Home Instruction

In Virginia, parents must ensure that a child attends school in compliance with the state Compulsory Attendance law. The Compulsory Attendance law permits a child, subject to that law, to attend a private or public school, or receive an education through alternatives to school attendance. Below are alternative options that parents may consider that are in compliance with the compulsory attendance law, which requires children of school age to attend a private or public school or receive an education through alternatives to school attendance.
Common alternatives include:

I. HOME INSTRUCTION BY A PARENT/GUARDIAN:

 

NOTICE OF INTENT

Per the Homeschool Statute, parents that wish to meet the compulsory attendance law through home instruction must complete a Notice of Intent and supply supporting documentation. In order to qualify for home instruction, a parent/guardian must:

1. Provide a Notice of Intent, available here for School Year 2025-26. The link for School Year 2026-27 submissions will be available on June 1, 2026.   


2. Provide the proof that one parent/guardian qualifies per one of the following:

• Option (i), provide a copy of either parent’s high school diploma or high school transcript. You may also submit evidence of attainment of a higher degree, such as an Associate’s Degree or a college diploma, if those are easier to locate. 




• Option (ii), provide a copy of either parent’s current teaching certificate or statement to this effect from the Virginia Department of Education. Once a copy of the teaching certificate is on file, you do not need to include one in the future, unless it has been renewed since last filing; simply refer to the fact that the superintendent has a copy on file. The primary homeschooling parent does not have to be the one to meet the educational requirements for Options (i) and (ii); either parent may qualify.




• Option (iii), provide a copy of any program of study or curriculum, which may be delivered through a correspondence course, a distance learning program, or in any other manner. If you are using a specific correspondence course or distance learning program, you should provide notice of acceptance or other evidence of enrollment in the course or program, showing the name and address of the school and the courses in which your child is enrolled. If you are using a program of study or curriculum that you have developed or compiled yourself, you should provide a description of that program or curriculum.




• Option (iv), provide evidence that you are able to provide an adequate education for the child. Evidence is a well-written letter that demonstrates the parent’s ability “to provide an adequate education for the child.” See Diploma Options. 

 3. Provide a description of the curriculum, limited to a list of subjects to be studied during the coming year.

Once RPS receives the required documentation, the Enrollment Department will review and process the request. Confirmation letters will be sent to acknowledge receipt of Notice of Intent forms.

Notice of Intent forms must be submitted annually by August 15 for the upcoming school year.

EVIDENCE OF ACHIEVEMENT

Per the Homeschool Statute, parents must provide “evidence of progress” at the end of the school year. Evidence of Achievement for the 2025-26 school year can be submitted here. Parents may either submit:

• Option (i) – A composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test or an equivalent score on the ACT, SAT, or PSAT test.


• Option (ii) – An evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress, including but not limited to: (a) an evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, or a person with a master’s degree or higher in an academic discipline, having knowledge of the child’s academic progress, stating that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress; or (b) a report card or transcript from a community college or college, college distance learning program, or home-education correspondence school.

In the event that evidence of progress as required in this subsection is not provided by the parent, the home instruction program for that child may be placed on probation for one year. Parents shall file with the division superintendent evidence of their ability to provide an adequate education for their child in compliance with subsection A and a remediation plan for the probationary year that indicates their program is designed to address any educational deficiency. Upon acceptance of such evidence and plan by the division superintendent, the home instruction may continue for one probationary year. If the remediation plan and evidence are not accepted or the required evidence of progress is not provided by August 1 following the probationary year, home instruction shall cease and the parent shall make other arrangements for the education of the child that comply with § 22.1-254. The requirements of this subsection shall not apply to children who are under the age of six as of September 30 of the school year.

Evidence of Achievement for SY25’-’26 must be submitted by August 1, 2025.

**Families may also submit their Notice Of Intent (via a letter or printable form) or Evidence Of Achievement by mailing* or emailing documents to:

Enrollment, Placement, and Planning Department
2120 Fendall Avenue
Richmond, VA 23222
HomeInstruction@rvaschools.net 

*Please note processing may take longer this way.

I. VIRGINIA CERTIFIED TUTOR OPTION:

Per Section 1-254(A) of the Code of Virginia a parent/guardian may have such child taught by a tutor or teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board and approved by the division superintendent and requires tutors or teachers to meet the teacher licensure qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education and that the individual has been approved by the school division superintendent. 

Parents planning to have their child taught by a certified tutor or teacher must submit a letter to the attention of the superintendent that includes the following information:  

• Student’s Name (first and last)
• Student’s grade level
• Student’s previous school (if applicable)
• Parent’s name, address, phone number, and email address
• Tutor’s/teacher’s name, address, phone number, and email address
• Copy of the tutor’s/teacher’s CURRENT Virginia issued teacher’s license 

Once the superintendent receives and reviews the required documents, an approval letter will be sent from the superintendent's office. Tutor certifications will remain valid as long as the tutor maintains his/her state-issued teacher’s license.

Families may mail* or email Virginia Certified Tutor requests to:

Enrollment, Placement, and Planning Department
2120 Fendall Avenue
Richmond, VA 23222
HomeInstruction@rvaschools.net

*Please note processing may take longer this way.

 

II. RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TO COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE:

Per Section 1-254(B) of the Code of Virginia any pupil who, together with his parents, by reason of bona fide religious training or belief is conscientiously opposed to attendance at school. For purposes of this subdivision, "bona fide religious training or belief" does not include essentially political, sociological or philosophical views or a merely personal moral code.

Parents planning to request Religious Exemption must submit a letter to the attention of the school board that includes the following information:  

• Student’s Name (first and last)
• Student’s grade level
• Student’s previous school (if applicable)
• Parent’s name, address, phone number, and email address
• Two (2) letters of recommendation

Once the School Board receives and reviews the required documents, an approval or denial letter will be sent from the Board. No further information will be required once approved. Please note, approval letters are only for the student’s names listed. A new request must be submitted for future students once they turn five (5).

Families may mail* or email Religious Exemption requests to:

Enrollment, Placement, and Planning Department
2120 Fendall Avenue
Richmond, VA 23222
HomeInstruction@rvaschools.net

*Please note processing may take longer this way.
 

III. DELAYED ENROLLMENT:

Per Section 1-254(H)(5) of the Code of Virginia any child who will not have reached his sixth birthday on or before September 30 of each school year whose parent or guardian notifies the appropriate school board that he does not wish the child to attend school until the following year because the child, in the opinion of the parent or guardian, is not mentally, physically, or emotionally prepared to attend school, may delay the child's attendance for one year.

Families may mail* or email Delayed Enrollment requests to:

Enrollment, Placement, and Planning Department
2120 Fendall Avenue
Richmond, VA 23222
HomeInstruction@rvaschools.net

*Please note processing may take longer this way.

Parents who choose to use an alternative route to educate their children are welcome to return to Richmond Public Schools at any time.