West Virginia · Some paperwork

Homeschooling in West Virginia

West Virginia asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.

VerifiedMarch 2026

Notice of intentFile onceNotice of Intent filed with the county superintendent on or before the date homeschooling begins. Also file when moving to a different county. Notice remains effective until relocation or program termination. (Option 1 requires school board approval before starting rather than a simple notice.)

Yearly assessmentYes, each year

Instruction timeNo minimum set

RecordsKeep 3 years

How to start homeschooling in West Virginia

Written from West Virginia's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.

Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
West Virginia asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: Notice of Intent filed with the county superintendent on or before the date homeschooling begins. Also file when moving to a different county. Notice remains effective until relocation or program termination. (Option 1 requires school board approval before starting rather than a simple notice.) This is a one-time filing — you will not repeat it each year. It goes to West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent.
Cover the subjects the state names
West Virginia names 6 subject areas to teach. How you teach them, in what order, and with which materials is entirely up to you.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. West Virginia expects records to be kept for 3 years.
Plan the yearly assessment early
West Virginia asks for an assessment each year. You can choose from: Nationally normed standardized achievement test published within 10 years; score in 4th stanine (23rd percentile) or higher OR improvement over prior year demonstrates acceptable progress; Public school testing program; Written narrative evaluation from a certified teacher reviewing student portfolio; Alternative assessment agreed upon with the county superintendent. Deciding in the autumn which route you will take saves a scramble in the spring.

Source: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent — wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/. Checked March 2026.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent
When it is due: Notice of Intent filed with the county superintendent on or before the date homeschooling begins. Also file when moving to a different county. Notice remains effective until relocation or program termination. (Option 1 requires school board approval before starting rather than a simple notice.)
How often: Once, when you begin
Notarized?: No
Official form: wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/
Ongoing reporting: Yes, once a year

Source: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent — wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/. Checked March 2026.

Testing, portfolios and reviews

Assessment: Required each year
Ways to meet it: Nationally normed standardized achievement test published within 10 years; score in 4th stanine (23rd percentile) or higher OR improvement over prior year demonstrates acceptable progress
Public school testing program
Written narrative evaluation from a certified teacher reviewing student portfolio
Alternative assessment agreed upon with the county superintendent
Named tests: Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10)CAT/5 (California Achievement Test)Terra NovaAny nationally normed standardized achievement test published within 10 years covering reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies
Portfolio: Not required

Source: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent — wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/. Checked March 2026.

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects: ReadingLanguage (English/grammar/writing)MathematicsScienceSocial Studies(Option 1 requires board-approved subjects for 180 days/year)
Instruction time: West Virginia sets no minimum number of days or hours.
Who may teach: Instructor must possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent OR a post-secondary degree or certificate from a regionally accredited institution. Applies to Options 2 and 3. Option 1 (school board approval) sets requirements at the board's discretion.
Keeping records: Keep your records for 3 years.
Legal routes: Option 1 – School Board Approval: Requires school board permission to teach board-approved subjects for 180 days/year. Board determines assessment method and may deny for 'good and reasonable justification.' Not recommended by HSLDA.
Option 2 – Notice of Intent (most recommended): File notice with county superintendent before starting; no board approval needed. Parent must hold HS diploma/GED or post-secondary credential. Annual assessment required; submit grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 results by June 30 to county superintendent. Maintain assessment records for 3 years.
Option 3 – Learning Pod Participation: File notice of intent indicating participation in a learning pod (multi-family cooperative learning group) with local superintendent. Same assessment and credential requirements as Option 2.

Source: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent — wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/. Checked March 2026.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Public school sports: West Virginia House Bill 2820 (signed June 9, 2023) grants home instruction students, Hope Scholarship Program participants, and learning pod/microschool students access to interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities at their zone public secondary school. Students must: score within or above the 4th stanine on assessments; be under 19 by August 1; maintain amateur status; comply with WVSSAC disciplinary rules and county board rules; follow WVSSAC rules on awards, physicals, and vaccinations. Participation restricted to the public secondary school serving the student's attendance zone.
Diplomas: West Virginia public schools do not issue diplomas to students not enrolled in public school. Homeschoolers may earn diplomas through accredited correspondence, online, or private school programs. Parent-issued diplomas are accepted by some colleges. GED is available as an alternative credential. WVDE general contact: 1-833-627-2833.
College admissions: West Virginia colleges (WVU, Marshall University, Shepherd University, WVU Tech, Pierpont CC, BridgeValley CC) accept homeschool applicants. SAT/ACT scores recommended. Parent transcripts with course descriptions and the documented 3-year assessment record support applications. Some WV colleges have specific homeschool application procedures.
Support for additional needs: West Virginia homeschooled students not demonstrating acceptable assessment progress may request the county to provide written notice of available special education eligibility assessment services. Child Find evaluations are available through local county boards of education. Ongoing FAPE services are not guaranteed for withdrawn students. County boards may offer limited services based on proportionate share IDEA funding.

Source: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent — wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/. Checked March 2026.

Money your family can claim in West Virginia

Hope Scholarship

Run by West Virginia State Treasurer · payments through Student First Technologies

$5,435.62 per student for 2026-27.

How you get it: The money stays inside the Hope Scholarship portal and is spent with approved providers — funds are never paid out to families.

Source: hopescholarshipwv.gov/Home/About/FAQ. Checked July 25, 2026. Eligibility and application dates are set by the program — the official page is always the last word.

Questions parents ask about West Virginia

Is homeschooling legal in West Virginia?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in West Virginia. West Virginia has moderate homeschool regulation — some requirements apply but they are generally manageable. Koydo can track your compliance automatically.

Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in West Virginia?

Yes. West Virginia requires families to file a Notice of Intent by Notice of Intent filed with the county superintendent on or before the date homeschooling begins. Also file when moving to a different county. Notice remains effective until relocation or program termination. (Option 1 requires school board approval before starting rather than a simple notice.). This is a one-time filing when you begin homeschooling.

How many instruction days are required in West Virginia?

West Virginia does not mandate a minimum amount of instruction time.

What subjects are required by law in West Virginia?

West Virginia requires instruction in the following subjects: Reading, Language (English/grammar/writing), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, (Option 1 requires board-approved subjects for 180 days/year).

Does West Virginia require annual assessment for homeschoolers?

Yes. West Virginia requires annual assessment. Accepted methods include: Nationally normed standardized achievement test published within 10 years; score in 4th stanine (23rd percentile) or higher OR improvement over prior year demonstrates acceptable progress, Public school testing program, Written narrative evaluation from a certified teacher reviewing student portfolio, Alternative assessment agreed upon with the county superintendent.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in West Virginia?

West Virginia has teacher qualification requirements: Instructor must possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent OR a post-secondary degree or certificate from a regionally accredited institution. Applies to Options 2 and 3. Option 1 (school board approval) sets requirements at the board's discretion.

Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in West Virginia?

Yes. West Virginia has a law (sometimes called a "Tim Tebow" law) allowing homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. West Virginia House Bill 2820 (signed June 9, 2023) grants home instruction students, Hope Scholarship Program participants, and learning pod/microschool students access to interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities at their zone public secondary school. Students must: score within or above the 4th stanine on assessments; be under 19 by August 1; maintain amateur status; comply with WVSSAC disciplinary rules and county board rules; follow WVSSAC rules on awards, physicals, and vaccinations. Participation restricted to the public secondary school serving the student's attendance zone.

Source: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent — wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/. Checked March 2026.

Worth knowing about West Virginia

West Virginia is a moderate-regulation state. Option 2 (Notice of Intent) is the most commonly used and HSLDA-recommended pathway. Key obligations: parent HS diploma/GED or post-secondary credential; annual assessment; submit grades 3/5/8/11 results to county superintendent by June 30; retain assessment records for 3 years. The 2023 HB 2820 sports access law is among the most robust in the Appalachian region. The West Virginia Home Educators Association (WVHEA) is a primary community resource. Compulsory ages: 6–17.

Source: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent — wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/. Checked March 2026.

Who to ask in West Virginia

Regulator: West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent
Official site: wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/
Phone: 1-833-627-2833
Forms: wvde.us/student-support/home-schooling/

Free tools for your first year

Everything below works whether or not you ever pay us a penny. Use what helps with West Virginia's requirements and ignore the rest.

Transcript builderBuild a clean high-school transcript with GPA and credits, ready to send to a college.Paperwork generatorFill in your details and get the letter or affidavit your state expects, already worded for it.Printable worksheetsPrint practice pages by grade and subject for the days a screen is the wrong answer.Instruction day logTick off days as you go so the count is already done when your state asks for it.State fundingSee whether your state puts education money in your hands, and how to claim it.Starting guideThe whole first year in five steps, written for someone who has never done this before.

Other states

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii All 51 →

This page was written from West Virginia's published rules and last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) / County Superintendent. This is information for families, not legal advice.

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