How Washington Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school in Washington and is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served co-op schools, online students, and homeschool K-12 students since 2003. In this blog, we provide Enlightium families with generic information about Washington state’s requirements. Parents are encouraged to review the state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal, OSPI, and/or the Washington State Board of Education, as requirements are subject to change over time. Once enrolled at Enlightium Academy, join our Washington Group in Enlightium’s Parents app to connect with Washington families. 

The resources below serve as a starting point for your family's research.

 

Washington’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance

Homeschooling Option	Option 2: Homeschooling with a private or denominational school
State Educational Funds	Not available at this time
Parent Notifies State	No; Enlightium notifies the state
Academic Calendar Requirement	Yes
Age Requirement	8-18
Instructor Qualifications	No
Subjects Required	Yes
Standardized Assessment	No, though the district may request it
Immunization Requirement	Yes, parents need records of immunization or exemption
Keep a Portfolio	Yes
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Washington Families	Yes

 

Homeschooling Options

There are two homeschooling options in Washington state. Families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 2: Homeschooling with a private or denominational school. The below guidelines are based on Option 2.

 

State Educational Funds

No state educational funds are available for homeschooling families at this time.

 

Enlightium Academy Notifies the State

In Washington State, if you're homeschooling your child through a private approved school, such as Enlightium Academy, you do not need to submit a letter of intent to homeschool or notify the state. Enlightium takes care of the necessary compliance with state regulations at the beginning of the school year. However, it’s a good idea to check with your local school district if you have specific questions about homeschooling your student. We can provide a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) upon request if the previous school or school district should require one.

 

Academic Calendar

The Washington State Board of Education requires 180 days or an average of 1,000 hours of education each school year. Enlightium’s school calendar has 180 school days (around 210 days with summer school). Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays. This means that students can work for, on average, 5.5 hours per day and will stay on track to meet this requirement.

 

Age Requirement

Ages 7 or younger:

Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for 1st grade.

Ages 8 through 18:

Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they either graduate or turn 18.

 

Immunization Requirement

Immunization is required in the state of Washington; therefore, parents are required to keep their children’s immunization or exemption records for medical or religious reasons. Enlightium Academy does not require student immunization or exemption for homeschooled families unless a student attends an Enrichment Center for Hybrid and In-Person Learning. 

You can use the Washington State health immunization or exemption forms as needed. 

 

Instructor Qualifications

Under Option 2, the Washington State Board of Education does not require students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications. 

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields. 

Students in the Homeschool Program (grades PreK-8) use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program (grades 3-12) use a digital Christian curriculum. Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 1-10) use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and electives courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.

 

Required Subjects

The Washington State Board of Education requires that the following subjects be taught:

- Science
- Math
- Language/Reading
- Social Studies/History
- Writing/Spelling
- Occupational Education
- Health
- The development of an appreciation of art and music

The first five subjects listed are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor as needed from year to year. The final three subjects are included in Enlightium’s elective courses.

 

Standardized Assessment

Under Option 2, the Washington State Board of Education does not require a standardized test for homeschooled students.

This requirement can be met via Enlightium Academy as we provide multiple annual assessment options to provide you with data on how your student is progressing in comparison with other students in the same grade level in the USA:

• Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment; you can also opt out of an assessment
• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT, which students will need to register for independently and take locally as they are currently proctored in-person.

 

Keep a portfolio

You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with weekly progress reports. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
• Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
• Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the registration process - primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
• Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
• Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
• Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, and the Presidential Award.
• Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and spelling bees.

 

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Washington Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Washington to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling. 

 

Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
2. If you have any questions:
   1. Chat with a team member
   2. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.

 

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (866) 488-4818, or visit EnlightiumSchool.com.

We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.

Sources reviewed in October 2024:

• https://hslda.org/legal
• https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/schools/immunization#reqs
• https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/Pubs//348-106_CertificateofExemption.pdf?uid=6254d926836c4