American Home Schools

Virginia State code provides options for home education which include the general home instruction statute used by most Virginia homeschoolers, as well as the Approved Tutor provision, and a Religious Exemption to compulsory schooling. Under the general provisions, homeschoolers must notify their county superintendent of their intent to homeschool annually. They also must provide a curriculum description and evidence that the parent either has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; or is a teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education; or has enrolled the child or children in a correspondence course approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction; or provides a program of study or curriculum which, in the judgment of the division superintendent, includes the standards of learning objectives adopted by the Board of Education for language arts and mathematics and provides evidence that the parent is able to provide an adequate education for the child. Evidence of progress (such as independent assessment, standardized test scores or a portfolio review) must be submitted to the superintendent by August 1st.

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Summary:

Although there are four (4) different options for homeschooling in Virginia, the following is the easiest with which to comply.

Send to your local superintendent:
1. Notice of Intent. This may be a form provided by the state or by your county, VHEA's form, or a letter. The law does not require that you use a form, and many homeschoolers choose to provide a letter instead, due to the often inaccurate wording of the forms provided.
2. Description of curriculum that includes the state's
Standards of Learning (SOL's) for language arts and mathematics;
3. Evidence that the parent is able to provide an adequate education for the child. Although this may seem daunting, in reality it is easy.
NOTE: There is no SOL testing for homeschooled children.
The superintendent may judge your curriculum description only on whether or not it includes the SOLs for mathematics and language arts for the appropriate grade level.