The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers
VaHomeschoolers.org
Your Resource. Your Voice. Your Association.
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers
VaHomeschoolers.org
Your Resource. Your Voice. Your Association.
Understanding legal and legislative issues gives you the advantage of confidence, which can conquer your fears and empower you as an individual and as part of the homeschooling community. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the Home Instruction statute and related laws. The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers offers aids for helping you to understand the law, such as our "Guide to Homeschooling in Virginia" and our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on homeschooling in Virginia. You may download a copy of a generic Notice of Intent (NOI) form you may choose to use when filing with your local superintendent.
Further your knowledge by reading "Quiz Yourself," a brief article about homeschooling laws, homeschool lobbyists, and the Virginia General Assembly. You can learn why Virginia's home educators are divided on the subject of homeschool tax credits through reading two short articles, one pro, the other con. Another issue to consider is part-time enrollment, which is provided for by state law, though denied by most school divisions. To learn aobut this issue, read Ellen Neal's in-depth review of Virginia's access law, as well as Celeste Land's FAQs about Homeschooler Access to the Public Schools.
Some parents worry that homeschooling will make them a target of a Child Protective Services investigation. However, representatives of Virginia Child Protective Services (CPS) acknowledge that homeschoolers are not a target population of CPS investigations. See VaHomeschoolers' article, Answering the CPS Questions.
Because home education laws are created at the state level, it is important that you have an understanding of the legislative process. While this may seem intimidating at first, many of your fellow homeschoolers have found the learning to be interesting and empowering--as well as a great addition to their children's program of study.
Through VaHomeschoolers' "Playing an Active Role in Legislative Affairs" article, you can learn how to be a wise consumer of legislative information, as well as ways you can educate others about homeschooling. In addition, you should know all about "The Dark Side of Legislative Alerts," which answers the question, "why should homeschoolers be cautious about responding to legislative alerts?" When you feel moved to contact your state legislator, you can find helpful information here on the VaHomeschoolers site.
The VaHomeschoolers Newsletter is a wonderful resource for gaining your confidence and knowledge about homeschooling. Our bi-monthly publication is chock full of informative and thought-provoking articles written by Virginia's homeschoolers. The VaHomeschoolers Newsletter is available only to VaHomeschoolers members. To start your subscription, join VaHomeschoolers today!
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers' most effective action is screening legislation for potential impact on you as a homeschooler. We pay attention to a large list of topics: home instruction statute, tutor provision, religious exemption provision, driver training, truancy, curfews, tax credits, and more.
Our legislative committee scrutinizes bills relating to issues on which VaHomeschoolers members have not given clear direction. We closely follow this legislation, and frequently seek amendments as needed for clarification or protection, while not necessarily taking a position on the legislation.
Uniquely, The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers takes positions only when directed by our members. Any bills VaHomeschoolers will seek to introduce in the General Assembly- and the position we take on legislation will reflect the direction that you give us, through your response to our annual member survey.
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers' legislative committee members-including lobbyists-are moms and dads who commit their time and abilities to represent your homeschool interests. The committee quietly works extremely long hours, under grueling conditions, throughout the General Assembly session. These dedicated homeschoolers identify, stop, and amend bad bills, and improve mediocre and good bills-all the while representing you in a positive manner.
The last improvements to the home instruction statute came from VaHomeschoolers' successful 1998 bill that:
1. Freed homeschooling from being legally bound to the actual home.
2. Allows home instruction to start after the school year has begun and the child already enrolled in a school; and
3. Eliminated all required testing/evaluation for homeschooled children of kindergarten age.
VaHomeschoolers offers informative Legislative Updates rather than flurries of over-excited "alerts." We gladly provide full information on pending legislation, allowing and encouraging you to determine which bills you support or oppose.
VaHomeschoolers works hard to protect your homeschool freedom and empowers you by giving you the information that helps you homeschool with confidence. This is all a free service to you. But providing these services does cost money without which we could not maintain this site, cover our lobbyists' expenses while they work for you at the Virginia General Assembly, or produce and mail the VaHomeschoolers newsletter. Show how much you value the indispensable services VaHomeschoolers provides you--by joining or donating to VaHomeschoolers! If you are already a member, check out our give-back programs where purchases you normally make can earn money for VaHomeschoolers at no cost to you. When you join or donate to VaHomeschoolers, you are supporting the Old Dominion's only fully inclusive, member directed, and volunteer driven state homeschool association.
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers is a non-profit public charity with 501(c)(3) status; your donation is tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.