West Virginia homeschool requirements

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.

Medium: West Virginia's home instruction statute requires a notice of intent to the county superintendent, assurance of instruction in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies, evidence that the instructor meets the minimum educational qualification, and annual assessment. Assessment results must be submitted to the county superintendent at grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30. Parents must keep copies of each student's academic assessment for three years. County boards may also offer classes, textbooks, and other resources subject to availability and approval.

6-17

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. Notify: The county superintendent or county board in the county of residence. If the family moves, the previous county superintendent must be notified and a new notice must be filed in the new county.. 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.

Reading, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social studies

West Virginia says home instruction under this exemption must be provided for a time equal to the instructional term set forth in state law. The accessible statute text reviewed here does not restate that term as a simple hour total.

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. Frequency: Annual assessment is required. Results must be submitted to the county superintendent at grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30 of the year the assessment is administered.

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.

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.

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.