How to start homeschooling in Virginia
Everything Virginia asks of a homeschool family, in order, from the state’s own sources, checked October 1, 2026. Each step links to a free tool that does it, and there’s a checklist to print at the end.
Step 0: choose how you’ll homeschool
Virginia gives families 3 legal ways to homeschool. Each has its own steps below. Choose one to see its steps.
Home instruction: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
Parent who meets one of four qualification options files an annual notice with the division superintendent and submits evidence of the child's progress each year by August 1.
Required school ages in Virginia: 5 (child who will have reached the fifth birthday on or before September 30) until the 18th birthday. Teacher qualification for this option: Parent must meet one: (i) holds a high school diploma; (ii) is a teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education; (iii) provides a program of study or curriculum, which may be delivered by correspondence course, distance learning or any other manner; or (iv) provides evidence of ability to provide an adequate education.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Virginia also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
When: August 15 each year (or as soon as practicable if starting mid-year, comply within 30 days).
What it includes: Annual notice to the division superintendent in August, no later than August 15, with a description of the curriculum (limited to a list of subjects to be studied in the coming year) and evidence of meeting one of the qualification criteria. Parents who move into the division or begin home instruction after the school year starts must notify as soon as practicable and comply within 30 days.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Virginia doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.
§ 22.1-254.1 sets no days requirement. The general compulsory attendance sentence in § 22.1-254(A) requires attendance 'for the same number of days and hours per day as the public schools' and lists home instruction under § 22.1-254.1 among the ways to comply. No separate hours requirement in § 22.1-254.1.
Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.
Cover the required subjects
Virginia doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
No subjects prescribed; the notice must list the subjects to be studied during the coming year.
Testing or evaluation
Required every year.
By August 1 following the school year, provide the division superintendent either (a) a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test, or an equivalent score on the ACT, SAT or PSAT; or (b) an evaluation or assessment showing adequate educational growth, e.g. an evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state or a person with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline, or a report card/transcript from a higher education institution or correspondence/distance program. If evidence is not adequate, the program may be placed on probation for one year with a remediation plan. Not required for children under age 6 as of September 30. Superintendent decisions may be appealed within 30 days to an independent hearing officer.
Keep records anyway
Virginia doesn’t require records under this option.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
Statute sets no graduation requirements for home instruction and does not address who issues a diploma.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: Whether the days/hours sentence of § 22.1-254(A) is applied to home instruction in practice was not confirmed on an official source. VDOE lists 'health requirements for home-instructed, exempted, and excused children' but the document was not reviewed. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Religious exemption: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
A school board shall excuse a pupil who, together with the parents, is conscientiously opposed to school attendance by reason of bona fide religious training or belief.
Required school ages in Virginia: 5 (child who will have reached the fifth birthday on or before September 30) until the 18th birthday. Teacher qualification for this option: None stated.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Virginia also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
What it includes: Exemption is granted by the local school board; the request process is set locally.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Virginia doesn’t set a number of days or hours for this option.
Planning about 180 days, as schools do, gives the year a shape and makes a move to another state easier.
Cover the required subjects
Virginia doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
Keep records anyway
Virginia doesn’t require records under this option.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
Not addressed by statute.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: Local school board request procedures and any renewal requirement were not verified. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Tutor or teacher approved by the division superintendent: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
Child is taught by a tutor or teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education and approved by the division superintendent.
Required school ages in Virginia: 5 (child who will have reached the fifth birthday on or before September 30) until the 18th birthday. Teacher qualification for this option: Qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Virginia also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
What it includes: Tutor/teacher must be approved by the division superintendent.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Virginia sets a minimum.
§ 22.1-254(A): during the period the public schools are in session and 'for the same number of days and hours per day as the public schools'. Same hours per day as the public schools (§ 22.1-254(A)).
Cover the required subjects
Virginia doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
Keep records anyway
Virginia doesn’t require records under this option.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
Not addressed by statute.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: The Board-prescribed tutor qualifications were not located in the Administrative Code. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Your Virginia checklist
Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Virginia · homeschoolcorral.com
- Read Virginia’s rules for “Home instruction”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice (August 15 each year (or as soon as practicable if starting mid-year, comply within 30 days))
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Note the testing or evaluation years and deadlines
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
- Read Virginia’s rules for “Religious exemption”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
- Read Virginia’s rules for “Tutor or teacher approved by the division superintendent”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks (meeting the state minimum)
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
Questions Virginia parents ask
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Virginia?
Home instruction: Yes. When: August 15 each year (or as soon as practicable if starting mid-year, comply within 30 days). What to file: Annual notice to the division superintendent in August, no later than August 15, with a description of the curriculum (limited to a list of subjects to be studied in the coming year) and evidence of meeting one of the qualification criteria. Parents who move into the division or begin home instruction after the school year starts must notify as soon as practicable and comply within 30 days.
Religious exemption: Yes. What to file: Exemption is granted by the local school board; the request process is set locally.
Tutor or teacher approved by the division superintendent: Yes. What to file: Tutor/teacher must be approved by the division superintendent.
How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Virginia?
Home instruction: § 22.1-254.1 sets no days requirement. The general compulsory attendance sentence in § 22.1-254(A) requires attendance 'for the same number of days and hours per day as the public schools' and lists home instruction under § 22.1-254.1 among the ways to comply. No separate hours requirement in § 22.1-254.1.
Religious exemption: Virginia doesn’t set a number of days or hours.
Tutor or teacher approved by the division superintendent: § 22.1-254(A): during the period the public schools are in session and 'for the same number of days and hours per day as the public schools'. Same hours per day as the public schools (§ 22.1-254(A)).
Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Virginia?
Home instruction: Yes, every year. By August 1 following the school year, provide the division superintendent either (a) a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test, or an equivalent score on the ACT, SAT or PSAT; or (b) an evaluation or assessment showing adequate educational growth, e.g. an evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state or a person with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline, or a report card/transcript from a higher education institution or correspondence/distance program. If evidence is not adequate, the program may be placed on probation for one year with a remediation plan. Not required for children under age 6 as of September 30. Superintendent decisions may be appealed within 30 days to an independent hearing officer.
Religious exemption: None stated in statute.
Tutor or teacher approved by the division superintendent: None stated in statute.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Virginia?
Home instruction: Parent must meet one: (i) holds a high school diploma; (ii) is a teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education; (iii) provides a program of study or curriculum, which may be delivered by correspondence course, distance learning or any other manner; or (iv) provides evidence of ability to provide an adequate education.
Religious exemption: None stated.
Tutor or teacher approved by the division superintendent: Qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education.
What subjects are required in Virginia?
Home instruction: Virginia doesn’t list required subjects.
Religious exemption: Virginia doesn’t list required subjects.
Tutor or teacher approved by the division superintendent: Virginia doesn’t list required subjects.
What records do I need to keep in Virginia?
Home instruction: Virginia doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Religious exemption: Virginia doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Tutor or teacher approved by the division superintendent: Virginia doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Keep going
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
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