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A private school is a nonpublic school offering a program that includes kindergarten and at least one grade, or any combination of grades one through twelve. Under RCW (Revised Code of Washington) 28A.195.010, the Legislature mandates that the State Board of Education (SBE) annually approve private schools to operate in Washington. These schools must maintain a program that provides a sufficient basic education, meets state graduation requirements, and adheres to reasonable health and safety standards.
Application Deadlines & Status
- 2024 - 2025 Applications: Due April 1, 2024
- New Schools: May apply after the deadline. [Apply Here]
- Check School Approval Status: [View List]
- 2025 - 2026 Applications: Available March 2025
Required Paperwork
- Certificate of Compliance: Signed and uploaded with your application.
- Staffing Report: For schools employing non-Washington certificated teachers.
- Health and Fire Inspection Reports: Required for new or renovated schools.
Note: If you encounter issues downloading forms, try using a different browser.
New School Approval
Review Private School Laws and FAQs before applying. The Head of School will submit the application online. [Apply Here]
Renewing School Approval
Log in with your school building code/s to submit separate applications for each campus. (2025 - 2026 Renewing School Approval Application available March 2025)
Temporarily or Permanently Closing a School? Submit the Closure Form.
Support Sessions
Join a Zoom Q&A session for application support: Wednesdays in March, 11:30–12:30. (Link available February 2025.)
Approval Notification & Certificates
After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email. If any issues arise, the Private Schools Manager will contact you.
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Review Timeline: Applications submitted by April 1 will be reviewed at the June 2024 meeting. Late applications will be considered at later board meetings. See the 2024 Board Meetings and 2025 Board Meetings for dates.
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Compliance: Per WAC (Washington Administrative Code) 180-90-130, schools must file a Certificate of Compliance at least 90 days before the school term starts.
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Approval Notification: Schools will be notified within two weeks of the meeting. Certificates of Approval will be available for download within a month. Fully approved schools may request a web badge from the Private Schools Manager.
Online-Only Private Schools
According to RCW (Revised Code of Washington) 28A.195.090, an approved Washington private school may have an online program. However, completely online schools or schools with physical facilities only outside Washington cannot be approved. Washington private school law assumes a physical facility in the state of Washington where students are enrolled and regularly attend. See RCW (Revised Code of Washington) 28A.195.010(6).