Your Notice of Intent may be a letter stating your intent to homeschool, or the VaHomeschoolers Optional NOI Form or a form provided by the state or by your school division.The law does not require that you use an official form and many homeschoolers prefer to provide a letter instead, since NOI forms provided by school divisions are sometimes inaccurate or out of date with respect to the Home Instruction Statute. If you choose to use a form, many homeschoolers prefer to use the VaHomeschoolers Optional NOI Form.Whether you write your own letter or use one of the aforementioned forms, you must specify which of the four NOI options you are filing under and provide proof that you qualify for the option.

Along with your NOI letter or form, you must also provide proof that one parent qualifies for the option you have chosen. The primary homeschooling parent does not have to be the one to meet the educational requirements for Options (i) and (ii); either parent may qualify. Note: Note:There are no educational requirements for parents who file under Options (iii) or (iv). Option i - Holds a highschool diploma: For Option (i), provide a copy of either parent’s high school diploma or high school transcript. You may also submit evidence of attainment of a higher degree, such as an Associate’s Degree or a college diploma, if those are easier to locate. Once a copy of your diploma is on file, you may not need to include one in the future; many homeschoolers simply refer to the fact that the superintendent has a copy on file. Option ii - Certified teacher: For Option (ii), provide a copy of either parent’s current teaching certificate or statement to this effect from the Virginia Department of Education. Once a copy of the teaching certificate is on file, you do not need to include one in the future, unless it has been renewed since last filing; simply refer to the fact that the superintendent has a copy on file. Option iii - Can provide program of study: Filers using Option (iii) may use any program of study or curriculum, which may be delivered through a correspondence course, a distance learning program, or in any other manner. If you are using a specific correspondence course or distance learning program, you should provide notice of acceptance or other evidence of enrollment in the course or program, showing the name and address of the school and the courses in which your child is enrolled. If you are using a program of study or curriculum that you have developed or compiled yourself, you should provide a description of that program or curriculum. Option iv - Can provide an adequate educatoin: To qualify under Option (iv), provide evidence that you are able to provide an adequate education for the child. Although this may seem daunting, in reality it is not. According to Superintendents Memo No. 124, this evidence includes the following: “To assess a parent’s ability to provide an adequate education, the division superintendent should determine whether the information submitted exhibits a mastery of language by the writer; whether it includes plans for instructional activities; and whether it presents a reasonable scope and sequence of content that shows a broad overview of what the parent plans to teach the child during the school year.”

Regardless of which option you file under, you must also provide a “description of curriculum” with your NOI. Please note that this does not mean that you have to use a “formal” curriculum or program of study. Effective July 1, 2012, a description of curriculum is limited to “a list of subjects to be studied during the upcoming year.” According to 1994 VDOE’s Superintendents Memo No. 124, the superintendent has no authority to judge or reject the program of study submitted under this option although he or she is responsible for determining that what a parent submits is indeed a curriculum description and not simply a statement of educational philosophy. Note: Homeschooled children are not accountable to the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) and do not take the SOL exams, unless they are enrolled in a public school class that requires it.