SB 6261

Z-0619.1
  SENATE BILL 6261
State of Washington  69th Legislature        2026 Regular Session
By Senators Wellman, Nobles, and  C.    Wilson;   by   request   of
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Read first time 01/21/26.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning &
K-12 Education.
1     AN ACT Relating to requiring signed declarations of intent of
2 school   enrollment   or   home-based    instruction;   amending RCW
3 28A.200.010; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.225 RCW.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5     NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.225
6 RCW to read as follows:
7     (1) A parent who does not enroll his or her child in public or
8 private school at age six must file a signed declaration of the
9 parent's plan regarding the education of that child in the school
10 year when the child turns six years of age and the school year when
11 the child turns seven years of age. The declaration should include if
12 they are or planning to, or currently receiving, home-based
13 instruction or planning to enroll in public or private school.
14     (2) The compulsory attendance requirements in RCW 28A.225.010 and
15 the home-based instruction requirements in RCW 28A.200.010 are not
16 applicable until a child receiving home-based instruction is eight
17 years of age.
18     (3) The signed declaration of intent must include the name and
19 age of the child and must be written in a format prescribed by the
20 superintendent of public instruction.
  p. 1  SB 6261
1      (4) Each parent shall file the declaration of intent by September
2  15th of the school year or within two weeks of the beginning of any
3  public school quarter, trimester, or semester with the superintendent
4  of the public school district within which the parent resides.
5      (5) For the purposes of this section, "parent" means a parent,
6  guardian, or person having legal custody of a child.
7     Sec. 2. RCW 28A.200.010 and 2019 c 252 s 109 are each amended to
8 read as follows:
9     (1) Each parent whose child is receiving home-based instruction
10 under RCW 28A.225.010(4) shall have the duty to:
11     (a) File annually a signed declaration of intent that he or she
12 is planning to cause his or her child to receive home-based
13 instruction, including the declaration of intent required in the
14 school year the child turns six and seven years of age under section
15 1 of this act. The statement shall include the name and age of the
16 child, shall specify whether a certificated person will be
17 supervising the instruction, and shall be written in a format
18 prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction. Each parent
19 shall file the statement by September 15th of the school year or
20 within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter,
21 trimester, or semester with the superintendent of the public school
22 district within which the parent resides or the district that accepts
23 the transfer, and the student shall be deemed a transfer student of
24 the nonresident district. Parents may apply for transfer under RCW
25 28A.225.220;
26     (b) Ensure that test scores or annual academic progress
27 assessments and immunization records, together with any other records
28 that are kept relating to the instructional and educational
29 activities provided, are forwarded to any other public or private
30 school to which the child transfers. At the time of a transfer to a
31 public school, the superintendent of the local school district in
32 which the child enrolls may require a standardized achievement test
33 to be administered and shall have the authority to determine the
34 appropriate grade and course level placement of the child after
35 consultation with parents and review of the child's records; and
36     (c) Ensure that a standardized achievement test approved by the
37 state board of education is administered annually to the child by a
38 qualified individual or that an annual assessment of the student's
39 academic progress is written by a certificated person who is
  p. 2  SB 6261
1 currently working in the field of education. The state board of
2 education shall not require these children to meet the student
3 learning goals, learn the state learning standards, or take the
4 assessments under RCW 28A.655.070. The standardized test administered
5 or the annual academic progress assessment written shall be made a
6 part of the child's permanent records. If, as a result of the annual
7 test or assessment, it is determined that the child is not making
8 reasonable progress consistent with his or her age or stage of
9 development, the parent shall make a good faith effort to remedy any
10 deficiency.
11     (2) A parent who does not enroll his or her child in public or
12 private school at age six and plans to cause his or her child to
13 receive home-based instruction by age eight must file a signed
14 declaration of the parent's plan regarding the education of that
15 child in the school year when the child turns six years of age and
16 the school year when the child turns seven years of age as required
17 by section 1 of this act.
18     (3) Failure of a parent to comply with the duties in this section
19 shall be deemed a failure of such parent's child to attend school
20 without valid justification under RCW 28A.225.020. Parents who do
21 comply with the duties set forth in this section shall be presumed to
22 be   providing   home-based  instruction   as   set   forth  in   RCW
23 28A.225.010(4).
  --- END ---
  p. 3  SB 6261