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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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