Overview
West Virginia requires a one-time Notice of Intent to the county superintendent, instruction in five core subjects, and an annual academic assessment with results reported to the county in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11. State law also recognizes qualifying homeschool diplomas.
Families may use Alabama Church School for curriculum and academic services, but enrollment with an outside curriculum provider does not replace West Virginia's Notice of Intent and annual assessment requirements.
Notice of Intent
Upon beginning home instruction, the parent must provide a one-time Notice of Intent to the county superintendent or county board.
The notice includes the name, address, and age of each compulsory-school-age child and an assurance that instruction will be provided in the required subjects.
If the child is enrolled in public school, the notice must be provided on or before the date home instruction begins.
When moving to a new West Virginia county, the parent notifies the previous county and submits a new notice in the new county. The superintendent must also be notified when home instruction ends for a compulsory-age child.
Instructional Days and Hours
West Virginia does not require a set homeschool instructional year or a specific number of daily instructional hours.
Required Subjects
Home instruction must include reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Instructor Qualifications
The person providing home instruction must provide evidence of at least one of the following:
• A high school diploma or equivalent • A qualifying postsecondary degree or certificate
Annual Academic Assessment
The student must receive an academic assessment every year.
West Virginia law provides several assessment methods, including nationally normed standardized achievement testing, participation in the state public-school testing program, and other lawful assessment alternatives.
For nationally normed testing, the assessment covers reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Assessment Reporting
Parents must submit the required academic-assessment results to the county superintendent in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30 of the year in which the assessment is administered.
Attendance and Records
West Virginia does not require routine homeschool attendance reports or grades to be filed with the county.
Families should maintain coursework, grades, annual assessments, transcripts, and graduation records.
Curriculum Freedom
West Virginia does not prescribe a specific homeschool curriculum. Parents may choose any curriculum they consider appropriate so long as instruction includes the required subject areas.
Graduation and Diploma
West Virginia expressly allows the person administering a secondary home education program to issue a diploma to a student who completes that program.
State law provides that a qualifying homeschool diploma is legally sufficient to demonstrate that the individual has a high school diploma or equivalent, and West Virginia state agencies and institutions of higher education may not treat a person differently solely because the diploma came from a homeschool.
Alabama Church School Services for West Virginia Families
West Virginia families may choose Alabama Church School for complete curriculum, academic records, report cards, transcripts, diplomas, graduation documentation, attendance resources, and educational support.
Enrollment with Alabama Church School does not replace the parent's one-time West Virginia Notice of Intent, instructor-qualification requirement, annual assessment obligation, or required reporting of assessment results in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11.
West Virginia Homeschool Law References
- W. Va. Code § 18-8-1 — Compulsory Attendance and Home Instruction
- W. Va. Code § 18-8-12 — Home School Diplomas
- West Virginia Department of Education — Homeschool State Code
- West Virginia Department of Education — Assessments for Nonpublic and Homeschool Students
Families should review current state law and official education-agency guidance when beginning homeschooling because procedures, deadlines, and program requirements can change.
How Alabama Church School supports West Virginia families
ACS does not replace your state's homeschool requirements — it gives families complete curriculum, academic records, transcripts, diplomas, and documentation while you continue satisfying West Virginia law.
Nearby state homeschool guides
Families moving to or from West Virginia often review these states next.