How to Start Homeschooling in Washington State: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents

Are you thinking about homeschooling your child in Washington State but not sure where to begin? You're not alone- and the good news is, it's more doable than you might think! Whether you're considering homeschooling for academic freedom, faith-based learning, flexibility, or all of the above, this step-by-step guide will walk you through exactly how to get started legally and confidently.

Step 1:

Make Sure You Qualify to Homeschool

In Washington State, you must meet one of the following requirements to homeschool:

• Be supervised by a certified teacher (usually part of a private extension program or homeschool partnership)

• Complete a parent qualifying course (like a homeschool parent workshop)

• Have 45 college quarter credits (about 30 semester credits)

• Be deemed qualified by the local school superintendent

Our co-op is glad to provide a State-certified teacher to help meet homeschooling requirements for parents who need that so reach out to us if you are not sure if you qualify!

Also, these requirements do not apply if you are doing an online public school.

Step 2:

File a Declaration of Intent

If your child is 8 years or older, you’ll need to submit a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool to your local school district by September 15 of each school year (or within two weeks of starting homeschooling if after that date).

The form should include:

• Your child’s name and age

• Your address

• A statement that you’re planning to homeschool

• Your qualification (as described in Step 1)

You can hand-deliver, mail, or email it to the school district office. Keep a copy for your records!

Step 3:

Choose a Curriculum That Works for Your Family

Washington State law doesn’t mandate specific curriculum—but you will need to cover 11 required subjects:

• Reading

• Writing

• Spelling

• Language

• Math

• Science

• Social Studies

• History

• Health

• Occupational Education

• Art and Music Appreciation

You don’t need to cover all subjects every day, and you can choose how to teach them in a way that fits your family’s style and values. Also, these subjects are required throughout the duration of the students education so it is up to the parents how, how often and in what year these subjects are covered so there is a lot of flexibility!

Step 4:

Provide 1,000 Hours of Instruction Annually

Parents are required to offer 1,000 hours of instruction per school year. This breaks down to about 4.5–5.5 hours per day, 4–5 days a week.

This can sound intimidating but the good news is that you don’t need to track every minute. Most families simply ensure their school year covers enough time with a mix of structured learning, independent study, and hands-on projects. Also, the great thing about homeschooling is that you can apply anything from church services, serving at church, grocery shopping, zoo trips and so much more to apply to their homeschooling education!

Step 5:

Test or Evaluate Your Student Annually

Each year, you’ll need to:

• Administer a standardized test approved by the state (like the CAT, Iowa, or TerraNova)

  
  

  OR

  
  

• Have your child evaluated by a certified teacher. Our co-op offers this option if you’d like!

You’re not required to submit the results to the school district—but you should keep them in a folder as part of your records.

Step 6:

Maintain Records

You will want to keep these things on record. They will be very valuable if you ever choose to send your student back to public school or they may also be valuable for applying to programs such as Running Start at Clark College.

• Annual test results or evaluations

• A log of educational activities (a planner or calendar works!)

• Samples of student work

Bonus Tip:

Connect with a Homeschool Community

Homeschooling doesn’t mean doing it alone! At Rooted Homeschool Collective, we offer a number of resources to help you!

We offer:

• In-person classes and enrichment

• Support for online curriculum

• A community of like-minded parents

• Volunteer opportunities and student workshops

• A partnership with Activate Bible College for high school students

Whether you’re brand new or just looking to supplement your homeschool, we are here to help!

YOU’VE GOT THIS!

Starting homeschooling can feel overwhelming, but you are not alone and you are more than capable! Washington State offers freedom and flexibility for families who want to take charge of their children’s education.

If you’re ready to take the next step or have questions, we’d love to hear from you!

Contact us, or check out our “Programs” page to see how we can support your homeschool journey!