Education is compulsory for all students for the year they turn 6 by Sept. 1. They can start school earlier if the student attends a public kindergarten before that date. Otherwise, school documentation starts with first grade. Students in West Virginia are to remain in school until the age of 16.
The first option for parents homeschooling in West Virginia is the approval option given by the county board of education and the county superintendent. Parents must submit their plan for educating their children, the credentials of the instructor and the place of instruction to the board for approval. The board reserves the right to deny the privilege of homeschooling if it believes it is justified in doing so. Parents who use the approval option to homeschool must prove 180 days of instruction. Records must be kept up-to-date to report progress to the school board.
Another option for parents homeschooling in West Virginia is to provide a notice of intent to homeschool annually to the local county board of education. The notice should include the name of the children being homeschooled, their ages, address and grade levels. Parents should include proof they have obtained a high school diploma or the equivalent. The local county school board also requires an outline of instruction and an yearly assessment of academic improvement.
All households homeschooling in West Virginia must submit a yearly academic assessment by June 30 to the county board of education. This assessment cannot be administered by the parent and must be approved by the board of education. Options include participating in the local public school's yearly testing or having an academic portfolio of the child's work and progress evaluated by a certified teacher. The board of education will look for assessments in reading, language, math, science and social studies.
After reviewing the yearly academic assessment, the country board of education can deem a homeschooled child's progress unacceptable and order remedial instruction. This usually happens if test scores fall below the mean percentile score of 50 percent or a professional evaluation finds progress lacking in a certain area. The county board may offer special education services if needed, but the parents do not have to use them. After two years of unacceptable progress, parents will have to prove proper instruction is taking place in the home. If the superintendent believes that the child's education is being neglected, then the Circuit Court can deny homeschooling privileges.