Homeschooling in West 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 What was once seen as old-fashioned and outdated is now a modern way to educate the next generation.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 West Virginia. Know the West Virginia homeschool state laws and regulations in your state so you can homeschool properly.

There are Two Ways to Homeschool:

1. Seek school board approval
2. Submitting a notice of intent

Requirements:

• Children between 6-17 of age must be in school 
• You MUST notify your local school district of your intentions
• There ARE teacher qualifications
• There ARE state mandated subjects 
• There ARE required assessments or testing if you homeschool with submitting a notice of intent
• There are NO immunization requirements

How to Homeschool by Seeking the School Board Approval

• Submit a letter to the school board asking for approval to homeschool
• Instruction must be for at least 180 days per year
• The instructing must take place in a board-approved setting and for the duration of the school term of the county
• The board will determine the method of evaluation that you will use

How to Homeschool by Submitting a Notice of Intent

• Verify that the instructor has either a:

a) High school diploma or equivalent

b) Post-secondary degree or certificate from a regionally accredited institution

• Submit a notice of intent to homeschool to the superintendent of your local school district or your school board on or before the date you start homeschooling

• Include in the notice:

1. Name and age of child
2. Address
3. Affirm that you will be including the following subjects:
4. Math
5. Science
6. Reading
7. Language
8. Social studies
9. State that you will have an annual evaluation
10. Qualifications of instructor

• Evaluate your child every year using one of the following four options:

a) Standardized achievement test

b) Public school test program

c) Written narrative that states that a certified teacher has reviewed a portfolio of the child’s work and determined that the child’s academic progress is satisfactory

d) A mutually agreed upon alternative academic assessment of proficiency

• Submit the evaluation for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 to the county superintendent by June 30 of those years

Helpful links:

https://chewv.org/homeschooling-in-wv/wv-homeschool-law/

https://wvhea.org/

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

Contact Information–State and Federal Departments of Education

• West Virginia Department of Education
  Building 6, Room 362
  1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
  Charleston, WV 25305-0330
  Phone: 304-558-2118
  Fax: 304-558-0048
  Website: http://wvde.state.wv.us/

• U.S. Department of Education, West 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.