Virginia · Guide

Virginia's notice of intent: what to file, and a letter you can steal.

Virginia home instruction runs on a yearly cycle with your local school division. Here is the whole rhythm in plain English, plus a skeleton notice letter.

One caveat before anything else: requirements change, and every division has its own forms and habits. The current rules live on the Virginia Department of Education home-instruction page (doe.virginia.gov) and your division's own site. Check both before you file. This guide is orientation, not legal advice.

The yearly rhythm

Notice of intent. You notify your local division superintendent that you intend to provide home instruction, before the school year (divisions typically ask by mid-August).
Evidence you qualify. Virginia offers several qualification routes - a high school diploma is the most common. You pick one and attach the evidence.
A list of subjects. What you plan to teach this year. A plain list is fine.
Evidence of progress, by August 1. After the year ends: a standardized test score or an evaluation letter, due to the division by August 1 each year.

The template letter

Skeleton notice of intent

[Your name]
[Address]
[Date]

Dear Superintendent [name],

I am writing to notify you of my intent to provide home instruction for my child, [student name], grade [X], for the [20XX-XX] school year, under Virginia Code §22.1-254.1.

Attached please find evidence of my qualification under option [i-iv], and a list of the subjects to be studied this year.

Respectfully,
[Your name] · [phone] · [email]

What divisions actually trip on

Late progress evidence. August 1 is the date families miss. Put it in your calendar the day you file your notice.
Wrong office. The notice goes to your division superintendent's office, not the school your child would attend, and not the state.
Over-sharing. The statute asks for notice, qualification evidence, and subjects. You do not owe a curriculum plan, a daily schedule, or a home visit.

Want this handled? The Records Office drafts your division-specific notice and subject plan every year, and reminds you before August 1. Founding families: $99/year.

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HOMESCHOOL RECORDS OFFICE · YOU ARE THE SCHOOL OF RECORD · THIS GUIDE IS ORIENTATION, NOT LEGAL ADVICE · ALWAYS CONFIRM CURRENT REQUIREMENTS WITH YOUR DIVISION AND DOE.VIRGINIA.GOV