Homeschool testing in Washington

Verified against primary sources on July 19, 2026

At a glance

Testing required: Yes
When: annual
What qualifies: Standardized test required
Who administers: “Qualified individual” — undefined in statute/rule; publisher qualifications in practice.
Results: Kept in your records
Score floor: None; parent retains results.

What the law says

“A standardized achievement test approved by the state board of education is administered annually to the child by a qualified individual… Parents may use a standardized test that does not appear on the list of examples if it has been evaluated by a test evaluation organization recognized by the state board of education.”

— RCW 28A.200.010(1)(c); WAC 180-52-070

Alternatives to testing

Annual written assessment by a certificated person currently working in education.

Worth knowing

CORRECTED 2026-07-19: the (1)(c) Buros hook is DORMANT — its precondition (evaluator “cited on the state board web page”) is unmet on the live SBE site (only OSPI’s 2017 pink book names Buros), and it never lists a test, only permits per-parent off-list use. The REAL entry route is petitioning the SBE for a board vote to amend the examples list (Apr→Aug 2025 cycle; how CLT got on). $0 fee; prerequisite is genuine technical documentation. No norming language anywhere in WA law.