Homeschooling in West Virginia can be a great experience! There are moderate regulations by the state, but it is relatively easy to comply! West Virginia compulsory school age begins with the school year that your student has turned six before July 1 or after enrolling in a public kindergarten program. If you live in West Virginia, you have two avenues to legally homeschool.

Your first option is to seek the approval of your local school board. If you choose this route, the school board will have to approve your curriculum, approve the location you choose to homeschool, and they can request that you provide them with proof of attendance and proof of instruction and progress. The school board will also decide what type of assessment you use in your homeschool. The school board is able to deny your petition to homeschool if they determine that they have a reasonable justification.

Your second option is to submit a notice of intent to your school board. With this option, as long as you have completed all the legal requirements, you can homeschool, as this method does not require school board permission.

You must:
- Ensure that the person providing the instruction has a high school diploma or equivalent, or a post-secondary degree or certificate from a regionally accredited institution.
- Include your child's name, address, and age in your notice of intent. You must also include that your student will be instructed in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies and have them assessed annually. You must also provide evidence that the person providing the instruction meets the qualifications above.
- Submit the notice of intent on or before the date you begin homeschooling.

Your notice of intent is valid until you move to a different county or stop homeschooling.

At the end of each homeschool year, you are required to obtain an assessment of your student and maintain copies of the assessments for three years. You have four options for assessments.
1. Have your student take a nationally normed, standardized achievement test. According to the test publisher, it must be administered by a qualified proctor, and your student must show improvement from the previous year, or score in at least the 23rd percentile (4th stanine).
2. You may have your student participate in the public school testing program.
3. You can assemble a portfolio of completed work and have the student evaluated by a certified teacher, who will then submit a written narrative verifying that your student has made progress in their academics according to their ability.
4. You can work with your school district superintendent to have your student complete an alternative assessment of proficiency. The superintendent and parents will agree on what constitutes satisfactory progress.
5. These assessments will only need to be submitted to the county superintendent by June 30 upon completion of the 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 11th grades.

West Virginia has many opportunities for field trips. There are many historical sites to visit, national parks, and museums, and cultural centers.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park – Rich in Civil War history, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park includes museums and historic buildings, as well as hikes and Civil War battlefields. https://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

West Virginia State Parks – West Virginia is home to many beautiful state parks and state forests. Nature hikes, fishing, boating, whitewater rafting, and horseback riding are just a few ways to enjoy the many parks throughout West Virginia. https://wvstateparks.com/ Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is located on an island in the Ohio River. You can tour the reconstructed mansion (the original burned to the ground in 1811) and grounds and explore the island itself. https://wvstateparks.com/park/blennerhassett-island-historical-state-park/

The National Coal Heritage Area is an area in Southern West Virginia that pays homage to the West Virginia Coal Miners' history. You will be able to explore the area and learn about the history of the industry. http://www.coalheritage.org/

State Capitol Tours are available, as are tours of the Governor's Mansion. You must schedule these in advance. While visiting Charleston, you will also be able to visit museums and art galleries, and even tour some other historic homes! https://charlestonwv.com/things-to-do/.

You can find more information and more resources for homeschooling in West Virginia by visiting https://chewv.org/ or https://wvhea.org/. It may also be beneficial for you to join https://hslda.org/ to learn more about homeschooling's legal requirements in West Virginia.