WA Homeschooling laws and myths

I've heard a lot of misconceptions about homeschooling in Washington. Many parents believe you have to homeschool through Home Connections, or through an online curriculum. You don't! 

The laws here are actually fairly simple. 

First, many parents questions if they are qualified to teach their own children. 

To be qualified to homeschool your child in Washington,  you need only do ONE of the following..

1 - be supervised by a certificated teacher for one contact hour per week, OR...

2 - have earned 45 college credits OR...
3 -be deemed sufficiently qualified to homeschool by the superintendent of the school district, OR...
4 - have completed a course in home-based instruction at a post-secondary institution or vocational-technical school.

I personally believe #4 to be the easiest as well as most helpful option. It is a 2 day class (Friday evening and all day Saturday), and it helps you to feel prepared to teach your child, and makes sure you know the laws in and out. Even if you have the college credits I suggest taking the course if you are able.

You are  required to have your child either tested or assessed annually (after they turn 8, or younger if you have pulled them out of public school).

 Testing is to be done with a standardized achievement test approved by the State Board of Education and "administered by a qualified individual." You can choose to go through the school district, or our Homeschool group also offers testing each spring as well. 

You may have your child's academic progress assessed by a "certificated person who is currently working in the field of education."  

Our family chooses assessment. This takes only a couple hours, and I feel it is more thorough than just test results. I find out not only what areas my child is strong and weak in, but I am offered ideas to help them grow educationally. 

*Editted in 2013. Our assessor has retired so we are now testing at home through FLO

A lot of parents worry about how their child will perform on standardized tests, and what will happen if they do not "pass". Standardized testing and assessment is not something that public authorities have access to unless you are part of the public programs like Home Connections, etc.  So independent parents should not fear the results of being scrutinized for a “passing” grade. The test results would be for the benefits of the parents to focus better on the needs of the child. 

Even if your child did do poorly, the law states If it is determined that the child is not making reasonable progress consistent with his or her age or stage of development, the parent shall make a good-faith effort to remedy any deficiency  Therefore, no action against the parents is mandated in the law if the child does not "pass." No power is given to either the police agencies, school district, or child protective services to either force you to place your child back in regular school or to take your child away from you.

The only other requirement is to ensure that test or assessment records and immunization records are kept in the child's permanent record , which are to be kept in your possession until you transfer the child to a public school. If anyone asks for test scores other than at that time, you do not legally have to disclose them.

According to the law, to be considered home-based instruction, it "must consist of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities including curriculum and instruction in the basic skills, (occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music) and it must be provided for a number of hours equivalent to the total annual program hours per grade level established for approved private schools," which vary per grade level.

This requirement can be intimidating to homeschoolers as it can seem that we are required to do formal school for 4 to 6 hours a day. As parents, we are teaching by precept and example all day long.  

The legislature recognizes that home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential than the instruction normally provided in a classroom setting. Therefore, the provisions of subsection (4) of the section relating to the nature and quantity of instructional and related educational activities shall be liberally construed."
At home, material is learned much more quickly due to the ability to teach at the child's own pace. Therefore, a homeschooled child may be able to learn "equivalent" to a regular-schooled child in much less time! In our own family, this is often just a couple hours total of formal, academic "school" per day.  Nature walks(science), helping mommy cook (math skills), playing outside (PE) all count as school hours!

In  Washington State parents are not required to submit any lesson plans to anyone.

 

I found a lot of helpful information about homeschooling in Washington here. 

 And you can find up to date information on the laws in any state at HSLDA