Can you homeschool without a degree in West Virginia?

The person providing home instruction must submit satisfactory evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent, or a qualifying postsecondary degree or certificate from an approved institution, as described in the statute.

Homeschooling is legal in West Virginia, but families need to match the rules to the pathway they use. The main home instruction route has meaningful notice, qualification, subject, and assessment requirements, while other exemptions and school-choice pathways may work differently.

Moderate. West Virginia requires instruction in the listed core subjects and annual assessment, but families retain flexibility in how they teach and may choose among several assessment methods.

1. 1Check West Virginia's notice rule: Yes for the home instruction pathway described in West Virginia Code 18-8-1(c)(2). The parent must present a notice of intent to the county superintendent or county board when home instruction begins. If the child is enrolled in public school, notice must be given on or before the date home instruction starts. A new notice is required when moving to a new county.
2. 2Calendar the deadline: On or before the date home instruction is to begin if the child is leaving public school. The statute does not present one single statewide yearly filing date in the text reviewed here.
3. 3Build around required subjects: Reading, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social studies
4. 4Keep records that match the state summary: Parents should keep the notice of intent, proof of instructor qualification, attendance information, course plans, work samples, and especially copies of each student's academic assessment for at least three years because the statute expressly requires that retention period.
5. 5Plan for testing or evaluation if required: Yes. West Virginia requires an annual academic assessment for students using the home instruction pathway. Families may use a nationally normed standardized test, the state public-school testing program, a certified teacher portfolio review with written narrative, or another alternative academic assessment agreed to by the parent and county superintendent.
6. 6Use official source links before making a filing or deadline decision.