Homeschool laws in Washington (2026)
A plain-English overview of what Washington requires of homeschool families — plus the automatic tracking Rosie’sHQ handles so you never have to build a portfolio the night before an evaluation.
Washington at a glance
Verified statuteWhat the law says: RCW 28A.225.010 requires 180 days OR 1,000 hours (either alone satisfies).
Source: apps.leg.wa.gov
Required subjects
Washington law names the following subjects as required parts of your homeschool curriculum:
- Mathematics
- Reading / Literature
- Writing / Spelling
- US History / Civics
- Science
- Health / Physical Education
- Occupational Education
- Art
- Music
How Rosie’sHQ helps Washington families
- Daily attendance in one tapLog a school day in a single tap and Rosie'sHQ counts it against Washington’s 180-day mandate for you.
- Automatic hour talliesEvery lesson you log rolls up into per-subject and per-year hour totals — no spreadsheet required.
- One-click portfolio PDFTurn your logged lessons, assessments, and worksheets into an audit-ready portfolio PDF the moment an evaluator asks.
- Notice of Intent generatorGenerate a Washington-specific Notice of Intent PDF pre-filled with your child’s information — ready to sign and mail.
Recommended homeschool checklist for Washington
Everything a Washington homeschool family should do across a typical school year, grouped so you can tick items off as you go. Every step is tailored to Washington’s actual rules — low-regulation states get a shorter list; states with mandatory portfolios or standardized tests get the full sequence.
1Before the school year begins in Washington
- File your Washington Notice of Intent (or equivalent)
Complete the Washington-specific homeschool notification form before instruction starts. Rosie’sHQ generates a pre-filled, print-ready PDF that names each child, their grade level, and the required subjects.
- Line up curriculum for every required subject in Washington
Washington law names 9 subjects that must appear in your homeschool: Mathematics, Reading / Literature, Writing / Spelling, US History / Civics, Science, Health / Physical Education, plus 3 additional required subjects. Pick a curriculum, workbook, or living-books plan for each one, then create the subject in Rosie’sHQ so daily lessons automatically roll up under the mandated category.
- Set your target hours and days in Rosie’sHQ
Under Washington rules, elementary students need at least 1,000 instructional hours per year. Open Settings, set Washington as your state, and the compliance dashboard will show a live progress bar toward that target every time you log a lesson.
2Every school day
- Log attendance in one tap
Use Rosie’sHQ’s Quick-Log to mark the school day “present” in a single tap. The system will roll it into your Washington year-to-date attendance count and warn you if you’re falling behind the 180-day mandate.
- Record each subject you teach today
For every subject you cover, log the minutes spent. Rosie’sHQ tallies them against the 1,000-hour Washington target automatically — no spreadsheet required. Attach worksheet photos, PDFs, or audio recordings straight from the log so evaluators can see the work later.
3Every month or quarter
- Review your Washington compliance dashboard
Open the Compliance tab and confirm you are on pace for the 1,000-hour Washington target. The dashboard flags any required subject that has zero logged minutes so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Plan for Washington standardized testing
Washington requires an approved standardized test at certain grade levels. Rosie’sHQ tracks assessment results next to your lesson logs so you have one place for scores, evaluator letters, and the underlying learning evidence. Order your test kit at least 60 days before the intended sit date.
4At the end of the school year
- Generate the year-end PDF the state expects
Even if Washington does not mandate a formal portfolio, exporting your year-end PDF is smart insurance. Rosie’sHQ produces a cover page, hour tally, and log index in one click so you always have proof of instruction on file.
- Keep records for the state-recommended retention period
Store the year-end PDF plus any raw logs for at least 2 years after graduation. Washington districts and colleges occasionally request historical records; Rosie’sHQ preserves your archive so you never have to reconstruct a year from memory.
Frequently asked questions
How many days and hours must Washington homeschoolers log per year?+
Washington law currently requires 180 instructional days per year and 1000 hours (elementary). RCW 28A.225.010 requires 180 days OR 1,000 hours (either alone satisfies). Rosie'sHQ tracks your daily attendance and lesson hours automatically and warns you if you’re falling behind.
What subjects must be taught to Washington homeschoolers?+
Washington law names the following subjects: Mathematics, Reading / Literature, Writing / Spelling, US History / Civics, Science, Health / Physical Education, Occupational Education, Art, Music. Rosie'sHQ maps every subject you set up to the state’s required list and flags gaps on your compliance dashboard.
Do Washington homeschoolers need to submit a portfolio or test scores?+
Washington requires a standardized test result. Rosie'sHQ builds an audit-ready portfolio PDF from your logged lessons and assessments in one click.
How does Rosie'sHQ help Washington homeschool families stay compliant?+
Rosie'sHQ logs daily attendance, tallies instructional hours by subject, generates a Notice of Intent, produces a year-end portfolio PDF, and stores every worksheet or assessment your child completes so an evaluator or state official can be answered in minutes rather than hours.