Be sure to read Virginia Laws and Policies to learn about Virginia homeschooling laws and your rights. Browse this guide and our website to become familiar with the ins and outs of homeschooling in Virginia. Understand the law about mid-year withdrawals. You do not need “approval” to begin homeschooling. Know your filing options. Most homeschooling parents file under the home instruction statute.  You may also choose to file under the approved tutor provision or the religious exemption. Learn about these options and decide which one is best suited to your family. Start planning your homeschooling year. Take some time to think about how you plan to educate your child at home. Think about the approaches you may follow and the resources you may want to use. Helpful articles include: Choosing Curriculum and Resources, and Resources for Exploring Various Homeschooling Methods. If your child is a teen, read High School Transfer Credit Procedures to better understand your options if your child wishes to return to school in the future.

Whether you file under the four options of the home instruction statute, the tutor provision, or for a religious exemption, you must file your paperwork when you decide to homeschool. If you file under the home instruction statute, the law says that you have 30 days to file your curriculum description and supporting paperwork after submitting your Notice of Intent (NOI). This gives you time to dig up your high school (or higher) diploma or draft your brief description of curriculum, etc. as needed. Ideally, you should submit all your paperwork upfront before withdrawing your child, but the law gives you this option if you need additional time. Inform your child’s school of your decision to homeschool either by phone, in writing, or in person. Whichever you choose, one parent may need to visit the school in person to return textbooks, clear out desks, etc. Notifying the school is not required by law but makes for a smoother transition and is considerate. Keep a copy of the Virginia Home Instruction Statute (§22.1-254.1) handy. You then may quote the law to any school employee who is uninformed or misinformed about Virginia homeschooling law. You do not need “approval” to begin homeschooling. Once your NOI has been received by the division superintendent, you may legally begin homeschooling your child. Read "Handling it Ourselves" below, for ideas for how to deal constructively with your school division. Begin Homeschooling! According to the Home Instruction Statute (§22.1-254.1 B) “any parent who moves into a school division or begins home instruction after the school year has begun shall notify the division superintendent of his intention to provide home instruction as soon as practicable and shall thereafter comply with the requirements of this section within 30 days of such notice.”

Begin Your Journey! You are now free to begin your homeschooling journey with your child. Browse the VaHomeschoolers website for additional information and support. Find a local homeschool support group which can help you and your family as you transition into the homeschooling community. Consider Deschooling for a period of time. Deschooling is the transition time between traditional types of schooling and homeschooling. It’s a low-stress time to become accustomed to your new family routines and for kids to perhaps reconnect to their interests and for parents to rediscover how their kids like to learn. Experienced homeschoolers recommend you take at least some period of time to make the transition; some even recommend deschooling for one month for each year your child was in a traditional school. An excellent place to learn more is in “Beyond School Daze: The Deschooling Process” by former VaHomeschoolers board member and former VaHomeschoolers Voice managing editor, Jeanne Faulconer. Don’t forget about Testing and Evaluation! Your test scores or evaluation results are due to your Superintendent’s office by August 1 following the end of the current school year regardless of how much time is left in the school year.