Homeschool Owl

How to Start Homeschooling in Washington

Moderate Regulation

Quick answer

Washington requires notification to homeschool (deadline: September 15 annually, or within 2 weeks of the start of a public-school quarter/trimester/semester if starting mid-year). Withdraw your child from their current school in writing, then file that notification.

Triple-Checked

This data was last checked against official sources on August 4, 2026. Laws change, so if something looks off or your state updated its requirements since then, confirm current details on your state's official homeschool page or use the correction form below.

What to do

  1. 1

    Decide your start date

    Pick the date your child will stop attending their current school and homeschooling will begin. This is the date you'll reference in your withdrawal letter and any required state notification.

  2. 2

    Withdraw your child from their current school, in writing

    Notify your child's current school in writing that you are withdrawing them to homeschool, effective your start date. Most schools have a withdrawal form; even if they don't, a dated letter or email is a good record to keep. This step applies regardless of what your state requires below.

  3. 3

    File your notice of intent with Washington

    Washington requires families to notify the state or district that they're homeschooling. The deadline is September 15 annually, or within 2 weeks of the start of a public-school quarter/trimester/semester if starting mid-year. See "Where to submit" below for how.

  4. 4

    Set up your curriculum

    Make sure your plan covers Washington's required subjects: Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language, Math, Science, Social Studies, History, Health, Occupational Education, Art and Music Appreciation.

  5. 5

    Plan for assessments

    Washington requires testing for homeschool students. Frequency: annual — a state-approved standardized test, or an annual assessment by a certificated person (parent's choice). Build this into your yearly plan so it's not a surprise.

  6. 6

    Start tracking instructional days

    Washington requires 167 instructional days per year. Logging days as you go (rather than reconstructing them later) makes end-of-year reporting much easier.

  7. 7

    Prepare for reporting

    Washington's report frequency is: annual (declaration refiled every year); assessment results are kept in the permanent record and submitted only if requested. Keep records (logs, samples of work, test results if applicable) throughout the year so reporting is just an export, not a scramble.

When to do it

You can generally start homeschooling at any point in the school year, you don't need to wait for a semester or term boundary. Withdraw from your current school effective your chosen start date.

Washington's notification deadline is September 15 annually, or within 2 weeks of the start of a public-school quarter/trimester/semester if starting mid-year. If you're starting outside the usual back-to-school window, file your notification as close to your start date as possible.

How to do it

Where to submit

local resident district superintendent (or an accepting nonresident district) — district-specific

Sample withdrawal letter+

A generic starting point for notifying your child's current school. If Washington requires its own notification form, use the official one linked above in addition to this letter.

Date: [Today's Date]

To: [School Name / Principal's Name]
[School Address]

Re: Withdrawal of [Child's Full Name] to Homeschool

I am writing to notify you that I am withdrawing my child, [Child's Full Name]
(Date of Birth: [DOB], Grade: [Grade]), from [School Name], effective
[Start Date]. My family will be homeschooling going forward.

Please let me know if you need any additional information or if there are
next steps required on my end to complete the withdrawal.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone / Email]

Frequently Asked Questions

Is homeschooling legal in Washington?+
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 US states, including Washington. States vary in how much paperwork and reporting they require, but the right to homeschool itself is not in question anywhere in the US.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool?+
No. No US state requires parents to hold a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool their own children.
Do I need permission from my school district to homeschool in Washington?+
You need to notify Washington by September 15 annually, or within 2 weeks of the start of a public-school quarter/trimester/semester if starting mid-year, but this is a notification requirement, not an approval process, the district doesn't get to deny it.
Can I withdraw my child mid-semester or mid-year?+
Yes, you can generally begin homeschooling at any point in the school year. Notify your child's current school of the withdrawal date, and if your state requires notification, file it around that same time.
What if my child has an IEP or 504 plan?+
Homeschooling doesn't automatically carry over public-school special education services. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, talk to your district and consider consulting a special-education advocate about what services (if any) remain available and how to structure accommodations at home.
What happens if I don't notify Washington that I'm homeschooling?+
Since Washington requires notification, not filing it can put you at risk of a truancy inquiry, since the state has no record that your child is being legally homeschooled instead of simply not enrolled anywhere.
Washington requirements in detail →General how-to-start guide →Homeschooling with an IEP →Free attendance log printable →Free homeschool tools →All state guides →

Track your Washington homeschool year automatically

Once you've withdrawn, Homeschool Owl checks Washington's requirement against the actual law, logs your child's instructional days toward the 167, and turns that into the letters and compliance documents Washington expects.

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