Buro's website for acheivement tests. Buros provides information to users of commercially published tests.
Declaration of Intent to Homeschool form
(to be filed by September 15th or within two weeks of the beginning of any quarter, semester or trimester)

Each school district has their own Declaration of Intent to Homeschool (D of I) document. However, years have shown school districts unwilling to follow the letter of the law. I no longer recommend anyone use school district forms. When you read the Duties and Responsibilites of parents, it explains exactly what is require on the D of I. "The statement shall include the name and age of the child, shall specify whether a certificated person will be supervising the instruction..." -----that is it, NO MORE. If a district's request is not supported by the law, you are not required to supply it. Instead a polite request for the statue that requires such information is usually the best recourse.
The Washington Homeschool Organization has a great page devoted to the Declaration of Intent. They also have an acceptable document.

If you choose to use your district's D of I document, please keep in mind what the law requires. It is legal to write N/A (Not Applicable) in areas that are not required by law and there is no statue which allows school districts to refuse to accept the D of I document.

The completed form is delivered to your local superintendent's office (address is in the phone book). Have a copy of the completed form stamped with the date and who received the form. Keep this in your files.
Our Laws
Most of these errors are found in the Part One - Questions. They claim a superintendent, if asked to deem a parent qualified, could require a list of things from this family. Or under the Declaration of Intent to Homechool, OSPI claims you must use a form from your school district. Neither of these claims is supported by statue. In the case of the Declaration of Intent to Homeschool, more than a few districts ask inappropriate questions that again, are not support by statue.

Running Start changes
We are back to where we were in 2005 except now we need to supply proof we filed a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool one (1) year prior to filing for Running Start.
Read the particulars of the law and what we need to do now.