Wash. Rev. Code » Title 28A · Chapter 28A.225
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.225.010 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) All parents in this state of any child eight years of age and under eighteen years of age shall cause such child to attend the public school of the district in which the child resides and such child shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when such school may be in session unless:
(a) The child is attending an approved private school for the same time or is enrolled in an extension program as provided in RCW 28A.195.010(4);
(b) The child is receiving home-based instruction as provided in subsection (4) of this section;
(c) The child is attending an education center as provided in chapter 28A.205 RCW;
(d) The school district superintendent of the district in which the child resides shall have excused such child from attendance because the child is physically or mentally unable to attend school, is attending a residential school operated by the department of social and health services or the department of children, youth, and families, is incarcerated in an adult correctional facility, or has been temporarily excused upon the request of his or her parents for purposes agreed upon by the school authorities and the parent: PROVIDED, That such excused absences shall not be permitted if deemed to cause a serious adverse effect upon the student's educational progress: PROVIDED FURTHER, That students excused for such temporary absences may be claimed as full-time equivalent students to the extent they would otherwise have been so claimed for the purposes of RCW 28A.150.250 and 28A.150.260 and shall not affect school district compliance with the provisions of RCW 28A.150.220;
(e) The child is excused from school subject to approval by the student's parent for a reason of faith or conscience, or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization, for up to two days per school year without any penalty. Such absences may not mandate school closures. Students excused for such temporary absences may be claimed as full-time equivalent students to the extent they would otherwise have been so claimed for the purposes of RCW 28A.150.250 and 28A.150.260 and may not affect school district compliance with the provisions of RCW 28A.150.220; or
(f) The child is sixteen years of age or older and:
(i) The child is regularly and lawfully employed and either the parent agrees that the child should not be required to attend school or the child is emancipated in accordance with chapter 13.64 RCW;
(ii) The child has already met graduation requirements in accordance with state board of education rules and regulations; or
(iii) The child has received a certificate of educational competence under rules and regulations established by the state board of education under RCW 28A.305.190.
(2) A parent for the purpose of this chapter means a parent, guardian, or person having legal custody of a child.
(3) An approved private school for the purposes of this chapter and chapter 28A.200 RCW shall be one approved under regulations established by the state board of education pursuant to RCW 28A.305.130.
(4) For the purposes of this chapter and chapter 28A.200 RCW, instruction shall be home-based if it consists of planned and supervised instructional and related educational activities, including a curriculum and instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music, provided for a number of hours equivalent to the total annual program hours per grade level established for approved private schools under RCW 28A.195.010 and 28A.195.040 and if such activities are:
(a) Provided by a parent who is instructing his or her child only and are supervised by a certificated person. A certificated person for purposes of this chapter and chapter 28A.200 RCW shall be a person certified under chapter 28A.410 RCW. For purposes of this section, "supervised by a certificated person" means: The planning by the certificated person and the parent of objectives consistent with this subsection; a minimum each month of an average of one contact hour per week with the child being supervised by the certificated person; and evaluation of such child's progress by the certificated person. The number of children supervised by the certificated person shall not exceed thirty for purposes of this subsection; or
(b) Provided by a parent who is instructing his or her child only and who has either earned forty-five college-level quarter credit hours or its equivalent in semester hours or has completed a course in home-based instruction at a postsecondary institution or a vocational-technical institute; or
(c) Provided by a parent who is deemed sufficiently qualified to provide home-based instruction by the superintendent of the local school district in which the child resides.
(5) The legislature recognizes that home-based instruction is less structured and more experiential than the instruction normally provided in a classroom setting. Therefore, the provisions of subsection (4) of this section relating to the nature and quantity of instructional and related educational activities shall be liberally construed.
[ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 s 630; 2014 c 168 s 3; 1998 c 244 s 14; 1996 c 134 s 1; 1990 c 33 s 219; 1986 c 132 s 1; 1985 c 441 s 1; 1980 c 59 s 1; 1979 ex.s. c 201 s 4; 1973 c 51 s 1; 1972 ex.s. c 10 s 2. Prior: 1971 ex.s. c 215 s 2; 1971 ex.s. c 51 s 1; 1969 ex.s. c 109 s 2; 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.27.010; prior: 1909 p 364 s 1; RRS s 5072; prior: 1907 c 240 s 7; 1907 c 231 s 1; 1905 c 162 s 1; 1903 c 48 s 1; 1901 c 177 s 11; 1899 c 140 s 1; 1897 c 118 s 71. Formerly RCW 28A.27.010, 28.27.010.]

Notes:

Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 ss 601-631, 701-728, and 804: See note following RCW 13.04.011.
Conflict with federal requirements—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6: See RCW 43.216.908.
Effective date—1998 c 244: See RCW 28A.193.900.
Severability—1985 c 441: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1985 c 441 s 6.]
Severability—1973 c 51: "If any provision of this 1973 amendatory act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1973 c 51 s 5.]
Private schools: RCW 28A.305.130(5), 28A.195.010 through 28A.195.050.
Work permits for minors required: RCW 49.12.123.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 24 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1998–2026 · leading case: Tunstall v. Bergeson, 5 P.3d 691 (Wash. 2000).
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Tunstall v. Bergeson, 5 P.3d 691 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 4× “RCW 28A.225.010 (children up to age 18 required to attend school, subject to certain exceptions).”
Patel Ex Rel. A.H. v. Kent Sch. Dist., 648 F.3d 965 (9th Cir. 2011). · cites it 2× “Patel emphasizes that Washington requires mandatory school attendance, Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.225.010(1), and that KHS had a duty to protect A.”
N.L. v. Bethel Sch. Dist., 378 P.3d 162 (Wash. 2016). “us/Safetycenter/Offenders/default.aspx [https://perma.”
Tunstall Ex Rel. Tunstall v. Bergeson, 5 P.3d 691 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 4× “This statute supports the idea that individuals are treated like adults once they hit age 18, as choice is commonly recognized as a hallmark of adulthood.”
Bellevue Sch. Dist. v. ES, 199 P.3d 1010 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “NOTES [1] RCW 28A.225.010. Exceptions to the mandatory attendance rule include children who are being homeschooled, children unable to attend school for serious health issues, children attending approved education centers, and children who are sixteen years old and lawfully…”
In Re Jl, 166 P.3d 776 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “RCW 28A.225.010(1). We do not question the rehabilitative motives underlying statutes purporting to authorize juvenile court orders to detain truant juveniles.”
In re the Interest of J.L., 140 Wash. App. 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “RCW 28A.225.010(1). We do not question the rehabilitative motives underlying statutes purporting to authorize juvenile court orders to detain truant juveniles.”
State v. Rice, 159 Wash. App. 545 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). “For purposes of this subsection, “school” does not include home-based instruction as defined in RCW 28A.225.010. RCW 9.94A.836 states, (1) In a prosecution for rape of a child in the first degree, rape of a child in the second degree, or child molestation in the first degree,…”
Bellevue Sch. Dist. v. E.S., 148 Wash. App. 205 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “See RCW 28A.225.010(1)(a)-(e). Laws of 1995, ch.”
Taylor v. Enumclaw Sch. Dist. No. 216, 133 P.3d 492 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “RCW 28A.225.010. Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 , 95 S.”
Stone v. Prosser Consol. Sch. Dist. No. 116, 971 P.2d 125 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “…for children from 8 through 17 years-of age, unless the child is enrolled in private school or is home-schooled. RCW 28A.225.010.”
State v. Allen, 955 P.2d 403 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998). “RCW 28A.225.010. When children are in government care for mandatory education, a parens patriae relationship exists.”
Show all 24 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.225.010(1) — 8 cases
Patel Ex Rel. A.H. v. Kent Sch. Dist., 648 F.3d 965 (9th Cir. 2011). “Patel emphasizes that Washington requires mandatory school attendance, Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.225.010(1), and that KHS had a duty to protect A.”
In Re Jl, 166 P.3d 776 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “RCW 28A.225.010(1). We do not question the rehabilitative motives underlying statutes purporting to authorize juvenile court orders to detain truant juveniles.”
In re the Interest of J.L., 140 Wash. App. 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “RCW 28A.225.010(1). We do not question the rehabilitative motives underlying statutes purporting to authorize juvenile court orders to detain truant juveniles.”
Chimacum Sch. Dist., V D.P. (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
Monica Arreola-martinez V. State Of Washington (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.225.010(1)(a) — 2 cases
Bellevue Sch. Dist. v. ES, 199 P.3d 1010 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “NOTES [1] RCW 28A.225.010. Exceptions to the mandatory attendance rule include children who are being homeschooled, children unable to attend school for serious health issues, children attending approved education centers, and children who are sixteen years old and lawfully…”
Bellevue Sch. Dist. v. E.S., 148 Wash. App. 205 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “See RCW 28A.225.010(1)(a)-(e). Laws of 1995, ch.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.225.010(1)(d) — 1 case
Tunstall Ex Rel. Tunstall v. Bergeson, 5 P.3d 691 (Wash. 2000). “This statute supports the idea that individuals are treated like adults once they hit age 18, as choice is commonly recognized as a hallmark of adulthood.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.225.010(4) — 1 case
Jude I. Doty v. Dep't Of Labor & Indus. (Wash. Ct. App. 2015).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 28A.225.010(l)(d) — 1 case
Tunstall v. Bergeson, 5 P.3d 691 (Wash. 2000). “RCW 28A.225.010 (children up to age 18 required to attend school, subject to certain exceptions).”
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