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2026 State Guide
Homeschooling in Virginia: Requirements & Rules
Homeschooling is legal in Virginia, and families must meet notification plus testing and/or record requirements. Here’s everything you need to stay compliant, in plain English.
- Regulation level
- Moderate
- Notification
- Annual notice
- Instruction time
- No state mandate
- Required subjects
- 5 subjects
- Assessment
- Required
- Recordkeeping
- Required
- Compulsory ages
- 5–18
Notification
Virginia requires annual notice, due august 15 annually.
File annual notice of intent with local school superintendent by August 15.
Instruction time
Virginia sets no statewide requirement for days or hours of instruction.
No minimum hours specified.
Required subjects
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- History
- Social studies
Instruction must cover English, math, science, history, and social studies.
Assessment & testing
Virginia requires periodic assessment of homeschooled students.
Annual evidence of academic progress — standardized test results, portfolio, or evaluator's written assessment.
Recordkeeping
Virginia requires homeschool families to maintain records.
Records of progress submitted or available annually.
Parent qualifications
Must have a high school diploma or GED, or hold a teaching license, or use a correspondence or distance learning program.
Track Virginia’s requirements automatically
Homeschool Wizard logs your school days, hours, and subjects against Virginia’s rules — and turns them into portfolio PDFs, transcripts, and report cards when you need them. Free for one student.
Private by design: your family’s records stay on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is homeschooling legal in Virginia?
Yes — homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. In Virginia, families must meet notification plus testing and/or record requirements. Children ages 5–18 fall under compulsory education law.
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia requires annual notice — august 15 annually. File annual notice of intent with local school superintendent by August 15.
How many days or hours of instruction does Virginia require?
Virginia sets no statewide day or hour mandate for homeschoolers. No minimum hours specified.
What subjects are required in Virginia?
Virginia requires: English, Mathematics, Science, History, Social studies. Instruction must cover English, math, science, history, and social studies.
Is testing or assessment required for homeschoolers in Virginia?
Yes — Virginia has an assessment requirement. Annual evidence of academic progress — standardized test results, portfolio, or evaluator's written assessment.
What records do homeschoolers need to keep in Virginia?
Virginia requires families to keep homeschool records. Records of progress submitted or available annually.
Official sources
Verify current requirements with the Virginia Department of Education and HSLDA’s Virginia page.
Not legal advice. This data is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Homeschool laws change frequently. Always verify requirements with your state's Department of Education or a qualified homeschool legal organization before making compliance decisions. Requirements shown were last verified 2026-09.