Q. Should I send in my high school diploma each year I file a Notice of Intent? A. The law requires proof of how you have complied with the option you have chosen on the NOI. For option (i), you…
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Public School Grade Placement
Q. My elementary-age children may need to return to public school. What can I do to make sure they will be placed in the correct grade? A. Each school district makes its own policies for students transferring to public school…
Read MoreCertified Tutor vs. Provisional License
Q. I have a four-year degree and a Statement of Eligibility letter for a Provisional license. Do I need an official teaching license in order to homeschool under the Certified Tutor statute? A. In order to comply with the certified…
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Understanding Credits
Q. Some homeschool co-ops offer credits for courses. Should I give my children credits for the classes I teach them at home? A. A credit is simply a way to translate homeschool or school work into commonly understood educational language. Whether…
Read MoreNOI: GED or Higher
Q. I have a GED as well as an undergraduate and graduate degree. May I send one of my degrees in lieu of my GED? A. Yes, a high school diploma or a higher degree satisfies option (i) on the…
Read MoreGrade Level Assessment
Q. My daughter did not do well in a private school last year. I’m having her tutored this summer to catch up, but I don’t know what grade she should be in when we start to homeschool in the fall….
Read MoreTesting a Kindergartener
Q. My kindergartner will be six this May. Does he need to be tested? I’m confused about what is meant by the phrase “the school year” in Virginia homeschool statute. Does it mean this school year or next school year? …
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Testing with a Local School
Q. When I filed my Notice of Intent, the school district offered to test my child in the spring with the Iowa test. They said not many homeschoolers use this free service. Is there a reason? A. A few school…
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Testing and the Composite Score
Q. When testing, do you administer all or part of the standardized achievement test? A. The Virginia homeschool statute, § 22.1-254.1 (C), requires a composite score in or above the 4th stanine on a standardized achievement test. A composite score…
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Homeschooling Kindergartener for One Year
Q. My child is four and will miss the September 30 cut-off date for kindergarten by a few days. If I homeschool him this year, will they take him as a first grader next year in public school? A. You…
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Testing If Behind in One Subject
Q. My two elementary-age children did not do well in math, so I put them back one grade level in math when we began homeschooling in September. They are doing well in other subjects. Do I have to test them…
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Ordering License Plates
Q. How can I get an “Education Begins at Home” license plate? I’m so encouraged when I see them on cars! A. Since 2005 when HEAV initiated legislation in Virginia to create the first homeschool license plate in the nation—“Education…
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The Importance of a Diploma
Q. Why is it important to issue a homeschool diploma? A. A diploma represents the completion of a course of study that has been prepared for your student’s education. In the case of most homeschooled students, parents set the requirements…
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Military Requirements for Homeschool Enlistment
Q. Can homeschool graduates enlist in the military? I understand it is sometimes difficult. A. Occasionally, homeschoolers have problems enlisting, not because of discriminatory policies, but because some military recruiters are not familiar with Armed Forces homeschool policy. If this…
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Testing Special Needs
Q. I have a child who is struggling to learn. I may need to have him tested, but I don’t know where to begin. Can you help? A. I know this can be a challenging situation for you and for…
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When To Test
Q. When should homeschoolers test? A. If you decide to use a standardized achievement test, the law requires you to provide a composite test score in or above the fourth stanine (23 percentile) by August 1 each year (§22.1-254.1 (C)….
Read MoreImmunization Not a Requirement to Homeschool
Q. Is immunization part of the homeschool law? A. No, immunization is not part of the homeschool statute (§22.1-254.1) and is not a requirement for homeschooling. Although §22.1-271.4 describes the health requirements for homeschooled and exempted children, the two laws…
Read MoreDual Enrollment and Scholarships
Q. If a homeschool student takes dual enrollment classes at a community college, could this impact freshman scholarship opportunities? A. According to Lee Andes, assistant director of financial aid with the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV), there is not…
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What Should My Child Know?
Q. Where can I find information about what my child should be learning at his grade level? I’m concerned that he might not be prepared for the end-of-year test. A. There are several ways to find out what your child…
Read MoreDeadline to Begin
Q. Can I begin homeschooling now? A. Yes, you can begin homeschooling after the school year has begun! You may begin after the August 15th deadline if you have recently moved into a school division or if you decide to…
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Federal Legislation and Homeschoolers
Q. Will the new federal law that reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) affect homeschoolers? A. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965* (ESEA) must be reauthorized every 15 years. You’re probably familiar with the…
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General Assembly Page Program
Q. Can homeschool students apply for the General Assembly page program? A. Yes, homeschool students can apply online for the General Assembly page program if they meet the same requirements as public or private school students. Several homeschoolers have had…
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Homeschooling with a GED
Q. How can I homeschool since I do not have a high school diploma, but a GED? A. Regrettably, a GED is not accepted as a high school diploma for home instruction.* There are two ways a parent who does…
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NOI Denied Without Test Scores
Q. We homeschooled last year but didn’t test because my teen wanted to go to public school this year. After eight weeks, I took him out and filed a NOI to begin homeschooling, but the superintendent denied my NOI because…
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Homeschool Diploma Rejected on NOI
Q. I’m a second generation homeschool parent. My homeschool diploma was rejected as evidence of a high school diploma on my Notice of Intent. What should I do? A. I am sorry for the complications you have encountered regarding your…
Read MoreResponse Letter
Q. I received a Notice of Intent response letter from my superintendent stating that my child must be tested in the spring and results sent by August 1. My child is a five-year-old kindergartener. Is this correct and what should…
Read MoreStopped Homeschooling – What To Do
Q. I filed a Notice of Intent (NOI) a few weeks ago, but have since enrolled my children in private school. What should I do about the NOI? A. Although the law does not require you to notify the superintendent…
Read MoreSpecial-Needs Services
Q. Can my homeschooled child who has an IEP still be involved in special classes at his former school? A. Public schools provide special needs services for students who are enrolled full-time in their schools; therefore, homeschoolers do not qualify….
Read More2015 PSAT Information Update
The PSAT® is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2015. A homeschooler must register for the PSAT® at the local public high school in the school district in which he resides or at another school close by. Some larger private schools also provide…
Read MoreMoving to a New County
Q. Although we provided test results and then notified that we were moving to another county, our previous superintendent has requested a copy of the “approval” letter from the new superintendent in order to confirm my child is being homeschooled….
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