West Virginia Homeschooling Requirements
Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) that has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or West Virginia Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; however, with a freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!
Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research West Virginia homeschooling requirements.
West Virginia’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance
|
Homeschooling Options |
Homeschooling by submitting a notice of intent |
|
Academic Calendar Requirement |
No |
|
Do you need to notify the state? |
Yes |
|
Reporting Age Requirement |
6 |
|
Instructor Qualifications |
Yes |
|
Subjects Required |
Yes |
|
Standardardized Assessment |
Yes |
|
Immunization Requirement |
No |
|
Keep a Portfolio |
Yes |
|
Enlightium Parents App with Group for West Virginia Families |
Yes |
Homeschooling Options
There are two homeschooling options in West Virginia. Families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Homeschooling by submitting a notice of intent. The below guidelines are based on this option.
Notifying the State
The West Virginia Department of Education allows homeschooling families to homeschool simply by submitting a notice of intent to homeschool to the local public school district superintendent. This must be submitted within a week upon enrolling your student at Enlightium Academy.
Include in the notice each homeschooled student in your family’s:
- Name
- Age
- Address
Your intent must also include assurance that the student will:
- Be instructed in the required subjects (see “Required Subjects” below).
- Receive an annual assessment (see “Standardized Assessments” below).
- Receive instruction from a qualified teacher (see “Teacher Qualifications” below).
If you move to a different county or your student is no longer enrolled at Enlightium, you will need to send an update to the local public school district superintendent.
Age Requirement
Ages five or younger:
Students are not required to attend school, but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.
Aged six on or before July 1:
Students must attend school during that academic year; this includes homeschooling under the umbrella of Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they turn 17 or graduate.
Instructor Qualifications
The West Virginia Department of Education requires the parent/guardian/teacher to have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI certified. A number of our faculty members have Masters and Doctorate degrees in their fields. The teacher-led support packages are available for students in grades 3-12. Learn more at our Teachers page.
Enlightium Academy also offers parent-led options for grades PreK-2 and for students in grades 3-10 Bronze support package. Under the parent-led option, parents act as teachers while Enlightium Academy provides grading and guidance support.
Required Subjects
The West Virginia Department of Education requires the following subjects:
The above subjects are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor.
Standardized Assessment
According to the West Virginia Department of Education, students must have a standardized assessment every year. There are several options for West Virginia students to complete this requirement; the simplest will likely be for Enlightium students to complete the assessment below:
Grades PreK-2:
Families of students in grades PreK-2 can provide a written narrative that shows a certified teacher has reviewed the student’s portfolio and determined that the academic process is sufficient. The narrative should include the student’s progress in:
- Areas of reading/language
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
Grades PreK-8:
The Iowa Complete Annual Assessment - tests cover the required material and test scores are provided via email to the parent.
Important notice for students in grades 3, 5, and 8:
- Spring of each school year: The Iowa Complete is administered by Enlightium Academy; the student’s results are sent to their family via email.
- West Virginia families must forward those results to the county superintendent by June 30.
Grades 9-12:
Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the SAT, and ACT.
Important notice for students in grade 11:
- The assessment results must be forwarded to the local public school district superintendent by June 30.
Keep a portfolio
You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy which should include:
- Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with weekly progress reports. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
- Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
- Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the registration process - Primary School (PreK-2), Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12)
- Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students after quarters 1 and 3 and report cards/transcripts at the end of semesters 1 and 2.
- Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
- Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, and the Presidential Award.
- Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and spelling bees.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for West Virginia Families
Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in West Virginia to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements.
Your family will be automatically added to this group upon enrolling and then downloading the Enlightium Parents app (which is provided upon enrollment).
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
- Explore Enlightium Academy’s website or watch this video about online homeschooling.
- If you have any questions:
- Chat with a team member
- Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
- Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process and select the blue button near the top of the page.
Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (866) 488-4818, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.
We review state requirements and regulations annually however each state may update their guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions please contact your state board of education.
Sources reviewed in April 2022: