Free: Homeschool Compliance Starter Checklist
The general checklist of what states require. For Virginia's Notice of Intent, subject list, and proof-of-progress options done for you, get the Virginia Compliance Kit above.
Virginia’s homeschool law is a two-bookend system: you open the year with a Notice of Intent and close it with proof of progress. In between, you teach however you like — Virginia sets no required subject list and no minimum hours. Here’s exactly what’s required under Code of Virginia § 22.1-254.1 in 2026, both deadlines, and your options.
The three things Virginia requires
- Qualify — meet any one of four parent-qualification options (a high school diploma is enough).
- File a Notice of Intent with your division superintendent by August 15, listing the subjects you’ll teach.
- Prove progress by August 1 the following summer — with a standardized test score or an evaluation.
Parent qualification (four options)
You only need one: (1) hold a high school diploma or higher (simplest — attach a copy); (2) be a teacher qualified to teach in Virginia; (3) provide a program of study or curriculum (correspondence, distance learning, or any manner); or (4) provide evidence you can give an adequate education. Most families use option 1.
The Notice of Intent (by August 15)
File the Notice of Intent (NOI) with the superintendent of your school division each year by August 15. It must state your intent to homeschool, list the subjects you’ll cover, and include evidence you qualify (such as a diploma copy). Keep a dated copy and any acknowledgment. Virginia does not mandate specific subjects — you list what you intend to teach.
Evidence of progress (by August 1)
By August 1 following the school year, submit one of two things to your superintendent:
- A standardized test — a composite score in or above the 4th stanine (23rd percentile) on any nationally normed achievement test (an equivalent ACT/SAT/PSAT score also counts).
- An evaluation — a letter showing adequate progress from a person licensed to teach in any state, a person with a master’s degree or higher in an academic discipline, or a report card/transcript from a community college, college, distance-learning program, or home-education correspondence school.
The test option is simple and the bar is low (23rd percentile); the evaluation option is often gentler for younger or non-test-taking children. Either satisfies the law.
What Virginia does NOT require
- ❌ No mandated subject list
- ❌ No minimum hours or days
- ❌ No portfolio submitted to the division
- ❌ No teaching certificate (a high school diploma qualifies you)
The religious exemption (an alternative)
Virginia also allows a religious exemption under § 22.1-254(B)(1): with a bona fide religious objection to school attendance, you may apply to your local school board. If granted, you’re exempt from the Notice of Intent and evidence-of-progress requirements. It’s a distinct path with its own application; most families use the standard home instruction route.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Virginia homeschool deadlines?
Notice of Intent by August 15; evidence of progress by August 1 the following summer. Both are annual.
What test score do I need?
A composite at or above the 23rd percentile (4th stanine) on any nationally normed test — a low bar meant to show adequate progress.
Do I have to be a certified teacher?
No. A high school diploma or higher is enough.
Do I submit a portfolio to the division?
No. You submit the NOI (August 15) and your evidence of progress (August 1). Keep work samples for your evaluator or your own records.
The bottom line
Virginia gives you real freedom between two annual deadlines: notice in by August 15, proof of progress by August 1, and total flexibility in between. If you’d like the Notice of Intent, the subject list, the qualification statement, and every proof-of-progress option done for you, our Virginia Homeschool Compliance Kit puts it all in one place.
This guide is an educational resource, not legal advice. Verify current requirements with your local school division before filing.
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The general checklist of what states require. For Virginia's Notice of Intent, subject list, and proof-of-progress options done for you, get the Virginia Compliance Kit above.