WASHINGTON HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATION

Declaration of Intent

Declaration of Intent Form (requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader; available here)

Declaration of Intent Education Packet

The Law

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 transfer, and the student shall be deemed a transfer student of the nonresident district. Parents may apply for transfer under RCW 28A.225.220;

Commonly Asked Questions

1. Why file a declaration of intent?
1) A declaration of intent form is required by law for homeschooling children between the ages of 8 and 18. 2) It informs the school district that they are no longer responsible for the education of your child(ren). 3) It protects you from any truancy prosecution.

2. Who files the declaration of intent?
The parent or legal guardian of the student who will be homeschooled files the declaration.

3. Where do I get a declaration of intent? Where do I file it?
Contact the superintendent of schools of the school district in which you reside and request a declaration of intent to homeschool. File the declaration with the superintendent of your home school district only. No other department or program within the district should receive your declaration form. You will find their address at the bottom of the form.

4. My district's declaration of intent asks for more information than is shown on the above form. Do I have to provide it?
No. Any information you provide that is not on the above form is optional.

5. What does, ".supervised by a person certificated in Washington State." refer to? Do I need to be supervised by a teacher?
No, you are not required to have a supervising teacher. A supervising teacher is one of the four ways you may qualify to homeschool under the Home-Based Instruction Law. IF you are qualifying to homeschool by using the services of a supervising teacher you must indicate that on the declaration of intent. You do not need to supply any information about that teacher.

6. Do I need to provide proof to the school district that I am qualified to homeschool?
No.

7. Do I need to meet with district personnel concerning my decision to homeschool or to file my declaration of intent form?
No.

8. Will my school district accept the declaration of intent at any time?
It is at the discretion of your school district to accept a declaration of intent that is filed outside of the deadlines of September 15^th, or within two weeks of the beginning of a school quarter, trimester or semester.