Homeschool benefits and savings in the Highline School District
Highline Public Schools Policy 3114 lets a homeschooled student take district courses part time, receive ancillary services, or both, as long as the student would be eligible to enroll full time. File a Declaration of Intent by September 15, or within two weeks of the start of a term, at the Highline Central Office in Burien.
Who qualifies
Receives home-based instruction
A student who is not enrolled in a private school and is receiving home-based instruction counts as part time when taking district courses or services.
Could enroll full time
The policy applies only to part-time students who would otherwise be eligible for full-time enrollment in Highline Public Schools.
Files a Declaration of Intent
File it with the district where you live, or with a district that accepted your student through a choice transfer, by September 15 or within two weeks of the start of a term.
What your student can use
The terms come from Highline Board Policy 3114 and the district's homeschool page.
- District courses
- Part-time enrollment
- Ancillary services
- Provided to part-time students
- Off-campus instruction program
- With superintendent approval
- Declaration of Intent deadline
- Sept. 15 or 2 weeks into a term
- Where to file
- Central Office or email
Policy 3114 directs the superintendent to set procedures that are not posted, so ask Student Placement which courses have room and how to request a specific service.
How to enroll part time
- By September 15
File the Declaration of Intent
Bring it to Highline Central Office at 15675 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien, or email it to student.placement@highlineschools.org.
- With your declaration
Ask for courses or services
Tell Student Placement which classes or ancillary services your student wants so the district can arrange part-time enrollment.
- Each term
Attend as scheduled
Your student attends the district courses or services, and you remain responsible for the rest of the home-based program.
- Each year
File again
The Declaration of Intent is filed every year by September 15.
What it includes
Included
- Part-time enrollment in district courses
- Ancillary services
- Approved off-campus instruction programs
Not included
- Books, teaching materials, and curriculum choices
- Evaluation of your home-based program
Under the policy, decisions about books, teaching materials, curriculum, methods, and evaluation of home-based instruction remain the parent's responsibility.
Who to contact about part-time enrollment
Student Placement at the Central Office processes Declarations of Intent from homeschool families.
student.placement@highlineschools.org 206-631-3000 Homeschool 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
- What are Highline's ancillary services?
- Policy 3114 does not define them. Ask Student Placement which school services, beyond regular classes, your student can receive part time.
- We started homeschooling mid-year. When do we file with Highline?
- Within two weeks of the start of the next quarter, trimester, or semester, if you missed September 15.
- Will Highline choose our curriculum?
- No. The policy leaves philosophy, books, materials, curriculum, methods, timing, place, and evaluation to the parent.
- Can we email the declaration?
- Yes. Highline accepts the Declaration of Intent by email at student.placement@highlineschools.org as well as in person at the Central Office.
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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