As a result of COVID-19, homeschooling is on the rise. For some, this is a short-term arrangement, and others have discovered that homeschooling is perfect for their family. In case you don’t know, homeschooling is simply the practice of educating your kids from home. Some families choose to collaborate through homeschooling cooperatives and extracurricular leagues to enrich the home school experience.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia. When exploring the homeschooling route, please be aware that the laws and policies that govern homeschooling differ by state. If you wonder if homeschooling is a good fit for your family, you probably have questions about how to begin the process and what resources are available. Because of this, we created a series entitled, How to Start Homeschooling. In each installment, we will discuss homeschooling rules and resources for each state. In today’s installment, we will discuss homeschooling in Virginia.

What you need to know:

• Virginia Homeschool Law requires you to submit a Notice of Intent to your superintendent but August 15th each year. You must include the subjects that your kid that year and a copy of your qualification.
• If you need to remove your kid, submit the notice, and contact your kid’s school to remove your kid before homeschooling officially.
• Homeschool teachers must meet at least one of four requirements: possess a high school diploma or higher, possess a Virginia teaching certificate, enroll your kid in a distance learning program, or provide evidence that you can provide an effective education for your kid.
• Homeschool learners are required to attend 180 days per year of instruction.
• There are no particular requirements for academic subjects.
• The state of Virginia does not require that you keep a record of your kid’s homeschooling.
• Homeschool learners must participate in standardized testing, educational evaluation or assessment, or a report card from a distance learning program. The results must be sent to your superintendent by August 1st.
•  If you re-enroll your kid in a public school, your school will review your homeschool records for placement. Testing may be required to determine your kid’s placement.

Resources

You may also wish to check out the Home Educator’s Association of Virginia and Home School Legal Defense Association – Virginia.