1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing as a Washington resident to respectfully oppose SB 6261, specifically the provision requiring families to file a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool when a child is six or seven years old. Under current Washington law, compulsory education is not required until age eight. This long-standing policy reflects well-established child development research showing that early childhood development varies widely, particularly in areas such as executive function, emotional regulation, attention span, and readiness for formal academics. By requiring a homeschool declaration before compulsory education even applies, SB 6261 creates a legal and developmental inconsistency. Many children at ages six and seven learn best through play-based, experiential, and relationship-centered approaches rather than structured academic instruction. Requiring families to formally declare “homeschooling” at this stage conflates natural early learning with compulsory schooling and pressures parents to prematurely formalize education in ways that may be developmentally inappropriate. Research in early childhood education consistently shows that pushing formal academics too early can increase stress, undermine intrinsic motivation, and negatively affect long-term learning outcomes. Families who choose to delay formal instruction until closer to age eight are not avoiding education—they are following evidence-based practices aligned with their child’s developmental readiness. This provision places unnecessary administrative burdens on families who are acting responsibly and lawfully under existing compulsory education statutes. Expanding state oversight into an age range that Washington law has intentionally exempted offers no clear educational benefit and risks undermining both parental autonomy and child well-being. For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to vote no on SB 6261, or at minimum remove the requirement to file a Declaration of Intent to Homeschool for children ages six and seven so that the bill aligns with Washington’s compulsory education law and established child development science. Thank you for your time and for your service to the people of Washington. I appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this issue.