| Thinking about homeschooling your children in | | | | by certain persons specified in the law, the |
| Virginia? While homeschooling is legal in Virginia, | | | | homeschool can be placed on probation for one |
| parents need to review the applicable Virginia | | | | year and the parents are required to submit a |
| homeschooling law because Virginia is one of the | | | | remediation plan. |
| few states which provides detailed requirements | | | | The law provides an exemption for children |
| for homeschooling. This article will review some of | | | | receiving religious instruction or who do not attend |
| the main requirements of the law. | | | | school for religious reasons. However, the statute |
| Code of Virginia Section 22.1-254.1 sets forth the | | | | provides some tough guidelines in this area so |
| state requirements for Virginia homeschooling. The | | | | mere religious belief or moral objection will be |
| statute applies to children between the ages of | | | | insufficient to warrant an exemption. |
| five and 18. Parents providing instruction must | | | | Parents homeschooling children in Virginia would do |
| have at least a high school diploma or meet one | | | | well to join a homeschooling association or affiliate |
| of three other qualifying requirements. | | | | with a homeschooling school or do both to receive |
| Parents are required to notify the division | | | | the guidance they need to comply with Virginia's |
| superintendent each August of their intent to | | | | law on homeschooling since failure to comply with |
| homeschool their children and provide the | | | | the law will involve the parents in activities that will |
| curriculum to be followed and which of the four | | | | take away for the time and resources needed |
| qualifying criteria they meet. Following the first | | | | for teaching their children. |
| year of instruction, there are additional | | | | This article has highlighted some of the main |
| requirements for progress reports which include | | | | features of the homeschooling law in Virginia and |
| either state mandated testing or some other | | | | is intended to be informational and not the giving |
| specified evaluation procedure. In the event | | | | of legal advice. Parents should seek the services |
| children are not making satisfactory progress as | | | | of a competent attorney or government official |
| measured by testing or an individual assessment | | | | to discuss their individual situation. |