Homeschool benefits: Puyallup School District
The Puyallup Parent Partnership Program (P4) is a public K-8 program where you teach your child at home with district or online curriculum, a certificated P4 teacher's support, one in-person class day a month, and a monthly family outing. Your child enrolls in Puyallup Digital Learning instead of filing as a homeschooler.
Who qualifies
In kindergarten through grade 8
P4 serves grades K-8. The fully online track is for grades K-5, and the homeschool track runs through grade 8.
Enrolls through Puyallup Digital Learning
Current Puyallup students are referred by their school counselor, and new in-district students start with district registration. Families outside the district complete the PDL pre-enrollment survey, and the PDL team decides whether it can serve the student.
Becomes a public-school ALE student
P4 is a public-school alternative learning experience (ALE), not home-based instruction, so your child does not need a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool while enrolled.
Keeps up weekly attendance
The state requires ALE students to work steadily on their courses and make weekly two-way contact, which P4 counts through weekly attendance.
What P4 gives you
These terms come from Puyallup Digital Learning's P4 page for 2026-27 enrollment.
- Calvert online curriculum (Track 1)
- Grades K-5
- District-approved curriculum (Track 2)
- Grades K-8
- Live P4 teacher support on Track 1
- Several times a week
- In-person class day
- 1 a month
- Family community outing
- 1 a month
- Required contact with P4
- Weekly
Washington's ALE rule bars districts from giving parents money for materials, supplies, or services, so P4 supplies curriculum and teacher time rather than a spending allowance.
From enrolling to staying enrolled
- Before you apply
Pick a track
Choose the all-online Calvert track for grades K-5 or the homeschool track, where you teach district-approved curriculum and add your own resources.
- For 2026-27
Send a referral or survey
Current district students go through their counselor, new in-district students register with the district, and out-of-district families fill out the PDL pre-enrollment survey.
- After review
Wait for a decision
The PDL team checks whether it has space and support capacity and contacts you if enrollment can go ahead. Approved out-of-district families receive enrollment documents electronically.
- Each week
Attend and check in
Your child makes weekly contact through attendance. After a second unexcused absence, state law requires a conference with you and your child.
- All year
Track progress online
Log in to SchoolData.net for P4 to see your child's courses and progress.
What it includes
Included
- Calvert online curriculum for grades K-5
- District-approved curriculum
- Certificated P4 teacher support
- Monthly in-person class day
- Monthly family community outing
Not included
- Cash or reimbursement for materials
- Home-based instruction status while enrolled
Both tracks include a P4 teacher, the in-person days, and the community outings; the tracks differ only in curriculum and how much the parent teaches.
Good to know
P4 students become public-school students
Your homeschooled child can join P4. Many families use the homeschool track, where you are the main teacher at home and a P4 teacher supervises. Enrolling makes your child a Puyallup public-school student, so you stop filing a Declaration of Intent for the years they are in P4.
Who to contact about P4
Puyallup Digital Learning runs P4 from the Kessler Center at 1501 39th Ave SW and answers enrollment and program questions.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Washington
You must file a declaration of intent by September 15 for the school year, or within two weeks after the start of a public-school quarter or term for a later start.
Washington sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and art and music appreciation. Provide hours equivalent to the annual program hours per grade for approved private schools under RCW 28A.195.010 and .040.
- Testing: Each year, obtain a state-board-approved standardized test administered by a qualified person or a written assessment by a Washington-certificated person currently working in education.
- Records: Keep annual test or assessment results permanently, along with immunization records. Forward required records if your child transfers to a public or approved private school.
- Teachers: The parent needs 45 college quarter credits or the semester equivalent, a home-instruction course at a postsecondary or vocational-technical institute, supervision by a certificated teacher, or the superintendent’s finding of sufficient qualifications. Teacher supervision includes planned objectives, an average of at least one contact hour per week with the child each month, and progress evaluation; the teacher may supervise no more than 30 children.
Read the Washington homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Washington
Questions parents ask
- We live outside the Puyallup School District. Can we still enroll?
- Possibly. Complete the PDL pre-enrollment survey, and the team will tell you whether it can serve your child and send enrollment documents if you are approved.
- Does P4 give us money to buy curriculum?
- No. Washington rule WAC 392-550-030 forbids paying ALE families for materials, supplies, experiences, or equipment. Anything the district buys for your child's courses stays district property.
- Can my sixth grader use the online Calvert track?
- No. The Calvert track covers grades K-5 only, so students in grades 6-8 use the homeschool track with district-approved curriculum.
- What subjects does the online track cover?
- Calvert's digital curriculum covers English language arts, math, science, social studies, art, health, and physical education, and you are expected to help and oversee your child's progress.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Put eligible education funds toward a curriculum that teaches the courses and grades the work. Check the program’s purchasing rules before paying.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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