Home Based Ed Home

This site is intended to provide parents with information and resources regarding home based instruction and alternative learning environments. You may be new to the home schooling community, or simply investigating alternatives, or you may be a parent who has been home schooling for years – hopefully you will find something helpful in these pages.

In Washington State, children between the ages of 8 and 18 are required by law to enroll in a public school, enroll in a private school, or to receive home-based instruction (under RCW 28A.225). To learn more about the differences between home-based instruction and public school alternative learning experiences, click here.

Your responsibilities as a parent choosing home-based instruction include (RCW 28A.200.010):

To file annually a signed "Declaration of Intent" to provide home-based instruction for any children between 8 and 18 by September 15th of the school year.
To have your child either academically tested or assessed annually.
To ensure that test or assessment records and immunization records are kept in the child's permanent record
"If it is determined that the child is not making reasonable progress consistent with his or her age or stage of development, the parent shall make a good-faith effort to remedy any deficiency."

The “Pink Book”, offered by OSPI, is a booklet in question and answer form put out by the state to address different parts of the home-based education laws. You can click the following link to download this document.

If you live within our district and would like to file an intent to home school, please click here to download the form. This form is due annually by September 15 for the coming school year.

Welcome to the Ferndale School District!