Frequently Asked Questions

Why file a declaration of intent to provide home based instruction? A declaration of intent form is required by law for for children between the ages of 8 and 18 who are schooled at home. It informs the school district that they are no longer responsible for the education of your child(ren). It also protects you from any truancy prosecution related to Washington's Compulsory Education Law (RCW 28A.225.015)

Who files the intent form? Where do I get the form and where do I file it? The parent or legal guardian of the student wo will be home schooled files the declaration. You may pick up an Intent form from the Ferndale School District Administration Office at 6041 Vista Drive, Ferndale, or call Tanya at 383-9200 to request a form to be mailed to you. You may also download the form from this website here. Forms should be filed at the Administration Office either in person or by mail to Ferndale School District - Home Based Education, P.O. Box 698, Ferndale, WA 98248.

When do I need to file my intent form? A declaration of intent to provide home based instruction must be filed annually with your resident school district by September 15th.

What qualifications must I have to home school my child? Washington State Law RCW 28A.225.010 states that you must fulfill one of the following:

• Have earned 45 quarter units of college level credit.
• Attend a Parent Qualifying course.
• Be supervised by a person certificated in Washington State..
• Be deemed sufficiently qualified to provide home based instruction by the superintendent of your local school district.

What does "supervised by a person certificated in Washington State" refer to? Do I need to be supervised by a teacher? If you choose this qualifying option, the parent and student will communicate with the teacher an average of one hour a week. The teacher's role in this situation is to provide support to the home school, not to take over the teaching responsibilities or make decisions in regards to the student's education.

Where do I find a "Parent Qualifying Course"? Whatcom Community College provides a course and can be contacted at 676-2170. Other courses may be found online through home based education support groups. Visit the Contacts Page for links to some of these organizations.

Do I need to provide proof to the school district that I am qualified to home school? Washington State says that school districts have the right to create policy requesting proof of qualifications to provide home based instruction. Ferndale School District does not have such a policy at this time.

What if I don't qualify to home school? Can another person who does qualify home school my child? No, only the parent or legal guardian can file the intent to provide home based instruction. However, the instruction itself can come from any source the parent or legal guardian chooses. This includes other people, private programs, internet or correspondence courses, etc.

What are my responsibilities as a parent who is home schooling their child? Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• To be considered home based instruction, it "must consist of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities including curriculum and instruction in basic skills (reading, writing, spelling, language, math, science, social studies, history, health, occupational education, and art and music appreciation) and it must be provided for a number of hours equivalent ot te totlal annual program hours per grade lever establised for approved private schools... The legislature recognizes tat ome based instruction is less structured and more experientiail tat te instruction normally provided in a classroom setting." Also, these subjects do not need to be taught separately, and do not exclude other subjects you may wish to teach.
• Your student must participate in annual testing. This testing can either be non-test assessments done by a Washington State certified teacher who is currently working in the field of education to assess your student's academic progress, or Standardized testing approved by the Washington State Board of Education to be administered annually ot te cild by a qualified individual. See RCW28A.200.010 for more detail.
• You must keep a permanent record, including student's annual test scores or assessment report, immunization records, and other records relating to instructional and educational activities. The law is not specific on how or in what form these records are to be kept.
• "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."

Can my child still participate in school activities, or enroll for part time classes? If they do attend public school part-time, are they still considered home schooled? Home schooled students are still eligible for classes and services on a space available basis. Contact your neighborhood school about availability and registration. Students who have an intent form on file with the district and are also enrolled part time with the district are still considered home school students. However, students are subject to the same rules and expectations as full time students for those classes, with the exception of graduation requirements. Attendance is expected to be consistent and students will be considered truant if they do not attend the classes they have enrolled in.

Can my child earn a high school diploma if they are home schooled? Students will be awarded a diploma from Ferndale School District only if they have the necessary credits and meet all high school gradution requirements as set forth in School Board Policy. To request a copy of this policy contact the Superintendent's office at 383-9207. Diplomas awarded by the parent or guardian may or may not be accepted by colleges and universities - contact these institutions individually for their policies.

Can my 11th or 12th grade student participate in the Running Start program? Yes. See the Running Start page on this website for more details.