Online Approval Application is Now Available

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 03/02/2026 09:00 AM PST

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It’s Time!

Online Annual Approval Applications Are Now Available.

Who should complete a Renewing Private School Application?

Previously approved schools with a building code.
Established schools planning a name change

Link to Renewing Private School Application

Who should complete the New Private School Application?

New schools offering kindergarten and at least one grade or any grades 1–12
Established schools opening or operating an additional campus with a separate mailing address

Do not submit this application to report a name change for an approved school.

Link to New Private School Application

To preview the application, you may download a PDF of either or both samples: Renewing Private School Approval and New Private School Approval.

Questions or issues with your application?

Drop in any Wednesday in March: 12-12:30 PM, Zoom Q&A Sessions.

Application Confirmation & Status Tracking

Before submitting, please carefully review your application. If you later discover errors in the form itself, you must request a unique link from the Private Schools Manager to make corrections. To add or submit paperwork to your application, you will not need to access the application itself. Please email additional materials directly to the Private Schools Manager.

After submission, you will receive a confirmation email indicating that your application has been received. There may be a slight delay, so if you do not see the email within an hour of submission, check your junk or spam folder. Once you locate the confirmation email with the attached PDF of your application, please forward it to appropriate personnel in your organization and save the copy of the PDF for future reference.

Beginning in mid-March, you will be able to check your application status via the downloadable Application Status Tracker on the Private School Approval webpage, updated weekly. Applications will be reviewed in the order received, so it is important to check the status tracker periodically to ensure that all application materials are in order. The status tracker will also list any issues or errors in your application that will need to be addressed.

Important Dates & Deadlines

Wednesdays in March: 12-12:30 PM: Zoom Q&A Sessions.

April 1: Deadline to submit renewing private school approval applications

Mid-April: ESEA Federal Programs Participation application due – questions about the process should be directed to OSPI’s Sheila Gerrish sheila.gerrish@k12.wa.us or Julie Chace Julie.Chace@k12.wa.us.

May 11: Deadline to submit new private school approval applications and additional materials for consideration at the June 25 meeting

June 25: Board reviews private school applications; complete applications with no deviations may be eligible for approval

Mid-July: Schools are notified of approval status, and newly approved schools are assigned building codes

No later than August 1: Heads of School receive an email link to their approval certificate and web badge; a Certificate Lookup Tool is posted on the Private School Approval website

For additional details and resources, visit Private School Approval. If you have questions, join one of our Zoom Q&A sessions or reach out to the Private Schools Manager.

Reminder for King County Schools

March 4, 12-12:30 PM: King County Health Department staff will be joining us for our weekly Q&A Session to answer any questions King County Schools may have about the inspections requirement for Private School Approval. All schools are welcome and King County Schools are encouraged to attend.

Join us on Zoom during the designated time. No pre-registration required.

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