Cost
$90.00 Single
$120.00 Couple Living in Same Household
About the Course
Please Note: Registration is limited to 100 attendees. Once capacity is reached, registration will close.
If you prefer to do the course online. Please sign up for the Sept. course.
Thinking About Homeschooling in Washington? Start with Confidence.
In Washington State, every parent who homeschools must fulfill the legal requirements for home education, and the Washington Homeschool Organization makes that simple.
Our Parent Qualifying Course is designed to do two things at once, satisfy the legal requirements and equip you with real, practical knowledge about homeschooling in Washington.
Whether you’re brand new or transitioning from a traditional school setting, this course gives you the clarity and confidence you deserve.
What You’ll Learn
Part 1: The Law
•Compulsory education requirements in Washington
•Your parent qualification options and how to meet them
•When you need to file a Declaration of Intent
•The 11 required subjects and how to fulfill them
•Testing and assessment options
•Keeping homeschool records the right way
•Your rights as a homeschooling family
Part 2: Homeschool Planning & Practice
•How to know if your child is at level
•Developing your family’s educational philosophy
•Homeschooling methods and learning styles
•Socialization-what it really looks like in homeschool
•Choosing the right curriculum for your child
• Navigating special situations –
We walk you through the actual statute and give you the real-world tools to advocate for your family, then help you build a homeschool that actually works for you.
Bonus — Free WHO Membership Included!
Every parent who completes the course receives a free one year membership with the Washington Homeschool Organization giving you instant access to our community, resources, and ongoing support as you begin your homeschool journey.
Why Families Love This Course
Parents consistently tell us they leave feeling empowered, informed, and ready. It’s not just a fulfilling the requirement, it’s laying a foundation.
General Information:
Confirmation:
After you register, you will receive an email from Washington Homeschool Org with the subject line Thank you for registering for Parent Qualifying Course. This email will come immediately, but may end up in your spam folder, or if you are a Gmail user, it could end up in your Promotional tab. Please check your spam or promotional folder and white list the whocontact@washhomeschool.org email address.
*Should you have your phone set to “Dark Mode” and on some iPhones: this email may appear blank, because of your settings. Please leave Dark Mode and/or view via your computer, or forward the email to yourself.
(When you write us to tell us it’s blank, it shows us the email fully with all the information you need. It’s there — it’s just your interface that is the issue in viewing it).
Course Materials:
A second email (from Washington Homeschool Org, subject title Update on Parent Qualifying Course) will come on week before the course and again immediately before class.
Refunds
We regret that we are unable to issue refunds for this course. We will do our best to transfer you to another course should you end up with a scheduling conflict. Please write to WHOoffice@washhomeschool.org to transfer your registration to the next course.
About the Instructor
Amy Beckstead Leonard
Due to my positive experience as a homeschooled child, I decided to home educate my own children long before their birth. Now, including the years I homeschooled my six children, I have been involved in homeschooling for 41 years. My oldest three have graduated from college and transitioned into careers. My youngest three are in college, with my youngest daughter in Running Start. This focus on education and family relationships have kept my life full and meaningful. I have been on the WHO Board for 22 years. I continue to volunteer on the board to help ensure that homeschoolers in Washington retain the opportunity to homeschool independently and to support them in the homeschooling life.
Course Registration
PLEASE NOTE: This is an in person Parent Qualifying Course being held at the Federal Way Performing Arts Center during our 2026 WHO Conference which is being held there. If you sign up for this in person Parent Qualifying Course, you will also receive a free pass for the conference.
To register for this course, please fill out the form below. If you attending the course as a couple make sure you include the name(s) of each person attending the course. Couple registration is meant to be for two parents of the same children. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
PLEASE NOTE: Our confirmation emails may end up in your spam folder, so be sure to check that if you haven’t seen anything from us.