Washington state requirements for homeschoolers?

[Livvie]

Can anyone comment on the burdens (or joys ;) of the state requirements for registering your child with the state and "reporting their progress" and mandatory testing, etc?

Our family is relocating from Alaska (a state with *no* requirements for homeschoolers) to Olympia, Washington in the next month. I was just wondering how unschooling people on the ground there in Washington state feel about interfacing with the state. Is it a plug and chug thing? Or do you feel the state is overly meddlesome? Thanks so much for any comments.

And hello Olympia! (Anyone out there? :) Best - Livvie

[Jasie VanGesen]

I'm in WA state and we've encountered no problems from the school board whatsoever. I turn in a "Declaration of Intent" each fall (they can get you a copy at your local district office) and no one has ever asked me ANYTHING. They do require testing or evaluation from a certified educator at certain grade levels, but also require no proof of said evaluations... so we haven't really bothered. Also, you're required to be certified to homeschool or have one year post HS college attendance, but I've also never been asked to show proof.

This state is pretty easy to homeschool in, from my experience.

[Livvie]

Thanks so much for bringing me back from the brink of panic ;) I'm realizing finally that this state for all its ice and darkness is very laissez-faire ... and I've gotten used to it. Sounds like I can deal with "the man" in Washington though! Many thanks!