HEAV Is Looking Out for You
Homeschool Incident Communications
Through the efforts of your HEAV Homeschool Support and Government Affairs and your School Board Monitor Teams, HEAV keeps you informed of Virginia homeschool incidents by school district.
| School Year | VDOE HS Numbers: NOI & RE | Numbers +/- from previous year | Percentage +/- from previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | 62763 | 2639 | 4.39% |
| 2023-2024 | 60124 | 3326 | 5.86% |
| 2022-2023 | 56798 | -5075 | -8.20% |
| 2021-2022 | 61873 | -3698 | -5.64% |
| 2020-2021 | 65571 | 21345 | 48.26% |
| 2019-2020 | 44226 | 721 | 1.66% |
| 2018-2019 | 43505 | 144 | 0.33% |
| 2017-2018 | 43361 | 2975 | 7.37% |
| 2016-2017 | 40386 | 499 | 1.25% |
| 2015-2016 | 39887 | 953 | 2.45% |
| 2014-2015 | 38934 | 3076 | 8.58% |
| 2013-2014 | 35858 | 2122 | 6.29% |
| 2012-2013 | 33736 | 1672 | 5.21% |
| 2011-2012 | 32064 | 86 | 0.27% |
| 2010-2011 | 31978 | 1668 | 5.50% |
| 2009-2010 | 30310 | 741 | 2.51% |
| 2008-2009 | 29569 | 2253 | 8.25% |
| 2007-2008 | 27316 | 385 | 1.43% |
| 2006-2007 | 26931 | 1884 | 7.52% |
| 2005-2006 | 25047 | 1795 | 7.72% |
| 2004-2005 | 23252 | -478 | -2.01% |
| 2003-2004 | 23730 | 1709 | 7.76% |
| 2002-2003 | 22021 | 2495 | 12.78% |
| 2001-2002 | 19526 | 745 | 3.97% |
| 2000-2001 | 18781 | 2269 | 13.74% |
| 1999-2000 | 16512 | 1686 | 11.37% |
| 1998-1999 | 14826 | 974 | 7.03% |
| 1997-1998 | 13852 | 1653 | 13.55% |
| 1996-1997 | 12199 | 1380 | 12.76% |
| 1995-1996 | 10819 | 2893 | 36.50% |
| 1994-1995 | 7926 | 917 | 13.08% |
| 1993-1994 | 7009 | 1167 | 19.98% |
| 1992-1993 | 5842 | 1284 | 28.17% |
| 1991-1992 | 4558 | 742 | 19.44% |
| 1990-1991 | 3816 | 882 | 30.06% |
| 1989-1990 | 2934 | ||
Privacy Concerns in Arlington
12/19/25 UPDATE: The assistant superintendent of information services has advised HEAV of the following:
Arlington Public Schools (APS) has contacted Lightspeed Systems, which has initiated a full resynchronization and purge process to remove all homeschool data from its systems. The update is expected to be reflected across its platform tonight. Lightspeed Systems has provided APS with a written statement confirming that no homeschool data has been shared or managed manually.
APS has expressed regret about this occurrence, stated that it takes the matter very seriously, and remains committed to complying strictly with Virginia’s homeschool privacy law and protecting the personal information of families and students. APS is also eager to provide direct support to concerned parents.
For general guidance on additional action steps parents can take, please see HEAV’s recent communication, “Privacy Concerns NOVA: Fairfax, Prince William, and Arlington.”
ATTENTION ARLINGTON COUNTY HOMESCHOOLERS: A number of Arlington homeschool families have reported receiving an email from an outside vendor, similar to those recently received by families in Fairfax and Prince William.
Concerned parents have received an email from Lightspeed Systems, an educational software company, indicating that the company may have access to information protected under Virginia’s homeschool privacy law. Such information may include parents’ email addresses and children’s names. Parents are understandably concerned about their family’s safety and statutorily protected privacy rights (Reference: § 22.1-254.1(G)).
Following these reports, HEAV immediately contacted APS leadership to request a prompt investigation and a status update. We also alerted the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), continuing our collaborative work to protect the safety and privacy of homeschool families across the Commonwealth.
What’s Next?
Please report all messages received from Lightspeed Systems by forwarding them to support@heav.org. HEAV will provide updates to the community as events unfold. In the interim, we encourage parents to retain all messages received from Lightspeed Systems and document all correspondence with public school officials.
If you have questions or need assistance, please call our office at 804-278-9200.
Best regards,
Patricia Beahr
Director of Government Relations
Privacy Concerns in Prince William
ATTENTION PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY HOMESCHOOLERS:
Following our recent update regarding concerns with Fairfax County privacy, Prince William County homeschoolers began reporting the same experience: receipt of a text message from Hazel Health, a PWCS telehealth partner headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Following suit, the text message suggests the company may have access to information—including cell phone numbers—submitted to FCPS by families protected under the homeschool privacy law, § 22.1-254.1(G). Parents are understandably concerned about their family’s safety and statutorily protected privacy rights.
Following these reports, HEAV immediately contacted FCPS leadership to request a prompt investigation and a status update. We also alerted the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), continuing our collaborative work to protect the safety and privacy of homeschool families across the Commonwealth.
What’s Next?
Please report all messages received from Hazel Health by forwarding them to support@heav.org. HEAV will provide updates to the community as events unfold. In the interim, we encourage parents to retain all messages received from Hazel Health and document all correspondence with public school officials.
If you have questions or need assistance, please call our office at 804-278-9200.
Privacy Concerns in Fairfax
Following the original notice about concerns in Fairfax County, Prince William County homeschoolers began reporting the same experience.
ATTENTION FAIRFAX COUNTY HOMESCHOOLERS:
HEAV has received several privacy concerns from parents regarding a text message they received from Hazel Health, an FCPS telehealth partner headquartered in San Francisco, California. The text message suggests the company may have access to information—including cell phone numbers—submitted to FCPS by families protected under the homeschool privacy law, § 22.1-254.1(G). Parents are understandably concerned about their family’s safety and statutorily protected privacy rights.
Following these reports, HEAV immediately contacted FCPS leadership to request a prompt investigation and a status update. We also alerted the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), continuing our collaborative work to protect the safety and privacy of homeschool families across the Commonwealth.
What’s Next?
Please report all messages received from Hazel Health by forwarding them to support@heav.org. HEAV will provide updates to the community as events unfold. In the interim, we encourage parents to retain all messages received from Hazel Health and document all correspondence with public school officials.
If you have questions or need assistance, please call our office at 804-278-9200.
Fairfax County Privacy Concerns
Within the last two days, HEAV received more than 120 contacts from concerned parents regarding an email they received from Lightspeed Systems, an educational software company and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) partner located in Austin, Texas. The emails included homeschool parents’ full names, email addresses, and the first names of their homeschooled children, raising privacy concerns among the parents.
Following HEAV’s request for an immediate investigation, Fairfax has confirmed the communication was sent in error. Parents may receive correspondence from FCPS addressing the situation.
How Did This Happen?
FCPS partners with Lightspeed Systems to provide parents of public school children with weekly reports on their child’s activity monitored on school-issued devices and school networks. Related, FCPS uses a common Student Information System (SIS) to house and manage student data. Unfortunately, as FCPS connected public school data with Lightspeed Systems through its SIS system, homeschool families’ information was exposed.
What’s Next for Privacy Concerns?
We encourage parents to retain all emails received from Lightspeed Systems as well as related correspondence from LCPS. You may also continue to report incidents to support@heav.org. In addition, please read our 2025 Privacy Concerns letter, sent to superintendents and school board chairmen statewide, which addresses our ongoing concerns about compliance with Virginia’s home instruction privacy law. HEAV teams monitor all 131 school board meetings, equip parents, and work directly with division personnel to resolve hundreds of conflicts each year. We will continue efforts to pursue more robust privacy protections for homeschool families. This year, HB2598 was one such successful effort we hope to build upon. Will you join HEAV in supporting the essential work in keeping homeschool minors and their families protected? Regards,
Patricia Beahr
HEAV Director of Government Relations
Deadlines & Overreach for NOI/EOP Submissions
Dear Virginia Homeschoolers,
In case you missed our recent blog post shared on social media:
Conflicts are surfacing statewide as families approach key deadlines for submitting evidence of progress (due August 1, 2025) and the Notice of Intent (due August 15, 2025).
As parents navigate overreach and inaccurate information regarding Virginia’s home education laws, we urge the use of HEAV’s trusted NOI form, resources, and experienced consultants to ensure compliance with the law and safeguard your family’s educational freedom.
Remember: parents are accountable to Virginia law—even when local school divisions provide inaccurate information through their websites, forms, letters, or verbal and email communication.
In addition to using HEAV’s resources to navigate compliance challenges, it is important for parents to ensure that Virginia’s home education laws are correctly applied in their local districts. Take heart: school divisions are legally required to implement the law as written. They cannot alter or expand its provisions. If you suspect your district is not in compliance, please notify HEAV so we may assist.
As always, HEAV encourages parents to document their compliance with the law. This can include retaining a copy of the Notice of Intent (NOI) and evidence of progress, written and verbal correspondence, and proof of the office’s receipt. Proof of receipt is a certified mail receipt, a time-date stamp from an email, or a dated signature confirming hand-delivered documents.
HEAV Resources:
- Learn about Virginia’s evidence of progress requirement (due 08/01/25).
- Use HEAV’s Notice of Intent (NOI) form to begin or continue homeschooling (due 08/15/25). Best practice is to use HEAV’s NOI form and submit it through certified mail.
- Refer to HEAV’s Law Flowchart for a visual representation of Virginia’s home education laws.
- Visit our website to find a library of accurate information and resources that will help you comply with Virginia’s home education laws.
Call the HEAV office at 804-278-9200, send us a message, or visit Homeschooling in Virginia (HEAV) to connect with knowledgeable consultants.
Patricia Beahr
HEAV Director of Government Relations
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Privacy Breach in Albemarle County
Your HEAV school board monitor team identified a privacy breach, found on a school board agenda that was open to public view. The breach included the first and last name of the parents and their six minor children, along with their physical address and the children’s grade levels. Upon receiving the report, your HEAV director of government relations took immediate action to request removal of the family’s private information.
We are pleased to share that the district removed the family’s information from public view within 20 minutes of contact. We are thankful to Albemarle for their prompt response in correcting the mistake.
What You Should Know:
- Virginia law prohibits local public school districts from sharing any information provided to satisfy the requirements of the home instruction and religious exemption laws. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, sharing any information with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), other public school districts, student information systems and companies, private schools, colleges, trade schools, military recruiters, police academies, and employers without the written consent of an adult student or their parent. (Reference: § 22.1-254.1(G))
- In March of 2025, HEAV sent official correspondence to all 131 public school superintendents and school board chairmen to address several ongoing concerns relating to increasing homeschool privacy violations and cybersecurity risks. (Reference: 2025 Homeschool Privacy Concerns)
- During the 2025 legislative session, HEAV initiated HB2598 with the patronage of Delegate Phillip Scott, which requires the superintendent of public instruction to include in the annual superintendent’s memo an explanation of the public school division’s legal obligation as indicated in § 22.1-254.1(G). The memo is directed to go out before the start of the 2025-2026 school year. (Reference HB2598)
- Parents are not required to provide a grade level to comply with the home instruction law. The compulsory attendance law is based on the age of the child—not a public school grade level system. Avoiding over-compliance is one way we can protect our family’s safety and rights. (Reference: Providing What the Law Requires)
HEAV is always available should you ever have questions or need assistance. Please contact us anytime at 804-278-9200 or via our contact form.
Patricia Beahr
HEAV Assistant Director of Government Affairs
Read more about school district incidents here.
Implementation Concerns in Lancaster County
When local public school policy and regulations do not align with the law, implementation practices often follow suit. The resulting conflicts can place significant burdens on homeschool families. So, when HEAV identified 12 points of concern in two policies and one regulation, we reached out to the superintendent and school board. Concerns ranging from advanced testing access and the description of curriculum requirement to evaluator qualifications and appeals were addressed.
Over the course of a year, HEAV worked with Lancaster to ensure the following policies and regulation were consistent with the law: JEG Exclusions and Exemptions from School Attendance, LBD Home Instruction, and LBD-R Guidelines Implementing Home Instruction. We are pleased to share that both the policies and the regulation are now consistent with the law.
HEAV is thankful to Lancaster County for its cordiality, dedication to the law, and commitment to serving the homeschool community with excellence.
Get Involved! Sign up for HEAV Communications and Legislative Updates so you can stay up-to-date on HEAV’s efforts to protect your homeschool freedom.
What You Should Know:
- Public school policy and regulation are not law, but they should be consistent with the law. If you are unsure of your district’s compliance, please bring the concern to HEAV’s attention so that we may provide accurate information and address concerns appropriately.
- Parents who know the law are essential to ensuring it is implemented correctly in their districts. For accurate information, please refer to the guidance found on our website, HEAV, or call us at 804-278-9200. Having the right information can help protect you from unnecessary compliance challenges.
HEAV is always available should you ever have questions or need assistance. Please contact us anytime at 804-278-9200 or via our contact form.
Read more about school district incidents here.
Patricia Beahr
HEAV Director of Government Relations
Mecklenburg Homeschool Compliance
After more than a year of ongoing outreach and communication, the school board and superintendent have not made the necessary updates to ensure their Notice of Intent (NOI) form, website content, and religious exemption materials align with Virginia law.
HEAV wants to reassure parents that, despite these continuing issues, you can remain fully compliant with state law. Please review the “What You Should Know” section below to help navigate interactions with your district confidently and effectively.
Get Involved! Sign up for HEAV Communications and Legislative Updates so you can stay up-to-date on HEAV’s efforts to protect your homeschool freedom.
What You Should Know:
- Parents are always encouraged to inquire with a trained HEAV consultant and use HEAV as well as our prepared forms to ensure the information and resources you receive are accurate and consistent with the law, case law, and VDOE guidance. Doing so will help to ensure your compliance with Virginia’s home education laws, regardless of your local public school district’s practices.
- If your Notice of Intent or religious exemption submission are challenged based on the district’s requirement to use its prepared forms or provide personal information beyond the child’s name, address, and age as of September 30, please contact the HEAV office. Such practices are inconsistent with the law as determined by the Supreme Court of Virginia.
- A local public school district cannot require homeschool evidence of progress when the student:
- is under the age of six as of September 30 of the school year;
- has reached his 18th birthday;
- has obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent;
- has otherwise complied with compulsory school attendance requirements; or
- no longer lives in the school district.
- A local public school district does not have the statutory authority to require a copy of a diploma or transcript from parents of non-public school students. Once a private schooled, tutored, or home-instructed student graduates, no action is required by the law.
HEAV is always available should you ever have questions or need assistance. Please contact us anytime at 804-278-9200 or via our contact form.
Read more about school district incidents here.
Patricia Beahr
HEAV Director of Government Relations
Lancaster County 4/15/25
A concerned parent contacted HEAV when a district representative advised that she was not allowed to remove her child from public school until her Notice of Intent “application” and option (iii) curriculum choices were approved by the superintendent. In response, HEAV provided the parent with accurate information and resources to begin homeschooling and reached out to the superintendent’s office with official correspondence to address these concerns.
HEAV is pleased to share that, having been equipped with accurate information and resources, the parent was able to remove her child from public school in accordance with the law. Additionally, Lancaster’s superintendent immediately responded to our correspondence and addressed all concerns to ensure information provided by the district’s representatives and website is accurate. HEAV is thankful to Lancaster for this positive resolution and its commitment to the Virginia Code and homeschool community.
Get Involved! Sign up for HEAV Communications and Legislative Updates so you can stay up-to-date on HEAV’s efforts to protect your homeschool freedom.
What You Should Know:
- § 1-240.1 of the Virginia Code states: “A parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent’s child.”
- Parents choose and change their children’s education as appropriate for their families. Local public school districts do not possess the statutory authority to approve a parent’s decision to enroll in a public or private school, use a tutor or teacher of qualifications, or provide home instruction.
- With regard to Virginia’s home instruction law, superintendents and liaisons are limited to administering the requirements prescribed by the state legislature.
- Parents whose children are enrolled in public school can begin homeschooling at any time. Please see HEAV’s Q&A Homeschooling Mid-Year: Starting Immediately for more information.
HEAV is always available should you ever have questions or need assistance. Please contact us anytime at 804-278-9200 or via our contact form.
Read more about school district incidents here.
Patricia Beahr
HEAV Director of Government Relations
Warren County 3/7/25
HEAV contacted the district regarding several concerns identified on the district’s Notice of Intent (NOI) form and acknowledgment letter. The district’s NOI form required parents to provide their child’s date of birth, grade level, last school attended, phone number, and email address. The acknowledgment letter miscommunicated the home instruction law as it relates to the evidence of progress options provided to parents and the six-year-old exemption.
In response to our concerns, HEAV is pleased to share that Warren’s administrative assistant to the assistant superintendent for administration advised they are in the process of updating their communications and forms to ensure they are consistent with the law.
HEAV is thankful to Warren County for this positive resolution, its commitment to the Virginia Code, and its dedication to homeschool families.
Get Involved! Sign up for HEAV Communications and Legislative Updates so you can stay up-to-date on HEAV’s efforts to protect your homeschool freedom.
- What You Should Know:
Requirements beyond a child’s name, address, and age as of September 30 of the school year are inconsistent with the law as determined by the Virginia Supreme Court.
If a public school district wishes to obtain information outside that prescribed by the law from parents of private schooled, tutored, or homeschool children, it is appropriate to indicate the request as “Optional.”
Homeschool evidence of progress is not required when the individual is under the age of six as of September 30 of the school year.
Parents may choose from several options to show evidence of progress, including a nationally normed, standardized achievement test or an evaluation or assessment that the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress. Please see HEAV’s Law Flowchart in the Resources section below.
Portfolios are not included as options to show evidence of progress in the law. Parents may, however, provide a portfolio to a qualified evaluator. The evaluator reviews the portfolio and provides a statement to the superintendent indicating their determination that an adequate level of educational growth and progress has been achieved.
HEAV is always available should you ever have questions or need assistance. Please contact us anytime at 804-278-9200 or via our contact form.
Read more about school district incidents here.
Patricia Beahr
HEAV Director of Government Relations
