How to start homeschooling in West Virginia
The legal steps, in order, checked against West Virginia law.
Short answer: West Virginia parents can homeschool by giving a one-time notice of intent to the county superintendent, showing a high school diploma or equivalent, and arranging an annual assessment. Assessment results go to the county for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11. Families may instead seek county board approval for home instruction, or use the learning pod or microschool exemption.
Checked against W. Va. Code 18-8-1(c)(2) on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 6 to 17. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
West Virginia gives you 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick one and follow its steps.
Option 1: Home instruction by notice of intent
Parents with a high school diploma or equivalent who want a notice-based option.
Steps
- Send a notice of intent to the county superintendent or county board with each child's name, address, and age, and an assurance of instruction in the required subjects and annual assessment.
- If your child is enrolled in public school, give the notice on or before the day home instruction begins.
- Submit evidence of your high school diploma or equivalent, or a qualifying postsecondary degree or certificate.
- Teach reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies.
- Arrange an annual assessment and send results for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 to the county superintendent by June 30.
- Notify the county superintendent when home instruction ends, and file a new notice if you move to another county.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: Your county superintendent or county board of education When: Once, when you begin; if your child is enrolled in public school, on or before the day home instruction begins; file a new notice if you move to another county Official form |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies. |
| Time | None required by law. The WVDE says home instruction has no set instructional year. |
| Parent qualifications | Submit evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent, or a postsecondary degree or certificate from a regionally accredited institution or one authorized to grant it in West Virginia. |
| Testing or evaluation | Each year, assess the prior school year by one of: a nationally normed achievement test (normed within 10 years) in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies, given by a qualified person; the state public school testing program at a county public school; a portfolio review with a written narrative by a certified teacher; or an alternative assessment agreed with the county superintendent. Submit results to the county superintendent for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30. Acceptable progress means a mean at or above the fourth stanine, or improvement over the prior year if below it. |
| Records to keep | Keep copies of each annual academic assessment for three years. If progress is not acceptable, start a remedial program; after a second year without acceptable progress, submit additional evidence of appropriate instruction. |
The law: W. Va. Code 18-8-1(c)(2)
Option 2: Home instruction approved by the county board
Families who prefer to request county board approval instead of using the notice option.
Steps
- Request approval for home instruction from the county board.
- If denied, the board must give its reasons in writing.
- Provide attendance, instruction, and progress information when the county superintendent asks.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: Your county board of education, for approval |
|---|---|
| Subjects | The subjects required to be taught in public elementary schools. |
| Time | A time equal to the instructional term set in W. Va. Code 18-5-45. |
| Parent qualifications | A person the county superintendent and county board judge qualified to teach the subjects required in public elementary schools. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not confirmed in our check. Ask the state education department. |
| Records to keep | On request of the county superintendent, provide information and records on attendance, instruction, and progress. |
The law: W. Va. Code 18-8-1(c)(1)
Option 3: Learning pod or microschool
Families whose children study in a learning pod (a voluntary group of parents) or a tuition-charging microschool.
Steps
- Give the county superintendent or county board a notice of intent to participate, with each child's name, address, and age, and the same subject and assessment assurances.
- If your child is enrolled in public school, give the notice on or before the day participation begins.
- The person providing instruction submits evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent, or a qualifying postsecondary credential.
- Arrange the annual assessment; results may be sent individually or as school composite results.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: Your county superintendent or county board of education When: When participation begins; if your child is enrolled in public school, on or before the day participation begins; file a new notice if you move to another county |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies. |
| Time | Not confirmed in our check. Ask the state education department. |
| Parent qualifications | The person providing instruction submits evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent, or a qualifying postsecondary degree or certificate. |
| Testing or evaluation | Each year, assess the prior school year by one of: a nationally normed achievement test (normed within 10 years) in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies, given by a qualified person; the state public school testing program at a county public school; a portfolio review with a written narrative by a certified teacher; or an alternative assessment agreed with the county superintendent. Results go to the county superintendent for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30. Acceptable progress means a mean at or above the fourth stanine, or improvement over the prior year if below it. A pod or microschool may submit composite results. |
| Records to keep | Keep copies of each annual academic assessment for three years, with the same remedial steps as home instruction. |
The law: W. Va. Code 18-8-1(n)
Leaving public school mid-year
If the child is enrolled in public school, the notice of intent must be given on or before the date home instruction is to begin (W. Va. Code 18-8-1(c)(2)(A)).
High school, transcripts and diplomas
A person who runs a secondary program in a home school setting may issue a diploma to a student who completes it. The WVDE says that diploma is legally sufficient as a high school diploma, and no state agency or in-state college may treat a person differently solely because of its source (W. Va. Code 18-8-12, as described by WVDE). The WVDE also lists homeschool requirements for the PROMISE Scholarship, including a grade verification form and transcript.
Public school sports and activities
Yes. The Secondary School Activities Commission must consider home instruction, Hope Scholarship, and learning pod or microschool students eligible at the public secondary school serving their attendance zone if they show yearly academic progress with average test results at or above the fourth stanine in all subjects, are under 19 by August 1, are amateurs, and follow the commission's and county's rules. Reasonable fees may be charged (W. Va. Code 18-2-25(d)).
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in West Virginia?
Yes, under the home instruction by notice of intent route, you notify your county superintendent or county board of education once, when you begin; if your child is enrolled in public school, on or before the day home instruction begins; file a new notice if you move to another county.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in West Virginia?
Each year, assess the prior school year by one of: a nationally normed achievement test (normed within 10 years) in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies, given by a qualified person; the state public school testing program at a county public school; a portfolio review with a written narrative by a certified teacher; or an alternative assessment agreed with the county superintendent. Submit results to the county superintendent for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30. Acceptable progress means a mean at or above the fourth stanine, or improvement over the prior year if below it.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in West Virginia?
Reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies.
What ages must be schooled in West Virginia?
Ages 6 to 17, per state law.
Sources
- W. Va. Code 18-8-1(c)(2)
- W. Va. Code 18-8-1a
- W. Va. Code 18-2-25
- Homeschool State Code, West Virginia Department of Education
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.