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2026 State Guide
Homeschooling in Washington: Requirements & Rules
Homeschooling is legal in Washington, and families must meet notification plus testing and/or record requirements. Here’s everything you need to stay compliant, in plain English.
- Regulation level
- Moderate
- Notification
- Annual notice
- Instruction time
- 180 days/year
- Required subjects
- 12 subjects
- Assessment
- Required
- Recordkeeping
- Required
- Compulsory ages
- 8–18
Notification
Washington requires annual notice, due annual, at start of school year.
File annual Declaration of Intent with the local school district superintendent.
Instruction time
Washington requires 180 days of instruction per school year.
Either 180 days per year or an annual average of 1,000 hours — meeting one satisfies the requirement.
Required subjects
- Reading
- Writing
- Spelling
- Language
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social studies
- History
- Health
- Occupational education
- Art
- Music
Required: reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history and civics, health, occupational education, art, and music.
Assessment & testing
Washington requires periodic assessment of homeschooled students.
Annual assessment required — standardized test or evaluation by a certified teacher.
Recordkeeping
Washington requires homeschool families to maintain records.
Assessment records required.
Parent qualifications
Must have 45 college credits, or a teaching certificate, or work under a supervised correspondence program.
Good to know
Washington has parent qualification requirements and a moderately complex subject list.
Track Washington’s requirements automatically
Homeschool Wizard logs your school days, hours, and subjects against Washington’s rules — and turns them into portfolio PDFs, transcripts, and report cards when you need them. Free for one student.
Private by design: your family’s records stay on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is homeschooling legal in Washington?
Yes — homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. In Washington, families must meet notification plus testing and/or record requirements. Children ages 8–18 fall under compulsory education law.
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Washington?
Yes. Washington requires annual notice — annual, at start of school year. File annual Declaration of Intent with the local school district superintendent.
How many days or hours of instruction does Washington require?
Washington requires 180 days of instruction per year. Either 180 days per year or an annual average of 1,000 hours — meeting one satisfies the requirement.
What subjects are required in Washington?
Washington requires: Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, History, Health, Occupational education, Art, Music. Required: reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history and civics, health, occupational education, art, and music.
Is testing or assessment required for homeschoolers in Washington?
Yes — Washington has an assessment requirement. Annual assessment required — standardized test or evaluation by a certified teacher.
What records do homeschoolers need to keep in Washington?
Washington requires families to keep homeschool records. Assessment records required.
Official sources
Verify current requirements with the Washington Department of Education and HSLDA’s Washington page.
Not legal advice. This data is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Homeschool laws change frequently. Always verify requirements with your state's Department of Education or a qualified homeschool legal organization before making compliance decisions. Requirements shown were last verified 2026-09.