Homeschooling in Washington State
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need and awareness for alternative educational options. Many parents and caregivers who had never considered homeschooling suddenly found themselves with stay-at-home students. A local pediatric nurse explained that she had resorted to teaching her sons in the evenings and on weekends. That was the only time she could devote given the circumstances.
Some parents cannot wait for schools to reopen while others have realized that homeschooling works for their family better than they imagined. Flexibility is the hallmark of homeschooling, allowing parents to provide an education that is as unique as each child. However, fears and misconceptions surrounding homeschooling may dissuade some parents from taking the next step towards independent educational options.
Many people assume that they must be a certified teacher in order to homeschool; however, Washington State only requires that parents earn 45 quarter units of college-level credit or take a parent qualifying course (PQC). Although some parents complete the PQC and earn a bachelor’s degree, only one of these qualifications is necessary. Also, only one parent needs to meet this requirement. The Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) is offering a four-hour course in September for $90.
Mandatory School Age
Another common question concerns mandatory school age, which is eight years old in Washington State. This means that any child who is between the ages of 8-18 must be enrolled in public, private, or home school. It also means that if a child is younger than eight years old, education laws do not yet apply and parents are free to use their parental intuition to choose the best educational opportunities for their child, whether formal education or not.
Once a child turns eight years old, however, parents are required to meet homeschooling qualifications and submit a Declaration of Intent (DOI) with the superintendent of the public school district by September 15th or the child’s 8th birthday, whichever occurs first. Keep in mind that schools are not legally authorized to request more information than detailed in RCW 28A.200.010 (1), meaning that it is not required for parents to explain their decision or to submit medical or school records. A sample DOI form can be obtained through the WHO website.
How Curriculum is Structured
As mentioned previously, homeschooling allows parents the unique ability to completely customize their child’s education to meet their exact needs and cultivate their specific interests. Educational laws in Washington State recognize and protect this flexibility by keeping requirements to a minimum and even acknowledging that “the nature and quantity of instructional and related educational activities shall be liberally construed” (RCW 28A.225.010).
Homeschools must teach eleven required subjects, but these subjects can overlap. A trip to a science museum may fulfill requirements for science, history, and occupational education. Other subjects include reading, writing, spelling, language, math, social studies, health, and art and music appreciation. Over the course of a year, homeschool students must log a minimum of 180 school days or 1,000 hours for grades 1-12, which may seem like a lot but is actually average for school-age children in the United States. Although attendance records don’t need to be submitted, it is a good idea to maintain some sort of recordkeeping system.
End-of-year assessments also need to be filed with students’ records. Students who suffer from test anxiety or would benefit from a non-test assessment can meet with a certified Washington State teacher in lieu of a standardized test. It is important to remember that the purpose of tests and assessments is to help students and parents understand a student’s progress, not to judge or embarrass. Standardized tests are necessary in public and private schools where students need to learn at the same pace.
It is still important and helpful for homeschool students to develop test-taking skills, but for different reasons. A student who tests at a sixth grade level in math may completely skip fifth-grade math, even though she needs to retake fourth-grade spelling. A parent may decide to switch curricula to better accommodate a student’s kinesthetic learning style. One student may want to explore Advanced Placement courses while another student may want to sign up for an apprenticeship program. End-of-year assessments empower these kinds of decisions for home-educated students.
At-Home Options for 2020-2021
Homeschooling isn’t for everyone, but it may be a good fit for more families than ever before, especially in light of COVID-19. According to a USA Today poll, up to 60 percent of parents are considering at-home options for the upcoming 2020-21 school year. For parents who are interested in homeschooling but feel overwhelmed, know that many states have made requirements simple and easy to follow. There is also a solid network of homeschooling parents who would be more than happy to share their experience and offer their support.
