Homeschool benefits and savings in the Federal Way School District
Federal Way Public Schools lets homeschooled students enroll part time at their service area school course by course, join sports and clubs, receive IEP services, and use the district's online Internet Academy. File a Declaration of Intent by September 15 each year, with a Request for Part-Time Attendance or Ancillary Services if you want classes or services.
Who qualifies
Files a Declaration of Intent
File it each year with the district by September 15, or within two weeks of the start of any semester or trimester. Federal Way also accepts filings at other times.
Meets the parent qualification
The parent has 45 college credits or has completed an approved home-schooling course; otherwise a Washington-certified teacher must supervise about one hour a week.
Requests part-time attendance
Include the Request for Part-Time Attendance or Ancillary Services with your Declaration of Intent to take classes, join sports and clubs, or receive IEP services.
Attends every class session
A part-time student must attend each course whenever it meets, and you provide transportation.
What your student can use
The terms come from Federal Way Public Schools' Home Based Instruction page.
- Classes at the service area school
- Course by course
- Sports and clubs
- With the part-time request
- Services in your student's IEP
- With the part-time request
- District standardized testing
- 10 school days' notice
- Internet Academy online courses
- Open to all homeschoolers
- School bus
- If route and schedule fit
District testing is open only when the district is testing your child's grade, and your child must be enrolled in the service area school for that period.
How to enroll part time
- By September 15
File the Declaration of Intent
Turn it in at the Educational Service Center, 33330 8th Ave South, Federal Way, or email the form to lmiller@fwps.org.
- With your declaration
Request part-time attendance
Attach the Request for Part-Time Attendance or Ancillary Services if your student wants classes, sports, clubs, or IEP services.
- Before classes start
Set the schedule
Elementary families meet with the principal, and secondary families meet with the school counselor, to arrange the part-time schedule.
- Each year
Test and file again
Arrange an approved standardized test or a certified teacher's evaluation, and file a new Declaration of Intent.
What it includes
Included
- Part-time classes at your service area school
- Sports and clubs
- IEP services
- The online Internet Academy
- District testing at your child's grade
Not included
- Books and curriculum
- Transportation to classes
- Staff or referrals for annual evaluations
Who to contact about part-time enrollment
The Educational Service Center receives Declarations of Intent and part-time requests and answers enrollment questions.
choice@fwps.org 253-945-2098 Home Based Instruction page
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
- Can my child play Federal Way sports without enrolling full time?
- Yes. The part-time request covers sports and clubs, along with services in your child's IEP.
- Does Federal Way give us curriculum?
- No. Federal Way does not provide books or curriculum to homeschool families.
- How does a homeschooled student get into Running Start?
- Enroll your student at your neighborhood school through ParentVue, file the Declaration of Intent, and complete the enrollment verification form with the school counselor. Then apply to the college.
- Who can use Internet Academy?
- All home-schooled students. Internet Academy is the district's online instructional program; call 253-945-2230 for registration forms.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Local classes cover the subjects they offer. We teach the remaining subjects, so a local class can stay part of the year without becoming the whole curriculum.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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