Washington Homeschool Laws and Requirements
What Washington requires, in plain English — and a free way to track it without spreadsheets. Log activities, watch your pace, and generate records when you need them.
The short answer
Washington has moderate homeschool requirements. Families must log at least 1000 hours of instruction per year, and you'll file notice with your local school district.
Washington at a glance
Verified July 2026- Required hours
- 1000 hrs/year
- School days
- 180 days/year
- Required subjects
- 12 subjects
- Notice
- Required
- Testing / evaluation
- Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation)
- Recordkeeping
- Recommended
Jump to the full Washington requirements for plain-English detail on each of these.
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Calculate your homeschool pace
Washington requires 1000 hours/year. Enter how far you've come and we'll show you the daily pace to finish on time.
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What Homeschool Fox tracks for Washington
Everything Washington expects you to keep, in one place — no spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.
- Hours toward your 1000-hour goal
- Required subjects & core hours
- Daily activity logs
- Attendance records
- Notes & portfolio records
- Printable PDF reports
- High school transcripts
- State-specific progress tracking
See it work
Log a homeschool day in seconds
Type or speak what you did in plain English. Homeschool Fox sorts it into subjects, adds up the time, and updates your Washington progress automatically.
You write
Homeschool Fox logs
- Reading 45 min
- Math 30 min
- History / Social Studies 20 min
Today's total
1 hr 35 min
Your Washington requirements, in plain English
Tap any item for the details.
Notice requirements
Required
Required hours
1000 hrs/yr
Required subjects
12 subjects
Testing / evaluation
Required
Recordkeeping & portfolio
Recommended
Withdrawing from public school
Letter + notice
Full guide
Homeschooling in Washington: the complete guide
If you're homeschooling in Washington, you're working inside a moderately regulated framework with enough structure to keep the state informed but plenty of room to build a family-shaped program. Compulsory attendance in Washington covers children ages 8-18, which means a homeschool program needs to be in place for any child in that range.
A Washington homeschool year is defined by a single headline number: 1000 hours of instruction spread over at least 180 school days. Whether those hours happen at the kitchen table, in a co-op, on a nature walk, or through a structured curriculum is entirely up to the family.
Notice filing is the gateway for Washington homeschool families: a short document submitted to your local school district sets the record straight for the year ahead. Most districts accept a straightforward letter listing each student, their grade level, and a brief statement of intent.
Assessment in Washington takes the form of parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation) annually. It's more of a pulse-check on how learning is landing than a pass/fail exam.
The required subjects in Washington (reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, art, and music) form the backbone of each year's plan, with real freedom in how deeply or creatively each is taught. In practice, Washington homeschool families use Homeschool Fox to log daily activities, keep portfolios in one place, and generate the compliance reports that the state's paperwork moments call for.
Notice requirements
Notice is required
You must notify your local school district of your intent to homeschool.
Need a head start? Use the free Notice of Intent generator to draft a Washington-ready letter.
Deeper guides: how to write a notice of intent to homeschool covers the language admins look for, and when and where to file your notice of intent covers state-by-state deadlines and recipients.
Generate your notice of intentWithdrawing from public school
File your declaration of intent with your local school district by September 15, or within two weeks of the start of any quarter, and notify your child's current school in writing so attendance records show the transfer. Keep a copy. To sign the declaration you must meet one of Washington's parent-qualification options: 45 college quarter credits, a qualifying parent-education course, approval by the superintendent, or working with a certified teacher who contacts the child weekly.
For the play-by-play, how to withdraw your child from public school walks through the conversation, the timing, and the paperwork. What to send the district when you pull your child covers exactly what the letter should and shouldn't say.
Assessment requirements
Assessment is required
- Type:
- Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation)
- Frequency:
- Annually
Standardized testing for homeschoolers walks through which test to choose, where to register, and how to prep.
Portfolio & records
Portfolio not required
Under RCW 28A.200.020, each year's assessment becomes part of the child's permanent record kept at home. Washington doesn't require a specific portfolio format beyond that.
Required subjects
Washington requires instruction in the following subjects.
Looking for curriculum?
Browse our curriculum directory to find the right fit for your family, then track your hours with Homeschool Fox to stay compliant with Washington's requirements.
Additional notes
1000 hours or 180 days (grades 1-12). Declaration of intent by Sept 15 or within 2 weeks of any quarter. Annual assessment via standardized test or certified evaluator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to notify anyone to homeschool in Washington?
How many hours do I need to homeschool in Washington?
Does Washington require testing for homeschoolers?
Do I need to keep a portfolio in Washington?
What subjects must I teach in Washington?
Nearby states
View all statesWant the cross-state comparison? Homeschool laws by state covers the legal regime in every state side by side.
Common mistakes in Washington
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Overlooking the parent qualification rule
Washington asks the supervising parent to meet one of a few qualifications: 45 college quarter credits, completion of a parent qualifying course, supervision by a certified teacher, or district superintendent approval. It is the requirement families most often discover after they have already filed.
Free Washington printables
Two ready-to-use PDFs for Washington homeschoolers. No account needed.
Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.
Get notified when Washington changes its rules
We track Washington's statute and department pages and email you when the requirements move. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Washington last verified July 7, 2026.
Reviewed and sourced
Last verified: July 2026. We review Washington's requirements against official sources and update this page when the rules change.
Our monitor last confirmed the source pages were live on Aug 10, 2026.
Sources
Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We turn public homeschool requirements into practical tracking tools for families. Always confirm details with your state or a qualified advisor.
More Washington guides
- How to Start Homeschooling in Washington A step-by-step guide from withdrawal to your first logged day.
- Homeschooling High School in Washington Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
- Record Keeping in Washington What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.
- How to Withdraw From School in Washington The steps, the letter, and timing to avoid truancy issues.
- Moving to Washington What to file when you arrive and whether your records transfer.
- Public School Sports in Washington Whether homeschoolers can play, what it takes, and who to ask.
- Homeschool Hours Required in Washington The number, what counts toward it, and the pace to hit it.
- Required Subjects in Washington The list, how much time each needs, and proving you taught them.
- Washington Letter of Intent Who to file with, when it's due, and a free generator.
- Washington Year End Report What goes in it, when it's due, and who reviews it.
- Homeschool Testing in Washington What the state asks for, when, and low-score rules.
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