AN ACT Relating to requiring signed declarations of intent of school enrollment or home-based instruction;
Summary
SB 6261 would require parents to file a signed declaration of intent regarding a child’s education when the child reaches age six if the child is not enrolled in public or private school. The declaration must state whether the parent plans to provide home-based instruction or enroll the child in school, and it must include the child’s name and age in a form prescribed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Parents would file the declaration with the local school district by September 15 or within two weeks of the start of a school quarter, trimester, or semester.
The bill also amends Washington’s home-based instruction laws to require annual declarations of intent for children receiving home-based instruction, including the school year in which the child turns six and seven. It requires the declaration to specify whether a certified person will supervise instruction, and it directs parents to forward test scores, academic progress assessments, immunization records, and other educational records when a child transfers schools. If a child transfers into public school, the district may require standardized testing and determine grade and course placement based on records and consultation with parents. The bill further states that children receiving home-based instruction are not subject to compulsory attendance requirements until age eight, while parents who comply with the filing duties are presumed to be providing home-based instruction under state law.
Impact
The bill would amend Washington statutes governing compulsory school attendance and home-based instruction, primarily in chapter 28A RCW, by adding a new declaration-of-intent requirement and revising parent duties for homeschooled children. It would create a new filing obligation for parents of six-year-olds not enrolled in school, clarify reporting and record-transfer requirements, and reinforce the legal status of home-based instruction for children ages six and seven. School districts and the Superintendent of Public Instruction would be responsible for receiving and processing the declarations, and districts would gain explicit authority to review records and place transfer students.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcripts or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to indicate a divided public position. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and regulatory rather than ideological, with its focus on documentation, school enrollment tracking, and homeschool oversight. The overall tone suggests an effort to standardize early-childhood enrollment reporting and clarify when compulsory attendance and homeschool requirements apply.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the added administrative burden on parents who choose not to enroll a six-year-old in school, since they would have to file a signed declaration and continue annual filings for home-based instruction. Another likely issue is state oversight of homeschooling, including required disclosures about certified supervision, record forwarding, and annual academic progress assessments. Supporters would likely emphasize clearer enrollment tracking and better coordination between families and school districts, while critics may view the bill as increasing regulation of home-based education and expanding district involvement in family schooling decisions.
AN ACT Relating to civics education for public school students through instruction and information about the production and use of official signatures;