Instructions for the Declaration of Intent Form

The Christian Homeschool Network has been monitoring this issue for the past couple of years. In 2003, the state superintendent’s office (OSPI) attempted to change the declaration-of-intent (DOI) form to include information not required by law. CHN joined forces with HSLDA and together were able to stop this new form. We then complained that the current DOI form prescribed by OSPI, and one used by many school districts, was not in compliance with state law. We were told that the form would not be corrected. We also complained that many school districts have developed their own forms and these forms were out of compliance with state law. Again, we were told that this would not be corrected. 

We became curious as to how widespread the problem really was. In 2004 we conducted a survey and wrote a report on our findings.  We found the situation was worse than we expected. We contacted Home School Legal Defense Association and shared our research.  HSLDA immediately created a DOI form for their members and it is available via their web site www.HSLDA.org

We have also received many complaints that information from the DOI form is used for internal school district mailings and usage and in some cases even shared with third parties:

• One school district shared information to a grad-student who contacted many homeschool families in the district on some research he was conducting.
• Many school districts use DOI data to mail information about public school programs like the alternative learning programs.
• One parent was shocked when she enrolled her child into the Running Start program to find that the child already had a student ID number.
• Many school districts request the DOI form be returned to sites other than the local superintendent’s office, which is a violated of state law.

The Law: RCW 28A.200.010 Home-based instruction -- Duties of parents.
Each parent whose child is receiving home-based instruction under RCW 28A.225.010 (4)shall have the duty to: (1) File annually a signed declaration of intent that he or she is planning to cause his or her child to receive home-based instruction. The statement shall include the name and age of the child, shall specify whether a certificated person will be supervising the instruction, and shall be written in a format prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction. Each parent shall file the statement by September 15 of the school year or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester with the superintendent of the public school district within which the parent resides or the district that accepts the transfer student shall be deemed a transfer student of the nonresident district. Parents may apply for transfer under RCW 28A.225.220;

Failure of a home-based student to file a DOI form is a violation of the compulsory attendance law RCW 28A.225 and the student may be found truant. If your family chooses not to file a DOI form we strongly urge membership in Home School Legal Defense Association, they understand the unique needs of homeschool families and are familiar with our rights as citizens under the United States Constitution.  

Remember, the DOI form is not a permission slip or contract from the school district, it is you declaring your right to homeschool your child(ren) according to your standards. A school district does not have the authority to reject a DOI form, nor do they have the authority to dictate when you can homeschool- including when you start.   

As a service to the homeschool community, CHN has developed a DOI form in compliance with state law which also includes a confidentiality clause to protect your family and child’s information.

© 2005 CHNOW all rights reserved
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This information is not intended to be and does not constitute the giving of legal advice