Source: https://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/state-by-state/west-virginia/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 03:00:00+00:00

Document:
West Virginia has a homeschool statute with two options. The first option centers on school board approval. “The instruction shall be in the home of the child or children or at some other place approved by the county board.” See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(1).
Notification: Parents must seek approval from their local school board. The process for seeking approval is at the discretion of the school board.
Qualifications: “The instruction shall be conducted by a person or persons who, in the judgment of the county superintendent and county board, are qualified to give instruction in subjects required to be taught in public elementary schools in the state.” See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(1).
Days or hours: Instruction must take place “for a time equal to the instructional term set forth in section forty-five, article five of this chapter.” This term is 180 days. See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(1) and §18-5-45.
Subjects: At the discretion of the school board.
Bookkeeping: “The person or persons providing the instruction, upon request of the county superintendent, shall furnish to the county board information and records as may be required periodically with respect to attendance, instruction and progress of students receiving the instruction.” See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(1).
Assessment: At the discretion of the school board.
Intervention: “If the request for home instruction is denied by the county board, good and reasonable justification for the denial shall be furnished in writing to the applicant by the county board.” See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(1).
Other: “The state board shall develop guidelines for the home schooling of special education students including alternative assessment measures to assure that satisfactory academic progress is achieved.” See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(1).
Notification: Parents must provide a one-time notice of intent to the county superintendent. If the child is enrolled in a public school, this notice shall be provided on or before the date homeschooling is to begin. The notice must include the name, address, age, and grade level of any child to be homeschooled; assurance that the child will be instructed and assessed annually; and evidence of a high school diploma or its equivalent. Upon moving to a new county, parents must provide a new one-time notice of intent. Parents must notify the county superintendent when homeschooling is terminated if a student is still of compulsory attendance age. See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2)(A, B, C).
Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent. See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2)(B).
Subjects: Parents must provide assurance that the student is receiving instruction in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies. See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2)(C).
Bookkeeping: Parents must maintain copies of each child’s academic assessments for three years.
Assessment: Parents must submit an academic assessment to the county superintendent by June 30 following grades 3, 5, 8, and 11. Students may be assessed through one of a number of different measures: (1) By a nationally normed standardized achievement test in the subjects of reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies. This test must be administered in accordance with the test’s published instructions and may be administered by the parent. A score at or above the 23rd percentile, or showing improvement from the previous year’s results, is considered acceptable progress. (2) By participating at a public school in the testing program currently in use in the state’s public schools. The child is considered to have made acceptable progress based on the guidelines of the state testing program. (3) By a portfolio evaluation by a certified teacher. The certified teacher must review a portfolio of samples of the child’s work and prepare a written narrative that indicates whether the child has made progress in accordance with the child’s abilities. This narrative must include a statement about the child’s progress in reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies, and must note any areas that show need for improvement or remediation. (4) Via a mutually agreed upon alternative assessment that includes criteria for whether acceptable progress has been made. See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2)(D).
Intervention: If a student’s annual assessment does not show acceptable progress, the parents and the persons providing instruction must initiate a remedial plan. The local school board must notify the parents of testing for special needs. Should acceptable progress not be made the following year, the parents must submit evidence to the local superintendent that appropriate instruction is being provided. See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2)(E). Should there be “clear and convincing evidence” of educational neglect or “other compelling reasons to deny home instruction,” the county superintendent may seek an order to halt homeschooling. See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(2).
Part-time enrollment: Yes, at the district’s discretion. “Any child receiving home instruction may upon approval of the county board exercise the option to attend any class offered by the county board as the person or persons providing home instruction may consider appropriate subject to normal registration and attendance requirements.” See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(3).
Other: “The county superintendent or a designee shall offer such assistance, including textbooks, other teaching materials and available resources, all subject to availability, as may assist the person or persons providing home instruction.” See W. Va. Code § 18-8-1(c)(3).

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