West Virginia
• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 6 (when birthday is reached before September 1, or upon enrolling in a publicly supported kindergarten program) and 16. (§ 18-8-1(a))
• Required Days of Instruction: Under "notice" option, none; under "approval" option, 180 days. (§ 18-5-45)
• Required Subjects: Under "notice" option, none (but students must be tested in certain subjects, see "Standardized Tests" below). Under "approval" option, school board has discretion concerning which subjects are required. WV Code § 18-8-1(c).
• Teacher Qualifications:
Option 1: Instruction must be by a person who, in the judgment of the county superintendent and county board, is qualified to give instruction in subjects required to be taught in public elementary schools;
Option 2: Parent must have high school diploma or equivalent under "notice" option.
Standardized Tests: None for "approval" option. For "notice" option, submit an assessment to superintendent by June 30. Four alternatives are available under (§18-8-1(c)(2)(D)):
1. Standardized test
a. use any nationally-normed, standardized test published not more than 10 years previously;
b. must be administered according to instructions of test publisher;
c. must cover reading, language, mathematics, science and social studies;
d. public school must cover cost if child is tested as part of public school's regular testing program; otherwise, parents pay;
e. "acceptable progress" is defined as when the mean of the test results in the required areas is at the 50th percentile or higher OR if there is improvement from the previous year's results;
f. parents are not allowed to administer the test.
2. Portfolio
a. certified teacher (must include certification number) must review samples of child's work;
b. certified teacher must write a narrative;
c. narrative must indicate a portfolio of samples of child's work has been reviewed;
d. narrative must include a statement about progress in the areas of reading, language, math, science, and social studies;
e. narrative must note if any of those areas show need for improvement or remediation;
f. narrative must indicate that "the child's academic progress for the year is in accordance with the child's abilities" (this constitutes "acceptable progress").
3. State Testing Program
a. child may participate in "the testing program currently in use in the state's public schools;"
b. test must be administered at local public school;
c. "acceptable progress" definition is based on "current guidelines of the state testing program."
4. Alternative Assessment
a. if superintendent agrees, child may complete any alternative academic assessment of proficiency;
b. "acceptable progress" must be determined by agreement between superintendent and parents.
• If assessment under one of the options above does not show acceptable progress, 18-8-1(c)(2)(D) states:
a. county must notify parents in writing of services available to assess eligibility for special education services;
b. parents must initiate remedial program (it does not need to be submitted to or approved by the school system) to foster acceptable progress;
c. if acceptable progress is not shown for a second consecutive year, parents must submit to superintendent "additional evidence" that appropriate instruction is being provided;
• Home School Statute: (§ 18-8-1(c)) creates two homeschool options, "approval" and "notice."
Option 1. "Approval Option:" Subsection (c)(1) allows a school board to approve homeschooling.
a. Instruction must be in a place approved by the board;
b. Instruction must be for a time equal to the school term of the county;
c. If requested, family must furnish attendance, instruction and progress information;
d. School board may deny approval for "good and reasonable justification" (denial must be in writing).
Option 2. "Notice Option:" Under subsection (c)(2), parents may homeschool after filing a notice (no particular form is required). If the child is enrolled in a public school, it must be filed two weeks before the start of the home school program. The notice must state that the parents intend to provide home instruction. It must include the child's name, address, age, and grade level, an outline of a plan of instruction for the year, and evidence of the parent's high school diploma or equivalent.
• Alternative Statutes Allowing for Home Schools:
A group of parents may form a private, parochial, church, religious or "other nonpublic school" under §18-8-1(k). The school must comply with the requirements of (18-28-1, et seq)
Reference: Click Here
West Virginia State High School Graduation Requirements
- English units: 4. English 9, 10, 11, 12
- Math units: 3-4. Students in professional and skilled pathways must complete 1 of 4 career major units in math "including Algebra I and two other courses above Algebra I. Successful completion of Applied Math I and II is equivalent to an Algebra I credit and a credit for a course prior to Algebra I. All students must take Algebra I or its equivalent prior to the end of the 10th grade."
- Eff. Class of 2009: 3-4. 4 units for students in professional and skilled pathway, 3 units for students in entry pathway. For students in professional and skilled pathway, at least 3 of 4 units must be Algebra I and above. For students in entry pathway, at least 2 of 3 units must be Algebra I and above. "It is the intent that all students will take mathematics annually, but must take at least three mathematics classes in grades 9-12. If students begin the math sequence prior to grade 9, they should take other mathematics courses, which may include college courses, AP courses, virtual school courses, or other advanced offerings. This principle applies to all required course sequences. The mathematics courses selected for credit must be relevant to the student's career pathway. Successful completion of Applied Math I and II is equivalent to an Algebra I credit and a credit for a course prior to Algebra I."
- Eff. Class of 2010: 4. All students, regardless of pathway, must complete 4 units of math. For students in entry pathway, at least 2 of 4 units must be Algebra I and above. Eff. Class of 2012: Entry pathway is eliminated. "The recommended course sequence ... for students in the professional pathway is Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, trigonometry, and pre-calculus." The recommended course sequence for the skilled pathway "is Algebra I, geometry, conceptual mathematics, college transition mathematics or Algebra II." "Students in the professional pathway and college bound students in the skilled pathway, who do not achieve the state assessment college readiness benchmark for mathematics, shall be required to take a college transition mathematics course during their senior year."
- Social studies units: 4. Must include United States to 1900, World Studies to 1900 and Twentieth/Twenty-First Centuries. Fourth unit must be civics/government.
- Eff. Class of 2012: Fourth unit must be Civics for the 21st Century. The four courses "should be taken in consecutive order."
- Science units: 3 lab. Coordinated and Thematic Science (CATS) 9 and 10 and a course above the CATS 10 level. Students in professional pathway must complete 1 of the 4 career concentration units in science (unit must be above CATS 10).
- Eff. Class of 2009: 3 units must be completed in CATS 9 and 2 courses above the CATS 9 level. For professional pathway, 4th unit of science must be above CATS 9.
- Eff. Class of 2012: 3 lab, incl. 1 unit physical science, 1 unit biology and 1 unit chemistry. All students must take physical science, biology and chemistry in consecutive order. Professional pathway must complete 4th unit science, which must be above physical science.
- P.E./Health units: 2. 1 unit each P.E. and health.
- Arts: 1
- Foreign language: 0. "All students are strongly encouraged to complete two credits in a foreign language." Students in professional pathway must complete 2 of 4 career major units in foreign language.
- Electives units: 3
- Eff. Class of 2012: 2
- Other units: 4. Students must choose to complete 4 units in career concentration area in professional pathway, skilled pathway or entry pathway. Professional pathway concentration requires 4th unit math, 4th unit science and 2 units in one foreign language. Skilled pathway requires 4th unit math and 3 units in a concentration. Entry pathway requires 4 units in a concentration. "Prior to students selecting concentrations, opportunities for career decision-making must be provided in grades 9-10."
- Eff. Class of 2009: Entry pathway requires 3-4 units in a concentration. "Entry level career and technical students must complete 4 units in a concentration."
- Eff. Class of 2012: Entry pathway is eliminated. Professional pathway requires 4th science unit (above level of physical science), 2 units foreign language, a 1 unit in a concentration. Skilled pathway requires 4 units in a concentration. "Students in grades 9-12 shall be provided integrated opportunities within the core requirements to master the [state technology] standards .... It is recommended that all students take at least one course in technology applications during grades 9-12. It is also recommended that all students complete an online learning experience during grades 9-12."
Other diploma options: State does not have honors/college prep or technical diploma pathways, but does require the state board of education to award certificates of achievement to "students whose educational programs in grades 9-12 merit special recognition...." State has policy on awarding proficiency-based credit.
Notes: Students must also complete work-based learning, which is to be determined at the local level. Students must complete these 4 units in one of three "pathways": the professional pathway, for those going on to a bachelor's degree; the skilled pathway, for those going on to an associate's degree or postsecondary certificate; or the entry pathway, for those going directly into the workforce after high school. Four units to be completed in career major choices vary by pathway.
* Eff. Class of 2012: All high school students must "be fully enrolled in a full day of high school and/or college credit bearing courses. It is recommended that students complete a senior project to add rigor and relevance to the senior year."
W. VA. CODE. ANN. § 18-2-6, 18-2E-8a, -8c, 8d; W. VA. CODE ST. R. § 126-30-1 through -4 (primarily historical regulations), 126-31-1 through -5, 126-42-5 and -6; Mike Kees, state science coordinator, West Virginia Department of Education
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 West Virginia
Colleges in West Virginia