Fife School District Home School Information
This information is designed to provide you with the information needed to be in compliance with statutes: RCW 28A.225, Compulsory School Attendance and RCW 28A.200, Home Based Instruction
HOME BASED INSTRUCTION
RCW 28A.225 defines instruction as home based if it consists of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities including curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling and the development of an appreciation of art and music. Total annual program hours are as follows:
Kindergarten At least a total of 450 hours
Grades 1through 12 An annual average total of 1,000 hours
RCW 28A.200 recognizes that all decisions relating to philosophy or doctrine; selection of books, teaching materials and curriculum; and methods, timing, and place in the provision or evaluation of home based instruction shall be the responsibility of the parent except for matters specifically referred to in RCW 28A.225 cited above.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
A Declaration of Intent to provide Home-based Instruction must be completed and returned to the District Office at 5802 – 20th ST E, Fife, WA 98424. Declarations must be returned by September 15th or with two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester or semester.
If your child has previously attended a Fife public school, we ask that you withdraw your student upon filing your Declaration of Intent.
PARENT QUALIFICATIONS
A parent must either a). Be supervised by a certificated teacher who has contact with the child for one hour per week average per month. b). Have earned the equivalent of 45 college-level quarter credit hours. c). Have taken a course in home-based instruction at a post-secondary institution or vocational technical institute, or d). Been deemed sufficiently qualified by the local superintendent.
INFORMATION AND REGULATIONS
Information is available on the OSPI website at www.k12.wa.us . From the menu, click on Support/Operations, then scroll to Home-Based Instruction for a full listing of information available. In addition, the informational booklet, “Washington’s Laws Regulating Home-Based Instruction” can be downloaded free of charge, click on “regulations” from the list and select “the pink book” to print. Further information from OSPI can by obtained by calling 360-725-6433.
RE-ENTERING THE FIFE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Your child may enter or re-enter the school district at any time. When a student requests enrollment in a school following a period of home-based instruction, the school will determine the appropriate grade and course level placement.
Students entering secondary education, grades 9-12, requesting credits for courses of study completed under the home-based instruction statute will need to insure the following:
- A Declaration of Intent is on file
- The course instructor meets minimum qualifying standards
- A standardized or annual progress assessment has been administered
- The home-based instruction program students are using is accredited by CITA (Commission on International and trans-regional Accreditation) OR by NAAS (Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and Colleges)
Credit may be granted upon review of the transcripts from a CITA or NAAS accredited private school, agency or homeschooling organization. Please note, the Fife School District has no obligation to accept credits earned outside the school district. Some homeschool curriculums and agencies say that they are “accredited”. It is in the student’s best interest to find out by whom. Transcripts must be submitted prior to re-entering the school district if requesting credit.
Transcripted Coursework
Students receiving instruction through an accredited organization, agency or private school need to submit an official transcript to the high school or junior high for review. Again, please note, the Fife School District has no obligation to accept credits earned outside the school district.
Home-based instruction courses taken during the time a student is enrolled full-time in the Fife School District will not be accepted as credit towards graduation.
RUNNING START (RCW28A.600.310)
Students wishing to enroll in the Running Start Program will do so through the appropriate counselor at Fife High School. Running Start students who want to earn a diploma issued through the Fife School District must meet the school district’s requirements (Junior or Senior status) for enrollment in Running Start and provide their homeschool transcript of grades 9 and 10 from an accredited agency for evaluation. Home-based instruction students NOT planning on receiving a diploma issued through the Fife School District and wishing to avail themselves on the Running Start Program must enroll at the High School.
Please note: Per statute, homeschooling students wishing to avail themselves of Running Start options must have a Declaration of Intent on file with the school district by September 15 of the year preceding the request for Running Start participation. Enrolling students must have received home-based instruction for the school year prior to enrollment in Running Start.
PART-TIME ENROLLMENT
A student may attend his/her neighborhood school up to 180 minutes daily (elementary) or up to two periods daily (secondary).
Home-based education students can receive special education and related services by enrolling part-time in the district. Their part time enrollment would be based on the amount of time, directed by their individualized education program, that the student receives such services.
For any course requiring prerequisites, sufficient documentation must be provided to indicate that the student has the appropriate skill level to enter courses offered by the Fife School District.
ANNUAL TESTING
An approved standardized test administered yearly by a qualified individual, or an annual academic progress assessment of the student’s academic progress written by a certificated person currently working in the field of education must be administered yearly.
A parent must ensure that test scores or annual academic progress assessments and immunization records, together with any other records that are kept relating to the instructional and educational activities provided, are maintained.
The Washington Homeschool Organization (W.H.O.) makes an effort to keep a current list of persons offering to test or assess homeschoolers. See the listing at the end.
Homeschool students wishing to take the appropriate state-mandated assessments offered in the Fife School District should contact their resident school to make arrangements to have the student participate in scheduled tests.
ANCILLARY SERVICES
Ancillary services are any co-curricular service or activity, any health care service or activity and any other services or activities except “courses” for preschool through twelfth grade students.
A student must meet the district’s prerequisites in order to participate in a sport or activity.
Parents wishing to avail themselves of ancillary services from the Fife School District must file a completed Declaration of Intent form.
BOOKS AND CURRICULUM RESOURCES
Other then those items specifically required by the statute, all decisions relating to philosophy or doctrine, selection of books, teaching materials and curriculum methods are the responsibility of the parents. Therefore, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide the materials and equipment necessary to meet the planned objectives for home-based instruction. Fife School District has a limited supply of teaching materials to be loaned.
PUYALLUP FAIR TICKETS
Fair tickets will be given out to home-based instruction students who have registered a Declaration of Intent. Tickets will be distributed from the District Office, 5802- 20th ST E, Fife, WA 98424
HOMESCHOOLING ORGANIZATIONS AND CONTACTS
Washington Homeschool Organization (W.H.O.)
6632 South 19th Place ST E #E310
Kent, WA 98032
425-251-0439
www.washhomeschool.org
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Office of Learning and Teaching Support
Private schools/Home-based Instruction
360-725-6433
www.k12.wa.us
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