Virginia
• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 5 (on or before September 30) and 18 (§ 22.1-254.A) However, "any child who will not have reached his sixth birthday on or before September 30 of each school year whose parent or guardian notifies the appropriate school board that he does not wish the child to attend school until the following year because the child, in the opinion of the parent or guardian, is not mentally, physically or emotionally prepared to attend school" is exempt from attending school. (§ 22.1-254(H)).
• Required Days of Instruction: Generally, 180 days. (§ 22.1-254)
• Required Subjects: None, except under option iv of Option I, language arts and math are required unless parents provide evidence they can provide an adequate education.
• Teacher Qualifications: None.
• Standardized Tests: Only for parents choosing Option I, and only if the child was 6 or older by Sept. 30. By August 1, parents must submit evidence that they have complied with one of two testing options. (§ 22.1-254.1(C))
1. Submit the results of any nationally-standardized achievement test showing the child attained "a composite score in or above the fourth stanine" (i.e., 23rd percentile).
2. Or submit an "evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress" (ALEGP). A 2006 statutory change requires the superintendent to be objective in reviewing evaluations or assessments for ALEGP. Families therefore have significant flexibility. For example, a standardized test score below the 23rd percentile could show ALEGP under appropriate circumstances.
Neither the test administrator nor evaluator is required to be approved in advance. Any standardized test can be administered anywhere, anytime, by anybody.
If progress is not shown as required, the superintendent may place the home instruction program on probation for one year. Parents must file with the superintendent "evidence of their ability to provide an adequate education" in compliance with the law and a remediation plan which addresses any educational deficiency. Home instruction must cease if the superintendent does not accept the remediation plan or if progress as required is not shown by the following August 1.
• Parents have four options from which to choose to home school legally:
Option I: Home School Statute. (§ 22.1-254.1). "Home Instruction"
1. Parental instruction of children is an acceptable form of education. (§ 22.1-254.1(A))
2. Parents must annually notify their local superintendent of their intention to home school by August 15. If moving into the school district or if starting home instruction after the school year has begun, parents must notify "as soon as practicable" and thereafter comply with other requirements within thirty days of notice. There is no requirement to use the local school district's form.
3. Parents must satisfy one of five options:
(i) have a high school diploma, or
(ii) be a "teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education," or
(iii) enroll child in a "correspondence course approved by the Board of Education," or
(iv) provide a curriculum or program of study that includes the state standards of learning objectives for language arts and math, or
(v) provide evidence that the "parent is able to provide an adequate education."
Note: State Superintendent's Memo 105, June 6, 1984, stated that in determining whether a parent can provide an adequate education, a local superintendent should determine "whether the document itself exhibits a mastery of language by the writer; whether it includes plans for instructional activities; and whether it present a reasonable scope and sequence of content. The superintendent does not have to approve or disapprove the activities or the content and should not pass judgment on whether the curriculum is a satisfactory substitute for that of the public schools. That should be left to the parent."
4. Parents must submit a "description of the curriculum" (list of subjects and textbooks) that they intend to follow for language arts and mathematics.
5. Anyone aggrieved by a superintendent's decision may appeal within 30 days to an independent hearing officer.
• Alternative Statutes Allowing for Home Schools:
Option II: Religious Exemption Statute. "A school board shall excuse from attendance at school any pupil who, together with his parents, by reason of bona fide religious training or belief is conscientiously opposed to attendance at school."
(§ 22.1-254(B)(1)). Homeschoolers may receive an exemption under this statute according to § 22.1-254.1(D). This exempts them from all requirements under the home school law. § 22.1-254 (H)(5).
Homeschoolers choosing this option, therefore, need to prove:
(1) they have sincere beliefs that are
(2) religious, not merely philosophical, which
(3) demonstrate their objection to attendance in the public schools. To satisfy this, homeschoolers should prepare a letter describing their religious beliefs which make them opposed to sending their children to public school and submit to the school board. Also, homeschoolers should include an affidavit from their pastor (or other religious expert or authority) stating that their beliefs concerning education are religious in nature, and two or three letters from friends who can vouch for their sincerity.
Option III. Certified Tutor Statute: If a parent is certified in Virginia, he need only provide a one-time notice to the local superintendent that he is tutoring the child and verify that he is certified. No other requirements apply. (§ 22.1-254(A)).
Option IV. Private or Denominational School: Groups of homeschoolers have organized into private schools where each home is a part of the "campus" and each parent is a "teacher." An administrator is usually hired to keep all the records, organize field trips, etc. These home-based private schools usually incorporate. Private schools are not regulated. (§ 22.1-254). An individual home school "shall not be classified or defined as a private… school". (§ 22.1-254.A)
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Virginia State High School Graduation Requirements
- English units: 4
- Math units: 3 (Algebra I and higher). "Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall be at or above the level of algebra and shall include at least two course selections from among: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, or other mathematics courses above the level of algebra and geometry. The board may approve additional courses to satisfy this requirement."
- Social studies units: 3. "Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include U.S. and Virginia History, U.S. and Virginia Government, and one world history/geography course.
- Science units: 3 lab science. 3 units laboratory science. "Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include course selections from at least two different science disciplines: earth sciences, biology, chemistry, or physics."
- P.E./Health units: 2 units "health and physical education."
- Arts: 1 unit "fine or performing arts or career and technical education"
- Foreign language: 0
- Electives units: 6. Must include at least two sequential electives.
- Other units: 1 unit "fine or performing arts or career and technical education"
Other diploma options: State offers honors/college prep and technical curriculum options. State offers proficiency-based credit option.
Notes: This section of the database deals only with Carnegie unit requirements and does not include the "verified units of credit" (end-of-course test) requirements.
8 VA. ADMIN. CODE § 20-131-50; VA. CODE ANN. § 22.1-253.13:4
Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.
A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.
Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in Virginia
Colleges in Virginia