Source: http://www.chnow.org/option-i-independent-homeschooling.html
Timestamp: 2018-04-25 16:17:05
Document Index: 540974166

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1103', '§ 178', '§ 2', '§ 607', '§ 179', '§ 3']

Option I: Independent Homeschooling - Christian Homeschool Network
Option I- Independent Home-based Instruction
All children from eight to eighteen must be enrolled in the public school system unless they are home-based, or enrolled in a private school.
In order to homeschool, a parent must either have 45 hours of college credits, or attend a parent qualifying course or work with a certified teacher or be deemed qualified by the local school superintendent. A parent may also homeschool under an approved private school extension program.
A parent must annually file a declaration of intent to homeschool with the local school superintendent. Filing must be done by September 15th or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester or semester. The form must be in the format prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction and has to include the name and age of child and specify if a certified person will be supervising.
The parent must have the child tested or assessed each year. The test must be a standardized test approved by the state board of education.
Home-based instruction “ consists of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities, including a curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music, provided for a number of hours equivalent to the total annual program hours per grade level established for approved private schools under RCW 28A.195.010 and 28A.195.040. RCW 28A225.010"
RCW 28A.200.010 Home-based instruction -- Duties of parents.
Each parent whose child is receiving home-based instruction under RCW 28A.225.010 (4)shall have the duty to:
(1) File annually a signed declaration of intent that he or she is planning to cause his or her child to receive home-based instruction. The statement shall include the name and age of the child, shall specify whether a certificated person will be supervising the instruction, and shall be written in a format prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction. Each parent shall file the statement by September 15 of the school year or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester with the superintendent of the public school district within which the parent resides or the district that accepts the tra student shall be deemed a transfer student of the nonresident district. Parents may apply for transfer under RCW 28A.225.220;
(3) Ensure that a standardized achievement test approved by the state board of education is administered annually to the child by a qualified individual or that an annual assessment of the student's academic progress is written by a certificated person who is currently working in the field of education. The state board of education shall not require these children to meet the student learning goals, master the essential academic learning requirements, to take the assessments, or to obtain a certificate of mastery pursuant to *RCW 28A.630.885. The standardized test administered or the annual academic progress assessment written shall be made a part of the child's permanent records. If, as a result of the annual test or assessment, it is determined that the child is not making reasonable progress consistent with his or her age or stage of development, the parent shall make a good faith effort to remedy any deficiency. Failure of a parent to comply with the duties in this section shall be deemed a failure of such parent's child to attend school without valid justification under RCW 28A.225.020. Parents who do comply with the duties set forth in this section shall be presumed to be providing home-based instruction as set forth in RCW 28A.225.010(4).
[1995 c 52 § 1; 1993 c 336 § 1103; 1990 c 33 § 178; 1985 c 441 § 2. Formerly RCW 28A.27.310]
NOTES:*Reviser's note: RCW 28A.630.885 was recodified as RCW 28A.655.060 pursuant to 1999 c 388 § 607.
Findings -- Intent -- Part headings not law -- 1993 c 336: See notes following RCW 28A.150.210.
Findings -- 1993 c 336: See note following RCW 28A.150.210.
Severability -- 1985 c 441: See note following RCW 28A.225.010.
Part-time students -- Defined -- Enrollment in public schools authorized: RCW 28A.150.350.
Private schools -- Extension programs for parents to teach children in their custody: RCW 28A.195.010.
RCW Chapter 28A.200.020
Home-based instruction --Certain decisions responsibility of parent unless otherwise specified. The state hereby recognizes that parents who are causing their children to receive home-based instruction under RCW 28A.225.010(4) shall be subject only to those minimum state laws and regulations which are necessary to insure that a sufficient basic educational opportunity is provided to the children receiving such instruction. Therefore, all decisions relating to philosophy or doctrine, selection of books, teaching materials and curriculum, and methods, timing, and place in the provision or evaluation of home-based instruction shall be the responsibility of the parent except for matters specifically referred to in this chapter.
[1990 c 33 § 179; 1985 c 441 § 3. Formerly RCW 28A.27.320.]
Severability - 1985 c 441: See note following RCW 28A.225.010.
RCW Chapter 28A.225.010 Attendance mandatory- Age- exceptions
(b) The child is receiving home-based instruction as provided in subsection (4) of this session;
(4) For the purposes of this chapter and chapter 28A.200RCW, instruction shall be home-based if it consists of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities, including a curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music, provided for a number of hours equivalent to the total annual program hours per grade level established for approved private schools under RCW 28A.195.010 and 28A.195.040 and if such activities are:
(a) Provided by a parent who is instructing his or her child only and are supervised by a certified teacher. A certified person for purposes of this chapter and chapter 28A.200RCW shall be a person certified under chapter 28A.410 RCW. Or purposes of this section, “supervised by a certified person” means: The planning by the certified person and the parent of objectives consistent with this subsection; a minimum each month of an average of one contact hour per week with the child being supervised by the certified person; and evaluation of such child’s progress by the certified person. . The number of children supervised by the certified person shall not exceed thirty for purposes of this subsection; or
(b) Provided by a parent who is instructing his or her child only and who has either earned forty-five college level quarter credit hours or its equivalent in semester hours or has completed a course in home-based instruction at a post-secondary institution or a vocational-technical institute or
(5) The legislature recognizes that home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential that the instruction normally provided in a classroom setting. Therefore, the provisions of subsection(4) of this section relating to the nature and quantity of instructional and related educational activities shall be liberally construed.
Note - If your child is under the age of eight and has been enrolled in the public school, to avoid truancy charges, parent/guardian must officially withdraw the child. We suggest this be done in writing and parent/guardian keep a copy for your records. A parent/guardian is not required to file a declaration-of-intent to homeschool form until the child reaches the age of eight.
Attendance mandatory -- Six or seven year olds -- Unexcused absences -- Petition.
The following is a list of laws that are relative to homeschooling. You can view the Washington state laws and regulations in their entirety at the following web site www.leg.wa.gov.