Homeschooling in Virginia

Your options

1) Home instruction (22.1-254.1) under one of four options: I high school diploma or higher; II Virginia teacher qualifications; III correspondence/distance/other program of study; IV evidence parent can provide an adequate education. 2) Religious exemption (22.1-254(B)(1)) – petition the school board on bona fide religious training or belief; excused from school and from home-instruction rules. 3) Certified tutor approved by the division superintendent (22.1-254(A)). 4) Private school.

Notice or letter of intent

Home instruction: annual notice of intent to the division superintendent by August 15 with subject list and evidence of option; families starting mid-year notify as soon as practicable and comply within 30 days. Religious exemption: one-time school board petition (renewal per local board).

Need a letter? See our letter of intent and withdrawal letter templates – but use the official form below if there is one.

Subjects, time, assessment and records

Subjects

List of subjects for the coming year must be submitted; no subjects prescribed (SOLs may be used).

Days or hours

None specified for home instruction.

Testing or assessment

Home instruction: by August 1 each year, evidence of progress – composite at or above 4th stanine (23rd percentile) on a nationally normed test (or ACT/SAT/PSAT equivalent), or an evaluation acceptable to the superintendent (licensed teacher or master's-degree holder letter, or college/correspondence report card). Not required for children under 6 by 30 Sept. Failure can lead to one-year probation and remediation plan.

Records

Retain test/evaluation evidence; no other state record-keeping rule stated.

Parent qualifications

Option I requires a high school diploma (GED does not qualify); other options per above. Tutor must hold Virginia teaching license.

Other rules

Superintendent decisions appealable within 30 days to an independent hearing officer.

Official forms

VDOE Home Instruction Handbook for Parents (rev. 1 Nov 2023): doe.virginia.gov/… ; VDOE Home Instruction page (sample notice of intent): doe.virginia.gov/…

The law

Code of Virginia 22.1-254; 22.1-254.1; 22.1-253.13:2(N) – read the law

Who to contact

• Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) – VDOE Policy Office (documents go to the local school division, not VDOE)[email protected] · 804-225-2092 · Official pageWho handles notices: Local district (division superintendent / school board)

Special education and public school classes and sports

School boards must make AP, PSAT/NMSQT and PreACT exams available to home-instructed students (22.1-254.1(F)). Handbook refers special ed questions to VDOE Special Populations (804-371-7420 / 1-800-422-2083) or division special ed director. School boards may allow part-time enrollment of home-instructed students (not religious-exempt or tutored); VHSL rules govern interscholastic sports; JROTC must admit qualified home-schooled students.

Not yet confirmed: VHSL rules on sports for home-instructed students were not researched. Check your state’s official page: Virginia official page.

Federal rules on Child Find and evaluations apply in every state – see special education.

Going back to public school in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Education’s Home Instruction Handbook says the academic record of a transferring student is evaluated to decide grade placement, under policies adopted by the local school board, and school boards must make provisions for students who transfer from home instruction. To transfer from home instruction to a public school, contact your local school division.

Source: Virginia Department of Education: Home Instruction Handbook for Parents (rev. Nov. 2023)

To enroll, contact the enrollment or registration office of your local school district or public school, and ask how it decides grade placement and credits before your child starts. See the Virginia official page, and going back to school after homeschooling for what to bring, placement, credits and special education.