Email of the Day:
Hi, my daughter is in 9th grade at the public High School. She is taking all of her core classes including Biology, AP English, World Geography and Honors Geometry at the high school. I’ve elected to homeschool her for just her elective and physical education/health. Can I please get some information as to what I need to do to fulfill the elective requirement and the pe/health requirement?
Answer:
Homeschoolers have 11 subjects they are responsible to cover: reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, and art and music appreciation.
There is no PE requirement for homeschoolers, and we don’t have electives. You can simply transfer her courses from the highschool to her homeschool highschool transcript and award her a diploma when she is finished and you are ready to graduate her. Within the framework of the 11 subjects, you are free to pursue her education in anyway you like.
RCW 28A.200.020 states that parents who are causing their children to receive home-based instruction shall be subject only to those minimum state laws and regulations which are necessary in ensuring 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 Chapter 28A.225 RCW.
The homeschool law also states that the legislature recognizes that home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential than the instruction normally provided in a classroom. Therefore, the provisions relating to the nature and quantity of instructional and related educational activities shall be liberally construed.
Warmly,
–Jen Garrison Stuber, WHO Board Advocacy Chair