Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Washington State
David Albert
Julie wrote:
(though we never use the term -- my book explains what we do, and you can call
it whatever you want.)
The laws in Washington are very simple and easy:
Parents are required to file an "intent to homsechool" between the time the
children are 8 and 15.
Parents are allowed to homeschool if either:
1. One parent has at least the equivalent of about one year of college; or
2. One parent takes a "homeschooling qualifying course" -- these usually take
about 16 hours, either four evenings or a weekend -- and for the most part
they just put you in touch with resources in your community. They are almost
always taught by homeschoolers -- lots of my friends teach them.
Between the ages of 8 and 15, children must either:
1. Take a standardized test (from a list supplied by the Board of Education --
it can be done at home -- and we have a wonderful organization in Spokane,
Washington named the Family Learning Organization which can supply the tests);
or
2. Be evaluated by a "certificated person" (it's supposed to mean a qualified
teacher).
Results of these evaluations or tests are NOT, by law, to be shared with
school districts or board of education; they are meant for the parents'
benefit only in evaluating their own children's progress.
That's it. That's all there is.
E-mail me further if you need more info.
David
--
I will be speaking in Florida in January. To check out my speaking schedule,
read a sample chapter or reviews of "And the Skylark Sings with Me", or find
ordering information, visit my website -- www.skylarksings.com -- or send an
e-mail to shantinik@...
> Hello everybodyHello, Julie! We are Washingtonians -- and we are essentially unschoolers
> I am Julie and i live in Manchester, England with my partner and our four
> kids. Just thought I would jump in and say Hello. I don't really have
> anything else to say right now as I am finding it hard keeping up with all
> my email (finding it hard keeping up with the kids as well!) But if
> anybody can share some of their experience with unschooling and Washington
> State laws, i'd be interested as we are considering a move.
> Peace
> Julie
(though we never use the term -- my book explains what we do, and you can call
it whatever you want.)
The laws in Washington are very simple and easy:
Parents are required to file an "intent to homsechool" between the time the
children are 8 and 15.
Parents are allowed to homeschool if either:
1. One parent has at least the equivalent of about one year of college; or
2. One parent takes a "homeschooling qualifying course" -- these usually take
about 16 hours, either four evenings or a weekend -- and for the most part
they just put you in touch with resources in your community. They are almost
always taught by homeschoolers -- lots of my friends teach them.
Between the ages of 8 and 15, children must either:
1. Take a standardized test (from a list supplied by the Board of Education --
it can be done at home -- and we have a wonderful organization in Spokane,
Washington named the Family Learning Organization which can supply the tests);
or
2. Be evaluated by a "certificated person" (it's supposed to mean a qualified
teacher).
Results of these evaluations or tests are NOT, by law, to be shared with
school districts or board of education; they are meant for the parents'
benefit only in evaluating their own children's progress.
That's it. That's all there is.
E-mail me further if you need more info.
David
--
I will be speaking in Florida in January. To check out my speaking schedule,
read a sample chapter or reviews of "And the Skylark Sings with Me", or find
ordering information, visit my website -- www.skylarksings.com -- or send an
e-mail to shantinik@...
[email protected]
I live in Kitsap County - we are a bridge away from Tacoma (30 miles) and a
ferry ride away from Seattle (or a 75-mile drive around the water). Our
prices are still low in Bremerton and some in Port Orchard, but places
where a lot of Seattle commuters live have shot up. Still, my 4 bd, 2 ba
house with a view of the Olympic Mts., hot tub (old) and .41 acre is worth
about $140,000 now - in Seattle it would be nearly three times that. Our
traffic isn't bad either. We're small town folks but are being infiltrated
by more and more city folks, so we might get some culture out of the deal.
Helen
ferry ride away from Seattle (or a 75-mile drive around the water). Our
prices are still low in Bremerton and some in Port Orchard, but places
where a lot of Seattle commuters live have shot up. Still, my 4 bd, 2 ba
house with a view of the Olympic Mts., hot tub (old) and .41 acre is worth
about $140,000 now - in Seattle it would be nearly three times that. Our
traffic isn't bad either. We're small town folks but are being infiltrated
by more and more city folks, so we might get some culture out of the deal.
Helen
nellebelle
I meant to say, also, when the state wrote in the clause for having an
assessment in lieu of standardized testing, I'm sure that they didn't
imagine a mail-order arrangement. Their intent probably was to have a
current teacher meet with the family to make sure that the child was
learning what he was supposed to be learning (ie grade level and all that
stuff) and to make sure that the family was really homeschooling and not
just too lazy to bother with getting the kid to school.
Although I think if I were that lazy, it would be easier to send the kids to
school than to have them home all day!
Mary Ellen
assessment in lieu of standardized testing, I'm sure that they didn't
imagine a mail-order arrangement. Their intent probably was to have a
current teacher meet with the family to make sure that the child was
learning what he was supposed to be learning (ie grade level and all that
stuff) and to make sure that the family was really homeschooling and not
just too lazy to bother with getting the kid to school.
Although I think if I were that lazy, it would be easier to send the kids to
school than to have them home all day!
Mary Ellen