Virginia · Some paperwork

Homeschooling in Virginia

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 every yearAugust 15 annually (mid-year beginners may start immediately and file within 30 days)

Yearly assessmentYes, each year

Instruction timeNo minimum set

RecordsYour choice

How to start homeschooling in Virginia

Written from 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
Virginia asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: August 15 annually (mid-year beginners may start immediately and file within 30 days) You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent.
Choose what to teach
Virginia does not name required subjects, so your curriculum is your own decision. Most families still cover reading, writing, and math daily, and let interest lead the rest.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Virginia does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.
Plan the yearly assessment early
Virginia asks for an assessment each year. You can choose from: Composite score at or above 4th stanine on a nationally normed standardized achievement test; Equivalent score on ACT, SAT, or PSAT; Evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, attesting to adequate educational growth; Evaluation letter from a person with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline with knowledge of the child's progress; Report card or transcript from a community college, distance-learning program, or home-education correspondence school; Other assessment the division superintendent determines indicates adequate educational growth. Deciding in the autumn which route you will take saves a scramble in the spring.

Source: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent — www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction. Checked March 2026.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent
When it is due: August 15 annually (mid-year beginners may start immediately and file within 30 days)
How often: Every school year
Notarized?: No
Official form: www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction
Ongoing reporting: Yes, once a year

Source: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent — www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction. Checked March 2026.

Testing, portfolios and reviews

Assessment: Required each year
Ways to meet it: Composite score at or above 4th stanine on a nationally normed standardized achievement test
Equivalent score on ACT, SAT, or PSAT
Evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, attesting to adequate educational growth
Evaluation letter from a person with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline with knowledge of the child's progress
Report card or transcript from a community college, distance-learning program, or home-education correspondence school
Other assessment the division superintendent determines indicates adequate educational growth
Named tests: Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10)CAT/5TerraNovaACTSATPSAT
Portfolio: Not required

Source: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent — www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction. Checked March 2026.

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects: Virginia does not name required subjects — the curriculum is yours to choose.
Instruction time: Virginia sets no minimum number of days or hours.
Who may teach: Parent must satisfy ONE of four options: (I) hold a high school diploma or higher; (II) hold teacher qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education; (III) provide a program of study or curriculum via correspondence, distance learning, or similar means; or (IV) provide evidence of ability to provide an adequate education. No teaching license required for options I, III, or IV.
Keeping records: No retention period is set. Keeping a simple folder is still worth doing.
Legal routes: Option I – Parent-led with high school diploma or higher (file annual NOI + annual evidence of progress)
Option II – Parent holds Board-prescribed teacher qualifications
Option III – Child enrolled in an accredited correspondence, distance learning, or online school
Option IV – Parent demonstrates ability to provide adequate education (requires superintendent approval)
Umbrella / cover schools: Virginia families may enroll in an accredited private school or correspondence/online school as their supervising entity (Option III). This removes the parent-qualification burden and the local superintendent reviews the accredited program rather than the parent. Examples: Seton Home Study, Kolbe Academy, various online accredited schools.

Source: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent — www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction. Checked March 2026.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Dual enrollment: Virginia homeschoolers may enroll in dual enrollment courses at community colleges at the college's discretion. No statewide mandate requiring colleges to accept homeschoolers, but many Virginia community colleges do. Evidence-of-progress requirements still apply.
Diplomas: Virginia school boards do not issue diplomas to students not enrolled in public schools. Homeschoolers may earn a recognized diploma through an accredited program (e.g., ACHS, Sevenstar Academy, Liberty University Online Academy). Annual 'evidence of progress' filings serve as the official record.
College admissions: Virginia colleges and universities routinely accept homeschool applicants. Most require SAT/ACT scores, a parent-prepared transcript, and course descriptions. Accredited program transcripts carry the most weight.
Support for additional needs: Homeschooled students in Virginia do not retain FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) rights. Families may voluntarily request evaluations from the school division, but the district is not obligated to provide services. Some districts offer limited access to speech or resource services.

Source: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent — www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction. Checked March 2026.

Money your family can claim in Virginia

No program on file yet

We do not have a verified Virginia education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent directly.

See the states where funding is confirmed →

Questions parents ask about Virginia

Is homeschooling legal in Virginia?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Virginia. 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 Virginia?

Yes. Virginia requires families to file a Notice of Intent by August 15 annually (mid-year beginners may start immediately and file within 30 days). This notice must be renewed annually.

How many instruction days are required in Virginia?

Virginia does not mandate a minimum amount of instruction time.

What subjects are required by law in Virginia?

Virginia does not mandate specific subjects, giving families complete freedom to design their own curriculum.

Does Virginia require annual assessment for homeschoolers?

Yes. Virginia requires annual assessment. Accepted methods include: Composite score at or above 4th stanine on a nationally normed standardized achievement test, Equivalent score on ACT, SAT, or PSAT, Evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, attesting to adequate educational growth, Evaluation letter from a person with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline with knowledge of the child's progress, Report card or transcript from a community college, distance-learning program, or home-education correspondence school, Other assessment the division superintendent determines indicates adequate educational growth.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Virginia?

Virginia has teacher qualification requirements: Parent must satisfy ONE of four options: (I) hold a high school diploma or higher; (II) hold teacher qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education; (III) provide a program of study or curriculum via correspondence, distance learning, or similar means; or (IV) provide evidence of ability to provide an adequate education. No teaching license required for options I, III, or IV.

Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Virginia?

Virginia does not have a statewide law guaranteeing homeschoolers access to public school sports. Participation may be at individual district discretion. Check with your local school district.

Source: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent — www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction. Checked March 2026.

Worth knowing about Virginia

Virginia is considered moderate-regulation. The four-pathway system gives flexibility, but annual NOI (Aug 15) and annual evidence-of-progress (Aug 1) are firm deadlines. Most families use Option I or III. The standardized test composite score at/above 4th stanine is the most common evidence method. The Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV) at heav.org is the primary state advocacy group.

Source: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent — www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction. Checked March 2026.

Who to ask in Virginia

Regulator: Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent
Official site: www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction
Forms: www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-parents/home-instruction

Free tools for your first year

Everything below works whether or not you ever pay us a penny. Use what helps with 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 Virginia's published rules and last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Virginia Department of Education / Local School Division Superintendent. This is information for families, not legal advice.

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