Texas vs Washington: Homeschool Laws Compared

Washington is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while Texas requires no notice to homeschool. 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 ESA funding.

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 Texas to Washington

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

1. File a notice of intent with the local school district once you are a Washington resident. Texas did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
2. Start logging from your first day: Washington counts 1,000 hours over 180 days a year, and Texas set no minimum.
3. Washington's required list adds writing, language, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, art, and music and drops grammar and good citizenship compared with Texas's. Match Washington's wording in your records.
4. Washington requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually. Texas had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Compulsory school ages are 8-18 in Washington against 6-19 in Texas, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Washington has no ESA program. Texas's Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) is for Texas residents, so budget without it.

Moving from Washington to Texas

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

1. There is no notice to file in Texas. Before you leave, send Washington's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
2. Texas sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
3. Texas's required list adds grammar and good citizenship and drops writing, language, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, art, and music compared with Washington's. Match Texas's wording in your records.
4. Texas requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Washington's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-19 in Texas against 8-18 in Washington, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Texas runs Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA). Check whether your family qualifies; Washington had no comparable program.

What stays the same

Texas and Washington match on the portfolio, progress reports, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Texas 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 Texas 4 rules differ
• Arizona vs Washington 6 rules differ
• Arkansas vs Texas 3 rules differ
• California vs Texas 6 rules differ
• California vs Washington 6 rules differ
• Colorado vs Texas 6 rules differ
• Florida vs Texas 6 rules differ
• Georgia vs Texas 5 rules differ
• Idaho vs Washington 5 rules differ
• Louisiana vs Texas 5 rules differ
• New Mexico vs Texas 5 rules differ
• New York vs Texas 7 rules differ
• Oregon vs Washington 4 rules differ
• Tennessee vs Texas 4 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