How Do I Homeschool In Virginia?

Virginia is constantly growing in the number of homeschoolers, adding nearly 45,000 students towards the end of 2019. If this seems appealing, it is essential first to understand what this process looks like and the requirements for parents to comply with the law.

Based on the laws of Virginia, parents currently have four legal options to choose from to homeschool their child. These are:

Under home instruction.

Religious exemption.
With a certified tutor
Through a private school.

In addition, guardians need to file a notice of intent with the local school division.

There are several homeschooling curriculums and local support groups that parents have access to, which will be covered in today’s article.

Homeschooling Options In Virginia

Virginia currently has four options parents can choose when deciding the style of homeschooling they prefer.

This section will prioritize providing all the requirements and information to make the best decision for the student and the family.

Image 100468811 14539054, Home Schooling Fun

Option 1: Homeschooling under the Virginia Home Instruction Statute

1. Home Instructor Qualifications

The Home Instruction Statute states that parents should have an educational qualification to exercise this homeschooling style.

Here are the requirements:

Have a high school diploma or any higher education degree.
Have an active Virginia Teacher’s license.

Supply your child with a curriculum as the home instruction program.
Provide proof that you can give your child a level of education that meets the state’s standards.

2. File annual notice with your local school division

It is fundamental to file this notice to express that you intend to take responsibility for your child’s education and provide home instruction. In addition to this, it is essential to provide home instructor qualifications.

Here is some vital information to take into consideration:

It is necessary to provide a curriculum description with a list of the subjects taught to each child.

This notice needs to be done every year by August 15th.

3. Provide annual testing.

Each August 1st, the superintendent must provide the evaluation to the superintendent, so they can analyze if your child has achieved a sufficient level of education and noticeable progress. However, this doesn’t apply to children five years old or younger by September 30th, which is the beginning of the school year.

Here is a list of the four types of testing styles you can submit:

Grades of a standardized assessment like ACT, SAT, etc.
Evaluation letter from a teacher or a professional with a master’s degree or higher qualification.

Report cards of a home education school.
The local division assesses whether the child is achieving the education standards.

Option 2: Homeschooling using a religious exemption

This is often chosen to justify homeschooling your child to achieve a religious education. In this case, it is necessary to follow these steps:

Submit the application letter to your local school division: it should state the excuse based on the state’s religious exemption statute, describe the importance of the child following these beliefs, and that you are currently teaching them these values.
Wait for a response from the school boards: should a delay occur, it is best to send out a reminder and provide a notice of intent in case they persist in waiting for the approval before proceeding.

Image 100468811 14539001, Home Schooling Fun

Option three: Homeschooling with a Teacher or Tutor

A certified or licensed teacher in Virginia can ask the local division to approve their request to teach the child at home. For this option, children must comply with mandatory attendance requirements.

Option four: Homeschooling with a private school

The law allows students enrolled in a private school not to be present physically as long as their attendance sums up with the same amount of hours of instruction required per day and during the public school year.

After reviewing the various homeschooling options in Virginia, there are some additional pieces of information to take in mind:

The school-age requirement for students to enroll in homeschool is from five years old to up to eighteen years old.

There isn’t any mandated subject required to be taught for each grade. This relies heavily on the parents, and it is essential to teach core subjects like mathematics, science, literature/English grammar, history, etc.
Testing requirements are only required for option one.

Choosing A Homeschool Curriculum

When choosing a curriculum for your children, evaluating if it meets the student’s needs and aligns with your family’s values is necessary. Here are some options for online homeschool programs to choose from:

Time4learning: This curriculum allows students to choose what they like and learn at their own pace with lessons, including games and multimedia.
Calvary Online School: This provides Christian education for children in kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade and includes the opportunity to complete an accredited high school diploma.
NorthStar Academy: This online school delivers quality education with qualified teachers driven by their faith.

Acellus Courses by Power Homeschool Services: This is a video-based education with various of America’s best teachers and students learning at their own pace with guaranteed success.
Alpha Omega Publications: Using a Christian-backed philosophy, this company offers home-based learning options online, digitally, or in printed form.
Schoolhouse Teachers: Offers a vast collection of customizable lesson plans to cater to all ages, grades, and learning levels.

K12: For those families wanting to follow a public school education, this option allows children to learn from home online while sticking to a similar schedule to their peers.
ABC Mouse and Adventure Academy: Using an interactive platform accessible from computers, phones, and tablets, ABC Mouse and Adventure Academy engage young learners from pre-school through the elementary years.

Record Keeping For Homeschooled Students In Virginia

Even though it is not necessarily required by the state’s law to keep records of your child’s education, parents are heavily encouraged to do so.

Record keeping is a great way to provide proof of the education they receive, especially if they want to pursue higher education, join the military, or perhaps, or in some cases, pass an employer’s background check.

It is necessary to take in mind to follow the appropriate record-keeping standards depending on the homeschooling option the family chooses.

Additionally, to maintain state records, you should keep the following information:

Samples of students’ work at school and a portfolio.
Test results and attendance.
Report on the textbooks and workbooks used in class.

Any other additional documentation that may be helpful.

Image 100468811 13834098, Home Schooling Fun

Field Trips For Homeschooled Students In Virginia

Field trips are a fun way of teaching your child through historic sites, museums, aquariums, and state and national parks. In addition to this, they’re a great way of spending time outside and enjoying different environments.

We compiled a list of the most common field trips destinations in Virginia for homeschooled students:

Norfolk Botanical Garden: Spring and autumn are the best times to visit this site. It has around three acres, and there are several activities that kids may enjoy, like fish feeding, boat tours, and eating at the restaurant. HEAV also has sponsored homeschool days for this place.
George Washington Memorial Parkway: Kids can learn about history on this trip since they will learn about the first president and how America evolved into what we know it to be today. This parkway has a variety of sites, great for exploration and activities.
Virginia Marine Science Museum: Students love visiting this place thanks to its exciting artifacts like tanks, interacting with the whale’s sea turtles in the aquarium, and dolphin sightings.

Homeschool Associations, Groups, and Co-Ops In Virginia

Homeschool Associations and Groups are beneficial and great at guiding parents interested in starting this education style.

Here is a list of the most well-known groups, co-ops, and associations:

Homeschool Associations	Homeschool Groups	Homeschool Co-Ops
Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)	Richmond Area Homeschoolers	CHATT
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers	Hampton Roads Homeschool Groups	Assisi Bridge Co-Op
	Page County Homeschoolers	KINDRED Homeschool Collective
	Warren County & Surrounding Areas Homeschool Groups	Northern Virginia Secular Co-Op
	Central Virginia Homeschool Groups	Grace Church Homeschool Co-Op
	Cornerstone Community Group	St. Nicholas Cottage School Western Hanover Homeschool GroupChristian Heritage Home Educators (CHHE) Norfolk Homeschool Support GroupTrinity of Woodbridge Homeschool Co-Op

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling in Virginia is becoming extremely popular. Currently, there are four options that parents can choose from: under the home instruction statute, religious exemption, with a certified teacher, and a private school.

Each option has its requirements that need to be met to enroll. The good thing is that there aren’t any mandated subjects, and guardians can choose the curriculum that best satisfies the child’s needs and aligns with the family’s values.