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Virginia Department of Education

For Students & Parents

Private Schools & Home Schooling

Home Instruction

• Notice Regarding Approval of Correspondence Courses in Virginia Effective July 1, 2008 – During the 2008 General Assembly Session, HB 767 was passed. This law, effective July 1, 2008, eliminated certain requirements in § 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia, including the option that allowed parents to enroll their children in correspondence courses approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for purposes of meeting the statutory requirements for home instruction. Because of these changes in the law, the Superintendent of Public Instruction will no longer be required to approve these courses and this department will no longer maintain a list of approved correspondence courses on its website as of July 1, 2008.

  The new law adds Option iii which will allow parents to provide a program of study or curriculum which may be delivered through a correspondence school or a distance learning program or in any other manner to meet the requirements for home instruction. This change will provide greater flexibility for parents, streamline the course selection process for them, and allow them to use the correspondence school or the distance learning program of their choice.

  • Compulsory Attendance and Home Instruction Related Statutes (PDF)
  • Home Instruction Handbook – Information for Parents (PDF)
  • Driver Education Information – description of correspondence course approval process and related forms
    • Affidavit (PDF)
    • Driver Education Program Approval for Home-School Students (PDF)
    • Driver Education Correspondence Course Correlation with Virginia Standards of Learning for Driver Education (PDF)
  • Sample Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction (PDF)
  • Frequently asked questions about home instruction (PDF)

Private Schools

• Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE)

Pupil Transportation & Non-public Educational Facilities

A number of Virginia laws concern private school transportation issues including opportunities for public schools to provide transportation for private school students.

• Local school districts may enter into agreements with private schools to provide transportation but are not required to do so. Code of Virginia § 22.1-176.1.
• Parochial and private schools may not hire a school bus driver unless the individual meets the qualifications required of public school bus drivers and presents the necessary documentation. Code of Virginia §22.1-180.
• School buses transporting pupils to and from private or parochial schools, may not discharge pupils in a manner that the child must cross a highway with two or more roadways separated by a physical barrier or unpaved area, or a highway with five or more lanes with the center lane a flush median marked for turning traffic only. Code of Virginia §46.2-918

Resources:

• Don't use 15-passenger vans for school transportation
• Pupil Transportation In Vehicles Not Meeting Federal School Bus Standards (PDF)
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Guideline 17
• School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Choosing the Correct School Bus – Pre-School Transportation
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
• Motor Coach Safety – A Guide to Hiring Charter Transportation
• School Bus Safety for Parents & Students (PDF)

 

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Statistics: Home Schooled Students & Religious Exemptions Reports - the number of students who have obtained an excuse from school attendance by reason of bona fide religious training or belief as well as the number of students whose parents have notified the division superintendent of their intention to provide home instruction.

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