Homeschool

Welcome to the World of Homeschooling! If this is a new experience for you, things may be a bit unsettled as to how to begin. Following is some information, forms and a VERY brief summary of homeschool requirements.

Please note, whatever the reasons for your decision to homeschool, you will also have to decide for your own family how best to go about educating your children. One of the best things you can do is to begin homeschooling yourself in the topic of homeschooling and education. As the teacher of your students, you will need to address the areas of study, the curriculum and materials to utilize, and the process by which to evaluate progress.
Homeschooling offers some great options for students, but it will also require energy and your commitment to succeed. Parent support is one of the greatest factors in a student's achievement - with your support, your children will achieve as homeschool students.

As homeschool students in the Stanwood-Camano School District, your students are entitled to, and encouraged to participate in any classes, sports or activities as ancillary services. They may attend a particular class on a part-time basis, or turn out for sports or activities if they have a current Homeschool Intent Form on file with the District Office and complete the request for Ancillary Services Request Form for the classes/activities for which they wish to participate. A current Immunization Form must be on file for any student participating in part-time attendance, sports or extra-curricular activities. If I can be of any help, or if you have questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call at 360 629-1237. Enjoy your journey in education with your child!

Rona Olson
Homeschool Liaison

Independent Home-based instruction must

A. be planned and supervised by parent(s) and include instruction in occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling and the development of an appreciation of art and music provided for an "equivalent" time to the number of hours for private schools. Further, the legislature recognizes that home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential than classroom education, therefore, it has been declared that these provisions of the nature and quantity of instruction shall be liberally construed.

B. be provided by the child's parent(s), who:

  1. is supervised by a certified teacher who has contact with the child 1 hour/week or an average of 4 hours per month, OR
  2. has earned the equivalent of 45 college level quarter credit hours, OR
  3. has taken a course in home-based instruction at a post-secondary institute or voc-tech institute, OR
  4. has been deemed qualified by the local district superintendent.

Duties of parent(s)
Parents providing home-based instruction have the duty to:

A. Homeschool Intent Form annually which must:

  1. Give the child's name and age, and
  2. State if a teacher will be supervising, and
  3. Be filed by September 15th or within two weeks of the beginning of any quarter or semester, and
  4. Use the format prescribed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI)

B. Ensure that an annual standardized achievement test (those approved by the State Board of Education) is administered to the child by a well qualified individual, or an academic progress assessment of the child is written by a Washington State certified teacher currently employed in the field of education. Assessment or test results are the property of the parent only. These records are to be kept and given to the public or private school upon request should re-entry be desired.

Parents who comply with these duties shall be presumed to be providing home-based instruction.

Forms & Resources:

Homeschool Intent Form

Ancillary Services Request Form

Immunization Requirements

Running Start Student Verification OSPI

Homeschool Law Summary