Latest Updates
Jan. 26 | ACTION: Come to Olympia on January 28
S.B. 6261 is scheduled for a hearing on January 28 at 10:30 am. Please come to the State Capitol in Olympia on January 28. Wear red to show your opposition to S.B. 6261!
- 9:00 am: Attend the rally hosted by the Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) on the steps of the Temple of Justice
- 10:30 am: Attend the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education hearing for a chance at public comment in opposition
If you are unable to attend, you can still be involved by doing the following:
- Provide remote testimony in opposition to the bill.
- Contact members of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and tell them you oppose this bill.
- Comment on the bill and let your state senator know that you oppose placing burdens on parents prior to compulsory school age.
- Find your elected official and email them your comments!
- Contact fellow homeschooling families you know and tell them about this bill so they can be informed and become engaged.
Senator Lisa Wellman's office has clarified that the "plan" required under S.B. 6261 is a new piece of paperwork, not simply the Declaration of Intent form that Washington homeschoolers already file. Click here for a brief video update from Kevin Boden.
Jan. 21 | Bill introduced; hearing scheduled
On January 21, SB 6261 was introduced by Senator Lisa Wellman and assigned to the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. It has been scheduled for a hearing with the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee on January 28 at 10:30 am.
Actions you can take to oppose SB 6261:
- Comment on the bill and let your state senator know that you oppose placing burdens on parents prior to compulsory school age.
- Find your elected official and email them your comments!
- Contact members of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and tell them you oppose this bill!
Want to do more?
- Contact fellow homeschooling families you know and tell them about this bill so they can be informed and become engaged.
- Consider testifying on January 28 and letting the committee know that you oppose the bill. You can sign up to testify online or submit a written testimony here.
Here's a brief video update from Kevin Boden.
Summary of SB 6261
Senate Bill 6261 requires homeschool families to file a plan for the education of their child at age 6 and again at age 7, which is before the student is even of compulsory attendance age.
HSLDA opposes this bill for the following reasons:
- It discriminates against homeschooling parents. Parents intending to provide home-based instruction would face increased requirements, but parents intending to send their child to a public or private school would have no such obligation.
- It’s vague and onerous. The plain language of the bill requires the parent to submit a signed declaration of the “…plan regarding the education of that child” but provides no guidance regarding what such a plan may entail. Yet it imposes penalties for lack of compliance.
- It increases the regulatory burden on parents and school administrators. This regulation would require parents to deal with two additional years’ worth of homeschool paperwork. Failure to comply could incur truancy charges. It also increases the paperwork burden for school administrators, which could lead to delays and mistakes.
- It is a back-door attempt to lower the compulsory school age. If passed, it is not a big step from this legislation to lowering the compulsory education age in a future legislative session.