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…
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Response 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….
Read MoreCertified Tutor – Names and Birth Dates
Q. After acknowledging receipt of my certified tutor letter, the superintendent asked for my children’s birth dates and said he expected yearly notification. Is this correct? A. If you complied with §22.1-254(A) by writing a letter and including a copy…
Read MoreNOI Contact Information
Q. After receiving my Notice of Intent, the superintendent’s office is asking me to provide phone and email contact information. Is this required? A. The homeschool statute, §22.1-254.1, does not require a parent to provide personal contact information in order…
Read MoreReligious Exemption and Services
Q. Is speech therapy available for religiously exempt homeschoolers? A. A limited number of special-need services—usually speech and occupational (OT) therapy–should be available as an outreach to all students (homeschool and private school students) in the community through state and…
Read MoreGrandparent Homeschooling Grandchild
Q. Can a grandparent homeschool his or her grandchild? A. Although Virginia law does not specifically address this question, under the right circumstances, the law does permit a grandparent to homeschool a grandchild. If the parents comply with the homeschool…
Read MoreDiploma Lost
Q. I’m about to send in my Notice of Intent, but I can’t find my diploma. Should I use option (iv) on the NOI? A. You can, but you have another option. Contact your high school or college and ask…
Read MoreTest Scores Lost or Late
Q. What happens if a parent fails to send in test scores or sends them in late? A. If a parent does not provide test results or an evaluation letter—or if a parent sends test results after the August 1…
Read MoreFour Things I Learned at the Homeschool Convention
by Maiya Drennan Four Things I Learned From Attending HEAV’s Homeschool Convention Just a month ago there were thousands of homeschool families gathered at the convention center in Richmond for a weekend of refreshment and encouragement. It was an…
Read MoreBirth Date and NOI
Q. I received a positive response to my Notice of Intent from the superintendent’s office, but on a separate slip of paper, they asked for my child’s birthdate in order to help with their recordkeeping. Am I required to send…
Read MoreLibrary Access
Q. Are homeschoolers allowed to use public school libraries? A. I am not aware of laws that allow or prohibit the use of public school libraries; however, local school policy may prohibit it. Because of safety and security issues, the…
Read MoreSOLs and Reenrollment
Q. Is there a law that requires homeschooled students to make up missed SOL’s if they re-enrolled in public school? A. Public schools may—and often do—require SOL testing for transfer students, whether from homeschools, private schools, or out-of-state schools. If…
Read MoreGED and Financial Aid
Q. My graduate plans to enroll in a community college. He has been told he will need a GED in order to receive student financial aid. Is this correct? A. In 2012 new federal student aid eligibility laws were enacted…
Read MoreNotice of Intent with Questions
Q. My superintendent sent a Notice of Intent with lots of additional questions. What should I do? A. Some school districts develop their own Notice of Intent (NOI) forms. They sometimes ask for more information than the law requires. You…
Read MoreEvaluator Requirements
Q. What do I need to do to become certified as an evaluator for homeschool students? A. Special training or evaluator certification is not required to become an evaluator for homeschooled students. The testing statute, 22.1-254.1 (C), states the parent…
Read MoreTesting Level
Q. Which test level should I use to show educational progress? The one for the present year or the one for the year my child will be entering next fall? A. Unless the test publisher gives different ordering instructions, a…
Read MoreEvaluation Letter Contents
Q. What should be included in an evaluation letter? A. An evaluation letter should be written on letterhead with contact information and signed with the evaluator’s title and credentials. He may want to include documents that substantiate his educational background…
Read MoreWithdrawing from School
Q. What do I do if I want to take my child out of school to homeschool now? A. First, fill out a Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction form (NOI) or write a personal letter to the superintendent….
Read MoreTesting Early
Q. I tested my son in October when we began homeschooling. Can I submit these test results or do I need to test him again? A. A baseline test early in the year may provide helpful information as you begin…
Read MoreEvaluating Your Own Child
Q. Since I have a teaching license, can I evaluate my own child rather than use a standardized achievement test? A. The law allows a parent who has complied with the homeschool statute (filed a Notice of Intent form) to…
Read MoreCertified Tutor and Notice of Intent
Q. If I file under the certified tutor statute, do I also need to provide a Notice of Intent? A. If you comply with the certified tutor statute by sending a letter and your credentials for the superintendent’s approval, do…
Read MoreHomeschool Diplomas
Q. How do I get a diploma when my teen is ready to graduate? We use a correspondence school, but I prefer a Virginia diploma. A. A homeschool student will not receive a diploma from the Commonwealth of Virginia since…
Read MoreSAT, PSAT & ACT Enactment Date
Q. Can I use the PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores in lieu of standardized test scores for my high school student this year? A. HB 1754 and SB 1403 have both passed and are now awaiting Governor McAuliffe’s signature before…
Read MoreTest Level
Q. Our son is working below grade level on some subjects, though he tested fine on the end-of-year, grade-level test. After I submitted his results, the school district indicated he should test at the next higher grade level. I don’t…
Read MoreImmunizations and Homeschoolers
Q. If I send in a Notice of Intent, does that mean I must comply with the immunization requirements? A. The law requires all children to be immunized, including children who are homeschooled under the home-instruction statute, the certified-tutor statute,…
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