Laws & Policies
It is legal in all 50 states to homeschool your child. Each state has its own laws regarding homeschooling, and the legal requirements vary enormously across the country.
Because each state’s laws are so different, it is important to find out the requirements that govern your home state. Legal requirements change often, and Internet webpages and school division offices often have inaccurate or out-of-date information about homeschooling laws. Your statewide homeschool organization, like VaHomeschoolers, is usually the best resource for the most accurate, up-to-date information about the laws in your state.
Accurate and up-to-date information about the legal requirements for homeschooling is vital for homeschooling parents and families considering home education. Understanding what homeschooling families are and are not required to do in order to comply with the law is the best foundation for safeguarding homeschooling freedoms.
It is Easy to Comply with Virginia Homeschooling Law
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers encourages you to read and understand Virginia homeschooling laws. A few good points to know about homeschooling in Virginia:
- Home instruction is not considered a “school” under Virginia law.
- You do not need to purchase “legal insurance” to homeschool in Virginia.
- You do not have to keep attendance records.
- You do not have to send quarterly progress reports to the school division.
- We do not have “umbrella schools” to keep our records for us.
- You do not have to work with a certified teacher.
- You do have to comply with, or seek an exemption from, the compulsory attendance code.
- You do have to submit proof of immunization, if asked.
For more detailed information about homeschooling laws in Virginia, as well as a link to the homeschooling statutes, please visit Homeschooling Statutes in Virginia.
Quick Reference Guides
VaHomeschoolers has compiled two documents to help homeschooling parents gain an accurate understanding of the various options available to Virginia’s home educators. While we are not licensed attorneys (and therefore these documents should not be construed as legal advice), we would like to share the expert knowledge we have gained through years of experience working with parents, public school superintendents and their staffs, as well as our history of working with legislators to craft and safeguard Virginia’s Home Instruction Statute and related laws.
Homeschooling in Virginia: Avenues for Legal Compliance
In Virginia, parents have three legal avenues for overseeing their children’s educations, in lieu of sending them to public or private school. This publication helps clarify the roles of homeschooling families and school divisions regarding each educational avenue.
Quick Reference Guide to Homeschooling in Virginia
Virginia’s options for home education are simple in practice but incorporate a number of details that can be difficult to keep in mind, particularly with regard to some of the less-often used legal avenues. This publication helps clarify the roles of homeschooling families and school divisions regarding each educational avenue.
This information is provided as a courtesy of The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers. It is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, contact a licensed attorney.
VaHomeschoolers is a non-profit public charity with 501(c)(3) status; your donation is tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.