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Each state
may adopt its own statutes that may apply to a parent’s right to educate a
child at home. On the other hand, each state may choose not to
adopt statutes and may, instead, leave a parent free to educate a child at
home in any manner that the parent sees fit. Whether or not a state
has chosen to adopt statutes, that state also may adopt suggested
procedures, policy, or guidelines that apply to a parent’s right to educate
a child at home.
Statutes, along with their
implementing administrative regulations, are mandatory directives and are
enforceable by law and may subject a parent to penalties if not followed.Other procedures, policy, or guidelines
generally are not mandatory directives and, therefore, may not be
enforceable by law such that parents may choose to follow them or not.
As you can
see, it is important for all parents to understand the statutes,
procedures, policies, and/or guidelines in their home state and to be able
to distinguish between enforceable law and unenforceable suggestions. It is
equally important to become familiar with the statutes that delineate the
authority of the local public school system or board of education. If
you know what the school system is authorized to do, you will also know
what it is not authorized to do when, or if, the school system attempts to
interfere with your right to educate at home.
NHELD, LLC
believes that with knowledge comes power. NHELD, LLC also believes that all
parents should be armed with sufficient knowledge to empower them to
protect their right to educate in accordance with the individual needs of
their children free from unnecessary government regulation. Toward this
end, NHELD, LLC will be working with attorneys and homeschool organizations
in each state to develop an accurate listing of all state laws, procedures,
policies, and guidelines. In this manner, we hope to protect this
fundamental freedom.
Connecticut Massachusetts Virginia
NHELD, LLC is continuing in its efforts to
disseminate accurate information about homeschooling law in each
state. As we continue to grow, we will provide you with further
information. For now, we recommend that any readers who
wish obtain information about Massachusetts go to the following sites:
MHLA.org
Advocates for Home
Education in Massachusetts
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In Virginia, virtually every parent or
guardian may homeschool, and homeschooling may begin at any time.
Under the
Home Instruction statute, Section 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia,
homeschoolers must:
A) annually notify the local school division superintendent of
their intent to homeschool;
B) provide a description of the curriculum to be followed or
program of study and evidence that the parent:
i) has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;
or
ii) is a teacher of qualifications prescribed by the
Board of Education; or
iii) has enrolled the child or children in a
correspondence school approved by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction; or
iv) provides a program of study or curriculum that, in
the judgment of the division superintendent, includes the state's Standards
of Learning (SOL) objectives for language arts and mathematics,
and provides evidence that the parent is able to provide an adequate education
for the child.
C) following the school year in which home instruction occurred, provide
evidence of progress (independent assessment, standardized test scores or a
portfolio review) to the superintendent by August 1st.
Other options under which parents may homeschool include the certified
tutor provision and religious exemption to attendance at school.
Go
here for more complete, up-to-date information on
Virginia's
homeschool related laws.
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In the future, NHELD, LLC hopes to provide a
complete listing for all states. Please have patience with us while we
develop a more complete listing. If you would like to assist us in
compiling this listing, please contact us.
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