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District Impact Summary 2025-2026

September at a Glance

- HEAV supported families across 16 school divisions, addressing policy and implementation concerns and equipping parents to respond productively to challenges with their local school divisions.
- HEAV prompted corrections to division homeschool form policies and parent form letters, and addressed public disclosure of families’ personal information.
- HEAV’s School Board Monitor Team reviewed 145 school board agendas and submitted 43 reports, identifying concerns affecting homeschool families.

Resolution Highlights

- Henrico County: HEAV assisted a family who reported that division staff threatened noncompliance action and a possible social worker visit because they travel outside Virginia throughout the year. HEAV referred the family to HSLDA for legal guidance on travel, truancy concerns, and a possible home visit.
- Waynesboro: HEAV addressed three public disclosures of families’ personal information in religious-exemption documents. The division took immediate corrective action and notified the families involved, at our request.
- Carroll County: HEAV addressed probation practices inconsistent with the law, use of test results without parental authorization, and letters that incorrectly treated immunization records as a home instruction requirement and requested them without the superintendent’s signature. HEAV also addressed form requirements for student information not required by law and a claim that the NOI must come from the “instructing parent.” The division committed to reviewing these concerns and making necessary updates.
- Spotsylvania County: HEAV addressed language in division policy LBD Home Instruction limiting evidence-of-progress options and unclear graduation language that could suggest public school diploma requirements apply to homeschool students. HEAV also addressed “granted approval for Home Instruction” wording in regulation IGDAA*-R4, Eligibility for Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities (Non-VHSL Activities). The division committed to reviewing these concerns to ensure alignment with current law and best practices.
- Hanover County: 09/28/26: Hanover County Public Schools Update
- Bland, Caroline, Floyd, and Portsmouth: HEAV addressed concerns involving the certified tutor provision, requirements, and acknowledgment letters and equipped the involved teachers to respond with accurate information about the law.
- Amherst County: HEAV assisted a family with a division request to provide proof of graduation—an oversight request the law has not authorized local public school divisions to impose on nonpublic school families.
- Isle of Wight County: HEAV assisted a family who reported that division personnel claimed public school enrollment was required to access Child Find evaluations and special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
- Virginia Beach: HEAV equipped a family to address challenges with PSAT access.

Support HEAV Government Relations: Your support helps HEAV monitor homeschool implementation across Virginia, assist families, and work with public school divisions to address concerns.