Jon's Homeschool Resource Page

Jon's Homeschool Resources

Virginia

This page has five parts:
Support Groups Neighbors to meet
Statewide All-Virginia homeschooling associations
Newsletters Current homeschooling events
Mailing Lists Neighbors to talk to
Law Virginia homeschooling laws

Support Groups top
Neighbors to meet

Over the years, many people have contributed to these listings. The seeds of the collection came from Ruthann Biel, Growing Without Schooling, and Home Education Press.
For all homeschoolers in Albemarle county and the surrounding area. Mailing list coordinates park days and craft times, lists local community activities, and announces VHEA (Virginia Home Education Association) seminars or other information important to homeschoolers.
Ashburn Christian Home Educators
Monthly meetings for moms; quarterly meetings for dads; field trips and other group activities for kids.
Fenton Clendenin 703-726-0147 or
Robin Johnson <richardandrobininva@earthlink.net>
Children's Circle
c/o Debbie Grief
Rt 1 Box 132-A
Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363
CCHE - Christ Centered Home Educators
Multifocus network of Christian homeschool groups for Stafford, Spotylsvania, and Fredericksburg areas. Annual curriculum fair and regional events.
P.O. Box 5265
Fredericksburg, VA 22403
CaberStevens@juno.com
CHEFS - Christian Home Educators Family Support
401 W Main Street
Salem, VA 24153
540-389-4043
[KingAFS@AOL.com]
COIL - Community of Independent Learners
PO Box 16029
Alexandria, VA 22302
703-998-9626
A group of eclectic homeschooling families in eastern Prince William County. Members utilize a wide spectrum of homeschooling methods, from pre-packaged curriculum to radical unschooling, and everything between. The group has no rules, no dues, and no hierarchy; meets informally to share ideas, information and outings. A support group where all activities are purposely separate from any religious or spiritual function.
Goochland Home Educators
Contact: Kevin and Robin Larson
4151 Broad Street Road
Gum Spring, VA 23065
804-556-2099
krlarson@alcnet.com
A "ministry" with a Statement Of Belief, co-op classes, and other activities.
Northern Virginia; Christian but "open to all homeschoolers." Elective classes, monthly newsletter, library, many family events, and an annual homeschool conference.
An inclusive support group for the City of Fredericksburg (Spotsylvania & Caroline Counties).
HOPE - Home Organization of Parent Educators
300+ families in Northern Virginia
Linda Linder
14120 Walton Dr.
Manassas, VA 20112-3701
703-791-HOPE
Christian team sports for Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.
JPEKH - Jewish Parents Educating Kids at Home
[This is a Maryland group - please see my listing on that page]
LEARN
2520 Rocky Branch Road
Vienna, VA 22181
LIFE - Learning in a Family Environment
A secular support group in Loudoun county
11465 Dutchman's Creek Road
Lovettsville, VA 20180
AAGerhardt@aol.com
Many Paths for Excellence
A diverse homeschool group in southeastern VA. Fun, high-quality, educational opportunities and support.
Jill Friestad <jdfriestad@erols.com>
A very active group, in the area between DC and Richmond. Fieldtrips and other activities.
Publishes a monthly newsletter, organizes workshops, and serves as a knowledge bank for local resources. Regular member support groups meetings all around the metropolitan area.
SCHEL - Shore Christian Home Educators League
Support for home schoolers in Accomack and Northampton Counties.
c/o LaFaso Family
38 Kerr Street
Onancock, VA 23336
A support group for the Hampton Roads, Virginia and northeastern North Carolina region. Sports, proms, graduation, curriculum fair, arts and science programs, and monthly meetings with local and national speakers. No membership requirements; open to all home schooling families.
P.O. Box 64516
Virginia Beach, VA 23467-4516
757-285-1899
Christian support and activity group in the Tidewater area.
Resources, activities, and friendship for Fredericksburg (Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Orange, Culpeper, and Louisa counties) Christian families.

Statewide top
All-Virginia homeschooling associations

Statewide association that works to promote and protect homeschooling in Virginia: Website lists support groups throughout the state. HEAV publishs a free quarterly magazine (14,000 subscribers), a free weekly e-mail newsletter, and The Virginia Homeschool Manual. Also coordinates an annual convention and graduation every June in Richmond, works with the Department of Education, and lobbies the General Assembly.
An association of individuals, families, and Virginia-based homeschool groups and businesses. Represents home schooling interests to legislators, government officials, the media, and others; informs and serves members on matters relating to home education. Neutral on matters of religion, partisan politics, and non-homeschooling issues. $15/year for individuals, and $50/year for support groups. Membership includes a subscription to the VHEA newsletter. (A subscription without actual VHEA membership is also available for the same rate.) Website includes local support group listings.

Newsletters top
Current homeschooling events

Chincoteague Home School Newsletter
Information on home school activities on the DELMARVA peninsula.
c/o Blair Steadman Family
4288 Sunrise Drive Circle
Chincoteague, VA 23336
SHARENET
An email newsletter with information on classes, clubs, field trips and information for homeschooling families in Northern Virginia. To subscribe, send mail to susieg@alum.mit.edu or riemerfam@att.net.

Mailing Lists top
Neighbors to talk to

A moderated list for homeschooling families in and around Fauquier County Virginia. Provides information and support for homeschoolers, including activity announcements. Any member can post messages to the group, but are asked to be respectful of other families differing motivations and methods.
A list for any Virginia residents who prefer to discuss homeschooling ONLY, without religious or partisan political threads.

Law top
Virginia homeschooling laws

Compulsory Attendance:

Code of Virginia Annotated $ 22.1-254.
Ages:
"have reached the fifth birthday on or before . . . September 30 . . . and who has not passed the eighteenth birthday". However, any child who will not have reached his sixth birthday on or before September 30 of each school year, whose parent notifies the appropriate school board that he does not wish the child to attend school until the following year" is exempt from attending school. Section 22.1-256 (A)(5).
Days:
Generally, 180 days. &Section 22.1-254
Subjects:
Reading, writing, math, spelling, history, government and citizenship.

Home School Statutes:

Va. Code Ann. $ 22.1-254.1
  1. "Instruction of children by their parents in their home is an acceptable alternative form of education." Va. Code Ann. $ 22.1-254.1 (A)
  2. Parents must annually notify their local superintendent of their intention to home school by August 31. If moving into school district, parent must notify "as soon as practicable" and comply with other requirements within thirty days of notice.
  3. Parents must have a i) baccalaureate degree in any subject or ii) be a "teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education" or iii) enroll child in a "correspondence course approved by the Board of Education" or iv) provide a curriculum of program of study that includes "in the judgement of the superintendent," the standards of learning objectives adopted by the board and evidence that the parents will provide an "adequate education."

    Parents must submit a "description of the curriculum" that they will be using.

Alternate Statutes Allowing for Home Schools:

Home Schools have 2 additional options:
  1. Religious Exception Statute: "A school board . . . shall excuse from attendance at school any pupil who, together with hisparents, by reason of bona fide religious training or belief, isconscientiously opposed to attendance at school." 22.1-257 (A(2) Home schoolers may receive an exemption under this statute according to 22.1-254.1(D)

    Under this exemption the "school system lacks the authority to monitor the educational growth of a child through regular testing . . ." OAG, Nov. 18, 1988 (54-395) p.5. Furthermore, on page two of this opinion, the Attorney General asserts, "The guarantee of free exercise is not limited to beliefs which are shared by all members of a religious sect." also "[t]here is no legal requirement . . . that a religion or religious belief meet organizational or doctrinal tests in order to qualify for constitutional protection." Id.

    In Frazee v. Illinois Dept. of Employment Security, 109 S.Ct.1514 (1989), the U.S. Supreme Court stated that whether or not the individual's church family "formally supports the religious belief held by the individual is an "irrelevant issue" in determining the validity of that religious belief. Frazee, at 1516. Further on the Court said " . . . we reject the notion that to claim the protection of the Free Exercise clause, one must be responding to the commands of a particular religious organization." Frazee, at 1517.

  2. Certified Tutor Statute: If a parent is certified in Virginia they need only to have their qualifications approved by the local superintendent. No other requirements apply. &22.1-254.1(C)

Teacher Qualifications:

None

Standardized Tests:

Parents have two options. Va. Code Ann. $22.1-254.(C)
  1. Parents must submit the results of an annual standardized achievement test by August 1 after each completed school year. Test must show that child attained "a composite score above the fortieth percentile."
  2. Or submit an annual "evaluation or assessment which, in the judgement of the division superintendent, indicates that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress." By August 1.
Copyright © 1990
Home School Legal Defense Association
Paeonian Springs, VA 22129

Changes since 1990:

Subject: Virginia law changes
Date: Sun, 06 Apr 1997 17:24:12 -0700
From: Stephen Bender <sbender@erols.com>

A couple years ago, VA dropped the standard to the same as for public schools: 23rd percentile.

Also, some counties are now refusing to accept the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and instisting on Stanford.

Part of Jon's Homeschool Resources.

Copyright © 1997..2004 Jon Shemitz <jon@midnightbeach.com>
September 27, 1995..September 9, 2004