Homeschooling in Virginia: How To Homeschool While Following State Laws

by Rita Onyx

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular. Just in the last years alone, homeschooling rose up by 700%. What was once seen as old-fashioned and outdated is now a modern way to educate the next generation.

There are many benefits to homeschooling; it gives parents freedom in choosing the curriculums and subjects their children learn. Remote learning also ensures their children are kept safe, away from potential dangers like bullying or viruses in public schools. It’s a win-win situation.

Thinking of homeschooling your children too? Then follow this quick guide on how to homeschool your children if you live in Virginia. Know the Virginia homeschool state laws and regulations in your state so you can homeschool properly.

There are Four Ways to Homeschool:

1. Home instruction
2. Religious exemption
3. Certified tutor
4. Private school

Requirements:

• Children between 5-17 of age must be in school 

• You MUST notify your local school district of your intentions

• There are NO teacher qualifications

• There are NO state mandated subjects 

• There ARE required assessments or testing if you homeschool under home instruction

• There ARE immunization requirements

How to Homeschool Under Home Instruction

• Verify that you meet one of the four home instructor requirements:

a) Have a high school diploma or higher degree

b) Current Virginia teacher’s license

c) Provide a curriculum or program of study

d) Give evidence that you are able to provide adequate education

• Submit a notice with the superintendent of the local school district every year by August 15^th

• Evaluate your child annually by August 1^st with one of the following:

a) Standardized achievement test with a score at or above the “fourth stanine”

b) Evaluation letter from a certified teacher from any state or a person with a master’s degree or higher who is aware of the child’s academic progress

c) Report card or transcript from a community college, college, college distance learning program, or home education correspondence school

d) A mutually agreed upon “evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress”

How to Homeschool with a Religious Exemption

• Submit a religious exemption application to your local school board

• Include in the application:

1. Statement asking the school board to excuse your child based on Virginia’s religious exemption statute
2. Statement explaining how putting your child in public school would be against your beliefs
3. Statement that you are training your child in the same beliefs that you hold

• Do not include philosophical, moral, political, or social issues

How to Homeschool with a Certified Tutor

• A parent or another person who is a Virginia-certified teacher can apply to the school superintendent to approve them as a tutor

• Once they are approved, they can begin homeschooling

• No other information is needed to apply (i.e. names of child or children, address, etc.)

How to Homeschool with a Private School

• Enroll in a private school that allows homeschooled students

• Follow the policies of the private school in regard to homeschooled students

• Recognize that the Virginia law states that students can attend private schools without physically being present at the school if the instruction is for the same number of hours, days, and periods as the public schools

Helpful links:

https://heav.org/begin-homeschooling/how-to-start-homeschooling-in-virginia/

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/families/private_home/index.shtml

https://vahomeschoolers.org/

https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/regulation-map/virginia.html

Contact Information–State and Federal Departments of Education

• Virginia Department of Education (mailing address)
  P.O. Box 2120
  Richmond, VA 23218; or
  Virginia Department of Education (street address)
  James Monroe Building
  101 North 14th St.
  Richmond, VA 23219
  Phone: 804-225-2420
  Website: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/

• U.S. Department of Education: Virginia

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.