Legal / Legislative Updates

School officials slow to implement new law

Virginia families should be alert during this transitional year, as knowledge of the many recent improvements in the state homeschool law is trickling down to local officials.

In Franklin County, for example, the coordinator of assessments and grants recently sent a Home School Legal Defense Association member family a notice of intent form which was partly, but not fully, up-to-date. The form correctly stated that for families operating under Homeschool Option 1, a parent must hold a high school or college diploma.

However, for families operating under Homeschool Option 4, the form cited obsolete language in stating that the Standards of Learning (SOLs) for math and language arts must be included in the curriculum and “also” that the parents must provide evidence of their ability to provide an education for their children. The also should have been or.

HSLDA Attorney Scott Woodruff called the official and pointed out the obsolete wording. Immediately acknowledging that the form was erroneous, the official said she would correct it to clarify that Option 4 families have the choice of either including the SOLs or providing evidence that the parent can provide an adequate education.

Virginia families worked hard to obtain improvements in the homeschool law this year. Now we must stay vigilant to protect them.