Starting a Private School in Washington
Regulations, Resources, & Support
Washington State Regulations
General Regulations
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There are no registration or licensing requirements. Accreditation is optional, but approval is required.
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The Washington State Board of Education has assembled a page of detailed requirements for private schools.
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The US Office of Innovation & Improvement has assembled a summary of regulations for private schools operating in Washington.
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Instruction is considered home-based if it consists of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities, including curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, and spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music.
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The Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has no published requirements for school insurance -- consult a professional for guidance in this area.
State Funding Sources & Support
Washington does not provide funding for private education.
Curriculum Requirements
Teacher Certification & Hiring
All classroom teachers must hold appropriate Washington state certification except those teaching religious courses, or courses for which no counterpart exists in the public schools.
Food Services / Lunch
In Washington, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Length of School Year
Students must attend school for 180 days per year.
Recordkeeping & Reports
Principals of private schools or superintendents of private school districts must file a statement each year with the superintendent of public instruction certifying that minimum requirements are being met.
Healthy & Safety Requirements
Students must provide immunization records or proof of exemption. Schools are required to file annual reports on students' immunization history.
Transportation
Local school district boards may jointly make purchases with private schools for supplies, equipment, and services, including but not limited to school bus maintenance services, as long as the private schools pay in advance or provide a surety bond for their proportionate share of the costs involved.
Testing
Testing is optional for private school students.
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Washington State Resources
State & Regional Associations
Government Websites
Helping Educators Do the Work That Matters
Quick Guide Nav
We gathered so much information that we had to break it down into 10 chapters. This free information is well-researched- we even hunted down the rules and regulations for each state! If you're thinking about starting a private school, you will find this guide very handy!
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