California vs Washington: Homeschool Laws Compared

Washington is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while California requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 6 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, compulsory school ages, and public school sports access.

Rules compared

9

Differences

6

Same in both

3

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from California to Washington

Once you are a Washington resident you homeschool under Washington's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the local school district in Washington rather than the state education department.
2. The annual target changes from 175 days a year in California to 1,000 hours over 180 days a year in Washington.
3. Washington's required list adds reading, writing, spelling, language, history, occupational education, art, and music and drops language arts, visual/performing arts, and physical education compared with California's. Match Washington's wording in your records.
4. Washington requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually. California had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Compulsory school ages are 8-18 in Washington against 6-18 in California, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Washington the answer is yes, with conditions; in California it was no.

Moving from Washington to California

Once you are a California resident you homeschool under California's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the state education department in California rather than the local school district.
2. The annual target changes from 1,000 hours over 180 days a year in Washington to 175 days a year in California.
3. California's required list adds language arts, visual/performing arts, and physical education and drops reading, writing, spelling, language, history, occupational education, art, and music compared with Washington's. Match California's wording in your records.
4. California requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Washington's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in California against 8-18 in Washington, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In California the answer is no; in Washington it was yes, with conditions.

What stays the same

California and Washington match on the portfolio, progress reports, and ESA funding. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither California nor Washington takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Arizona vs California 6 rules differ
• Arizona vs Washington 6 rules differ
• California vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• California vs Florida 8 rules differ
• California vs Georgia 6 rules differ
• California vs Idaho 5 rules differ
• California vs Illinois 5 rules differ
• California vs Nevada 4 rules differ
• California vs New York 6 rules differ
• California vs North Carolina 6 rules differ
• California vs Oregon 5 rules differ
• California vs Tennessee 6 rules differ
• California vs Texas 6 rules differ
• Idaho vs Washington 5 rules differ
• Oregon vs Washington 4 rules differ
• Texas vs Washington 6 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table