Washington requires an annual declaration of intent, one of four parent qualification routes, eleven required subjects, and a yearly test or assessment that stays in your own files.
Homeschooling is legal in Washington under one of the country's oldest homeschool statutes, and the structure is clear: file an annual declaration of intent with your local district, qualify as the supervising parent through one of four routes, teach the state's eleven subject areas, and have your child tested or assessed once a year. The results stay in your records — they are not submitted to the district.
The qualification routes are broader than people expect: 45 college quarter credits (about a year of college), completing a parent qualifying course, working with a certified teacher who meets with your child regularly, or being deemed sufficiently qualified by your superintendent.
File the declaration of intent with your resident district annually by September 15, or within two weeks of the start of any public school quarter if you begin mid-year. Districts provide the form; it asks only for basic information.
Meet one of four routes: 45+ college quarter credits, a parent qualifying course, supervision by a Washington-certified teacher (regular contact), or superintendent approval. Most parents qualify via college credits or the short qualifying course.
Eleven areas over your child's schooling: reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, and art/music appreciation — covered across the years, not all every day.
Each year, either a standardized test administered by a qualified person or a non-test assessment by a Washington-certified teacher currently working in education. You keep the results in your own records; nothing is filed with the district unless specifically required.
Confirm your qualification route — count your college credits or sign up for a parent qualifying course if needed.
File the declaration of intent with your district (by September 15, or within two weeks of a mid-year start).
Withdraw your child from their current school in writing if enrolled.
Set up a records file: declarations, immunization records, test/assessment results, and yearly progress notes.
Book your annual test or assessment provider early — summer slots fill fast.
Choose a curriculum that touches Washington's eleven subject areas over time and keeps math and reading strong for the annual assessment.
Whatever Washington asks for — attendance, subject coverage, progress evidence, transcripts — Cullinan Academy tracks it automatically as your kids learn: verified mastery records, time-on-task, printable transcripts with GPA, and state report templates. No spreadsheet required.
You do. Results go into your own records, not to the district. They exist to inform your teaching.
Yes. A parent qualifying course (widely available, often online and inexpensive) is the most common alternative, and two other routes exist.
No — the subjects are covered across your child's overall education, at levels appropriate to age and ability. 'Occupational education' can be as simple as life-skills and career exposure.
The test is a standardized instrument given by a qualified administrator; the assessment is a progress evaluation by a currently practicing certified teacher. Families choose whichever suits the child.
Yes — Washington supports part-time enrollment and ancillary services for homeschoolers, a benefit many families use for labs, arts, or sports.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Homeschool law changes, and districts sometimes apply it differently. Verify current requirements with your state's department of education or a local homeschool association before filing anything. Content last reviewed 2026-07.