You have been your child’s teacher since the day they were born. The foundations for language, math, writing, social relationships, love, and most importantly your moral code, among thousands of other skills, have been established by you. Although parents have proven that they are fully capable of teaching their children for some reason we get nervous as our children age that we won’t be able to measure up. As our confidence wanes, we feel the only option is to let our children go to public school for a “proper” education. For some families, that is the best choice and that is ok but that isn’t the only choice (or right choice) for every child or family.
Any homeschool parent will tell you that they are not a rocket scientist, a math whiz, or a prolific Newbury award-winning author (well unless they really are). The beauty and exciting thing about being a homeschool parent is that you get to learn or relearn so many amazing things right alongside your child! Thankfully, if you do have a child that surpasses you in a subject, there are so many resources, like our Academy, that you can participate in to take the pressure off yourself.
So now that you KNOW you are qualified, how do you abide by the HBI* laws of Washington to become qualified to be able to legally homeschool? Rest as ease, they are all pretty easy and you might even already have one of the qualifications met! You only need to qualify in ONE of the four ways. The different options that Washington State has established to fulfill this portion of the law are:
Either parent has earned 45 quarter units of college-level credits
Attend a Parent Qualifying Course
Work with a certificated teacher who meets with your student on the average of an hour a week
Be deemed sufficiently qualified to provide home-based instruction by the superintendent of your local school district
There are some questions that usually come up with the qualifications so let’s do a little FAQ here. If we don’t answer something that you have a question about, please leave a comment and we will do our best to quickly reply!
QUALIFICATION FAQ
Q: Does the parent with the college-level credits have to be the primary teacher?
A: No, either parent can be the primary teacher as long as one of the parents has 45 quarter units of credit. This is equivalent to about half of a AA degree.
Q: Where can I attend a qualifying parent course?
A: The WHO offers parent qualifying courses along with a list of other classes offered throughout Washington.
Q: Is there a test that parents must take after the qualifying course?
A: No, there is not usually a test for parents with the exception of the online course offered. There are a few easy questions at the end of the online class just to make sure you watched. :)
Q: Do I have to take the parent qualifying course each year?
A: No, once you have the certification, it is good for life.
Q: How do I contact a teacher to supervise my children’s learning plan?
A: Any teacher working in the field of education can be your point of contact each week. The teacher must spend at least one hour a week with your child. All students that are enrolled and regularly attend classes at Cedar Hil Academy meet this qualification.
Q: Who do I turn my parent qualifications into?
A: No one, with one exception! You just need to make sure one of the 4 methods is completed. If you do choose to use a certified teacher as your qualifying method, there is one box on the WHO’s DOI form that you turn into your local school district that you need to check. This does go to OSPI so technically they will be informed of your choice but you don’t have to turn in any extra paperwork, just check the box.
Q: Does the teacher have to dictate what I teach?
A: Absolutely not! The teacher must meet with your student for at least an hour each week to qualify but they do not have to provide the materials you teach.
Q: How do I get the superintendent to deem me qualified?
A: In our experience, this is the least common method for parent qualification. We suggest to make an appointment with the superintendent of your local school district and ask how he/she completes the process. If could be different for each district.
Remember, you only need to qualify using ONE of these methods. Although it can seem daunting at first, we are here to support you because together is always better. Do you have any specific questions about parent qualifications for homeschooling in Washington?
HBI = Home-based instruction
DOI=Declaration of Intent (to homeschool)
OSPI=Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction