Mecklenburg 6/17/25
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.
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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
