Homeschool benefits: North Central Washington Libraries
An NCW Libraries educator card lets homeschooling parents borrow or hold up to 100 items at a time, keep teaching materials for 90 days, and check out classroom kits for up to two months. Parents who homeschool and live or own property in Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, or Okanogan County qualify, on top of a free personal card.
Who qualifies
Lives in the five counties
You must homeschool and live or own property in Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, or Okanogan County.
Has a personal library card
The educator card is added to a personal NCW Libraries card, which is free for residents and property owners in those counties.
Brings ID and homeschool address
Bring a valid photo ID, proof of address if your ID does not show it, and your homeschooling address.
What the card gives you
The limits come from NCW Libraries' card types page and its homeschool page.
- Items out at once
- 100
- Holds at a time
- 100
- Teaching materials loan
- 90 days
- Classroom kit loan
- Up to 2 months
- Books on a regular card, for comparison
- 28 days
- Late fees
- None
Educator cards cannot borrow interlibrary loans, DVDs, bestsellers, Library of Things items, or other personal-use materials, so use your personal card for those.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather your papers
Fill out the library card application PDF ahead of time if you like.
- At any branch
Ask for an educator card
Apply at any of the 30 NCW Libraries locations; staff add the educator card to your personal card.
- Each checkout
Return on time
There are no late fees, but items more than 70 days overdue count as lost and are billed a replacement fee.
What it includes
Included
- Teaching materials on 90-day loans
- Classroom kits
- Up to 100 items and 100 holds
Not included
- Interlibrary loan materials
- DVDs
- Bestsellers and popular items
- Library of Things items
Who to contact about the card
NCW Libraries staff answer questions about educator cards and accounts.
info@ncwlibraries.org 509-663-1117 Card types
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 does the NCW Libraries educator card add over my regular card?
- Teaching materials go out for 90 days instead of the usual 28-day book loan, and you can borrow classroom kits for up to two months.
- Can I borrow DVDs or interlibrary loans on the NCW educator card?
- No. Those, along with bestsellers and Library of Things items, are excluded from educator cards.
- We live outside the five counties. Can we still borrow?
- Only with a fee card, which costs $10 a month or $120 a year. The educator card is described only for families in Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, or Okanogan County.
- Are there late fines?
- No. NCW Libraries charges no late fees, only replacement fees for lost or damaged items.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Books and library resources give your child something to explore. We turn their interests into coursework, so library discoveries can lead to deeper study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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