A year-round Virginia homeschool marketplace — curriculum, tutoring, therapy, STEM, arts and enrichment providers, plus a plain-English guide to Virginia's home instruction law, the religious exemption, where Virginia stands on school choice, dual enrollment and driver's ed for home-schooled teens.
Overseen by: Your local division superintendent, under §§ 22.1-254 and 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia. The Virginia Department of Education doesn't approve home schools, and a superintendent may not share your filings outside the school division without your written consent (§ 22.1-254.1(G)).
Who it covers: Children who turn 5 on or before September 30 and haven't passed their 18th birthday (§ 22.1-254). The evidence-of-progress rule doesn't apply to children under 6 on September 30 of the school year.
Notice: Every year, by August 15: notify the division superintendent that you'll provide home instruction, with a list of subjects for the coming year and evidence that you meet one of the four options. Starting after the school year began or moving in mid-year: notify as soon as practicable and complete the requirements within 30 days.
The four home instruction options: The parent (i) holds a high school diploma; (ii) is a teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education; (iii) provides a program of study or curriculum, which may be delivered through a correspondence course, distance learning program or any other manner; or (iv) provides evidence of being able to provide an adequate education.
Evidence of progress: By August 1 after each year: a composite score in or above the 4th stanine on a nationally normed standardized achievement test (or an equivalent ACT, SAT or PSAT score), or an evaluation the superintendent accepts — a letter from a person licensed to teach in any state or with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline who knows the child's progress, or a report card or transcript from a college, college distance learning program or home-education correspondence school.
Religious exemption: A school board must excuse a pupil who, with his parents, is conscientiously opposed to school attendance by reason of bona fide religious training or belief (§ 22.1-254(B)(1)). It is a separate route from home instruction, with no annual notice or testing requirement in the statute; the local school board decides requests.
School choice status: As of November 2026, Virginia's only private-choice program is the Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credit: donors get a 65% state tax credit for gifts to approved scholarship foundations, which fund scholarships at private schools (statewide cap
5 million a fiscal year). There is no ESA or voucher, and no state program pays homeschool costs. The IRS lists Virginia as taking part in the federal scholarship tax credit for 2027 (as of October 22, 2026).
Mon, Nov 9, 2026 · Virginia Zoo Spring 2027 Zoo Careers Homeschool Series: Member Registration Opens Norfolk · Virginia Zoo, 3500 Granby St · $35 for members, full four-session series Registration opens for the four-month Zoo Careers homeschool series (Jan-Apr 2027: Zookeeping, Veterinary Care, Nutrition, Exhibit Design) for zoo members.
Thu, Nov 12, 2026 – Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · VAST Professional Development Institute 2026 Harrisonburg · Hotel Madison The Virginia Association of Science Teachers' annual Professional Development Institute for K–12 science educators.
Fri, Nov 13, 2026 · Leesylvania State Park Homeschool Series: Nature Journaling Woodbridge · Leesylvania State Park Visitor Center Ranger-led homeschool program on science, history and nature, 10–11 a.m.; this session covers nature journaling.
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · Salem Museum: Civil War Trails Marker Unveiling Salem · Salem Museum, 801 E Main St Unveiling of a new Civil War Trails marker at 2 p.m., followed by a special lecture at 2:30.
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 – Sun, Nov 15, 2026 · Science Museum of Virginia: Girls in Science Camp-In Richmond · Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 West Broad Street An overnight camp-in (6 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday) with science activities.
Mon, Nov 16, 2026 · Pocahontas State Park Homeschool Happenings Chesterfield · Pocahontas State Park Visitor Center Monthly ranger programs for homeschoolers on the third Monday of the month, 10–11:30 a.m.