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Homeschooling in West Virginia: what the law requires and who pays

W. Va. Code 18-8-1(c) exempts a child from compulsory attendance when the home instruction requirements are met. One state program pays toward a homeschooled student’s costs here, by its official source: Hope Scholarship.

Quoted from official sources, read October 8, 2026. A law summary, not legal advice.

What West Virginia’s law requires

The law that allows it

W. Va. Code 18-8-1(c) exempts a child from compulsory attendance when the home instruction requirements are met.

“A child is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirement set forth in §18-8-1a of this code if the requirements of either subdivision (1) or subdivision (2) of this subsection, both relating to home instruction, are met.” W. Va. Code 18-8-1 (exemptions from compulsory attendance, home instruction)

Telling the state or district

When starting home instruction, the parent gives the county superintendent or county board a notice of intent with each child's name, address and age, plus an assurance of instruction and annual assessment.

“Upon commencing home instruction under this section the parent of a child receiving home instruction shall present to the county superintendent or county board a notice of intent to provide home instruction” W. Va. Code 18-8-1 (exemptions from compulsory attendance, home instruction)

The department describes it as a one-time notice of intent; if the child is in public school, the notice is due on or before the day home instruction starts. A move to a new county needs a new notice there.

“if a child is enrolled in a public school, notice of intent to provide home instruction shall be given on or before the date home instruction is to begin” W. Va. Code 18-8-1 (exemptions from compulsory attendance, home instruction)

What and how long to teach

Instruction covers reading, language, mathematics, science and social studies.

“assurance that the child shall receive instruction in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies” W. Va. Code 18-8-1 (exemptions from compulsory attendance, home instruction)

The department says home instruction has no set instructional year.

“Parents who wish to provide home instruction do not have a set instructional year and are not required to be certified teachers.” West Virginia Department of Education, Homeschool State Code

Testing or evaluation

Each year the child is assessed: a nationally normed achievement test, the public school testing program, a portfolio review by a certified teacher, or an alternative assessment agreed with the superintendent.

“Annually, the person or persons providing home instruction shall obtain an academic assessment of the child for the previous school year in one of the following ways” W. Va. Code 18-8-1 (exemptions from compulsory attendance, home instruction)

Results for grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 go to the county superintendent by June 30 of the year the assessment was given.

“The parent or legal guardian shall submit to the county superintendent the results of the academic assessment of the child at grade levels three, five, eight, and 11, as applicable, by June 30 of the year in which the assessment was administered.” W. Va. Code 18-8-1 (exemptions from compulsory attendance, home instruction)

Records to keep

Parents keep copies of each annual assessment for three years.

“A parent or legal guardian shall maintain copies of each student’s Academic Assessment for three years.” W. Va. Code 18-8-1 (exemptions from compulsory attendance, home instruction)

Who may teach

The instructor submits evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent, or a post-secondary degree or certificate from a qualifying institution.

“The person or persons providing home instruction shall submit satisfactory evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent” W. Va. Code 18-8-1 (exemptions from compulsory attendance, home instruction)

Ages the law covers

Compulsory attendance starts with the school year in which the child turns 6 before July 1 (or enrolls in public kindergarten) and runs to the 17th birthday.

“compulsory school attendance begins with the school year in which the sixth birthday is reached prior to July 1 of such year or upon enrolling in a full-time publicly funded kindergarten program, and continues to the 17th birthday” W. Va. Code 18-8-1a (compulsory attendance ages)

The state’s own page for families: West Virginia Department of Education, Homeschool State Code.

State money for homeschoolers in West Virginia

Hope Scholarship

Hope can be used for homeschool curriculum as well as tuition and other qualifying expenses. (Hope Scholarship (West Virginia State Treasurer), home page)

From 2026-27, existing traditional homeschool students who were not eligible before can apply. (Hope Scholarship (West Virginia State Treasurer), FAQ)

West Virginia Hope: amount and how to apply Private schools in West Virginia

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: West Virginia next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in West Virginia?

When starting home instruction, the parent gives the county superintendent or county board a notice of intent with each child's name, address and age, plus an assurance of instruction and annual assessment. The department describes it as a one-time notice of intent; if the child is in public school, the notice is due on or before the day home instruction starts. A move to a new county needs a new notice there.

Do homeschoolers in West Virginia have to take tests?

Each year the child is assessed: a nationally normed achievement test, the public school testing program, a portfolio review by a certified teacher, or an alternative assessment agreed with the superintendent. Results for grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 go to the county superintendent by June 30 of the year the assessment was given.

Can a homeschooler in West Virginia get state money?

Hope Scholarship: Hope can be used for homeschool curriculum as well as tuition and other qualifying expenses. From 2026-27, existing traditional homeschool students who were not eligible before can apply.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

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