Notifying Your Local Superintendent

Take Care When Using Local Forms!
If you plan to file under the homeschool statute, §22.1- 254.1, the deadline for notifying your local superintendent that you intend to homeschool is August 15. Be careful when using your local district’s Notice of Intent form! The law does not require you to use the form your school district provides. Some forms still fail to reflect the 2006 changes in the homeschool statute. They may also ask for more information than the law requires, such as your child’s social security number.

In lieu of a form, you may write a letter that includes the appropriate information. Or you may use HEAV’s standard NOI form. Our Notice of Intent form is accepted by all school divisions. It is carefully worded to include only the information required by the Virginia homeschool statute, §22.1-254.1. If you use the form from our website, be sure to click on the link at the top of the page to print the pdf version.

Immunization Records Not Required with NOI
The law does not require a parent to submit immunization records along with the Notice of Intent form. However, ALL homeschoolers must keep immunization records on file. If a parent objects to immunizing his child because of religious reasons, the parent may keep a copy of the Commonwealth of Virginia Certificate of Exemption on file. Also, proof of immunization is not required if a parent has written certification from a licensed physician stating that a required immunization may be harmful to the child’s health. The physician must indicate the specific nature of the medical condition or circumstance.

Yvonne Bunn @ July 31, 2007   |   Uncategorized  |   Comments (0)

Reminder: August 1 Deadline

After each year of homeschooling, parents must submit evidence of their child’s academic achievement to the division superintendent (or his designee) by August 1. The evidence may be in the form of a standardized achievement test or an evaluation or an assessment (§ 22.1-254.1 (C)).

C. The parent who elects to provide home instruction shall provide the division superintendent by August 1 following the school year in which the child has received home instruction with either (i) evidence that the child has attained a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test or (ii) an evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress.

Questions about testing?

• Who must be tested?
• What kind of test can you use?
• Who can administer the test?
• Is pre-approval necessary?

HEAV’s Testing FAQ covers the most-asked testing questions. Know all your testing options. Look for information on the HEAV website under “Testing.”

Yvonne Bunn @ July 31, 2007   |   Uncategorized  |   Comments (0)