Private school certification inspections

School building health and safety inspections

Private and independent K-12 schools must meet reasonable standards to ensure the health and safety of all students. Private schools are approved by the Washington State Board of Education and must have a health and safety inspection of the school buildings (including classrooms, portables, and playgrounds). These inspections cover the environmental health and safety aspects of school buildings, classrooms, and playgrounds, as outlined in the Washington State Board of Health's Chapter 246-366 WAC. These inspections differ from the other inspections (such as school kitchens, pools, fire safety, and childcare licensing) that may also be required for your school.
In King County, the Environmental Health Services Division staff conducts the health and safety inspections of school buildings when requested and for a fee. Your school must operate grade levels between kindergarten through twelve.

Inspection frequency

The local health departments set the frequency for the health and safety inspections of schools, not the Washington State Board of Education. In King County, we currently do not offer annual or routine inspections due to limited staff capacity. If you are in King County and have had at least one health and safety inspection of your school building in the recent years, you may not need to request another inspection.

Due to limited staffing currently, we are prioritizing private school certification inspections of:

• Private schools that have not had or do not know have a record of a past inspection.
• Private schools that have not had an inspection since the last major renovation.
• Private schools that have moved to a new site or building.
• Private schools with other critical reasons for an inspection.

Are you planning or currently undergoing a major renovation, construction, or addition of a new portable or playground?

If yes, then your school must go through a separate school plan review and preoccupancy inspection process. This is required of all K-12 schools that are planning for a new construction, major construction, additions (such as portables), and playground installation. This is a more extensive process involving a review and approval of your project plans before construction and an inspection before occupancy.

• Learn more and submit a request for a school plan review.

How do I request and receive a private school certification inspection?

1. Submit an inspection request form.
2. Public Health staff will review requests and notify the school to pay the base fee of $402.
3. Once payment is received, our inspector will schedule an inspection date.
4. Inspector will conduct the inspection, and provide the school with an inspection report. If needed, the school must pay for additional hours (beyond 2), at a rate of $201/hour.

Turnaround time

We accept requests on a rolling-basis. However, most of the inspections may happen during the fall and winter months. Please expect at least 4-5 weeks lead time for inspection after submitting a request form and paying for the fees. We cannot expedite requests. After you submit a request, you will be notified within approximately 7 business days regarding next steps on payment inspections and scheduling an inspection date.

Private school inspection fees

The base fee of $402.00 must be paid prior to scheduling an inspection date. This base fee covers two hours for the inspection and report development time. If additional hours are needed to complete the inspection and reporting, we will send another invoice for the additional hour(s) at a rate of $201 per hour. Currently, we are only able to accept payment for private school certification inspections by phone. After payment is received, the inspector will schedule the inspection date.

Minimum environmental health and safety standards for K-12 schools

Both private and public K-12 schools must meet the minimum reasonable health requirements to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all students. Below are the relevant health and safety standards, guidance, and educational resources for K-12 school buildings.

Environmental Health & Safety Inspection Checklist:
K-12 private and public schools

• The Environmental Health & Safety Inspection Checklist (245 KB) is aligned with the state's standards and guidance for health and safety in K-12 schools.
• Note that some standards may not be applicable for your specific school.

Washington State Dept. of Health (DOH) and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

The WA DOH/OSPI Health & Safety Guide for K-12 Schools in Washington is currently being updated and covers various environmental health and safety requirements and guidelines for schools. We will post a link to it later this year when it becomes available.

Washington State Board of Health (WA BOH)

• WA BOH establishes the regulations for health and safety in primary and secondary schools with the Chapter 246-366 Primary and Secondary Schools. This chapter contains the reasonable health and safety standards for K-12 schools. WA BOH is currently reviewing and updating this standard.
• Schools must retain documentation of health inspections per WAC 180-90-160: “The physical facilities of the school are adequate to meet the program offered, and all school facilities and practices are in compliance with all reasonable health requirements and all reasonable fire safety requirements, as defined in WAC 180-90-112, and substantiated as required by current inspection reports of appropriate health and fire safety officials which are on file in the school or district administrator's office.

Washington State Board of Education (WBE)

WBE oversees the approval process for private schools.