Homeschool Declaration in Washington as a Kinship Caregiver

Check Your Authority Before Homeschooling

If you're a grandparent or relative raising a child in Washington and considering home-based instruction, do not assume that living with the child or holding a school caregiver form gives you authority to file. The filing duty belongs to the parent or a person with legal custody; a parent's written delegation may also matter. Washington requires a specific filing process, instructional standards, and annual assessment.

The Declaration of Intent

Washington's homeschool statute is RCW 28A.200.010, combined with RCW 28A.225.010(4). To homeschool legally, the parent must file a Declaration of Intent to Provide Home-Based Instruction with the superintendent of the resident district by September 15 of each school year, or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester.

The declaration must include:

• The name and age of the child
• Whether a certificated person will supervise the instruction
• The information required in the format prescribed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Separate home-based instruction requirements include the annual program hours set for approved private schools (1,000 hours for grades 1–12) and an annual test or progress assessment.

The question is who files. Washington law says a "parent" must file the declaration. For kinship caregivers, the practical answer depends on your legal standing:

If you have a parental power of attorney under RCW 11.130.145, it may delegate educational authority. Check that the document expressly covers the decisions you need to make and confirm the district's filing process; the statute assigns the declaration duty to the parent.

If you have court-appointed guardianship, you are the legal guardian and file as the parent.

If you're operating under an informal arrangement with only an RCW 7.70.065 health declaration or a school Caregiver Authorization Form, those documents do not by themselves make you the parent or legal custodian responsible for filing a homeschool declaration. Contact the district's home-based instruction coordinator to confirm what authority is required; if no parent or legal custodian is available, get legal advice before filing in your own name.

Instructional Requirements

Once the declaration is filed, Washington requires home-based instruction to cover these subjects:

• Reading, writing, spelling, and language arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social studies (history, geography, civics)
• Occupational education
• Health
• Physical education
• Art and music appreciation

You don't need to use a specific curriculum or textbook. Washington is relatively flexible on instructional methods — you choose the materials and schedule. The 1,000-hour annual instruction requirement works out to roughly 4–5 hours per school day over a standard calendar.

Annual Assessment

Washington requires annual assessment of homeschooled students, with the method varying by the student's grade level. Options include:

• A standardized achievement test administered by a qualified person
• An assessment by a certified teacher currently employed in the field of education

The assessment verifies that the child is making reasonable educational progress. Keep the results as part of the child's permanent educational records and provide them to the school if the child later transfers into a school program.

Medical Consent While Homeschooling

Choosing home-based instruction doesn't change your medical consent authority. Your RCW 7.70.065 declaration still covers doctor visits, dental appointments, immunizations, and mental health care.

One difference from public school: homeschooled children don't have a school nurse. If the child needs medication during instructional hours, you administer it yourself. The school medication authorization process under RCW 28A.210.260 doesn't apply because there's no school staff involved.

Immunization requirements also differ. Washington requires immunization compliance for children attending public or private schools and licensed childcare, but home-based instruction doesn't carry the same requirement. That said, keeping the child's immunizations current is still important for their health and for re-enrollment if they later return to a traditional school.

Returning to Public School

If you decide home-based instruction isn't working, the child can re-enroll in the local public school at any time. Bring the same documentation you'd need for any new enrollment — proof of residency, identity documents, immunization records — plus any records of the home-based instruction (transcripts, assessment results, subject coverage).

The school will evaluate the child's academic level and place them in the appropriate grade. If the child has been assessed annually as required, the transition is straightforward.

The Washington Consent Guide for Kinship Caregivers covers both public school enrollment and the decision points around home-based instruction, including how your medical consent authority works alongside either educational path.

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