Virginia pagan homeschoolers?

[brymble]

I have applied for membership in an intentional community in Virginia. We are still going through the first stages of the lengthy visitation/approval process, but I am considering Virginia as a possible place for relocation regardless of whether or not we get accepted into the community.

I would like to hear if there are other homeschoolers here who are or were in the state of Virginia. Specifically, I'm interested to know if anyone homeschools under option 2, the religious exemption.

I have not made a decision yet, I am not posting this to say "I am going to be homeschooling my kids in Virginia" (so please don't PM me offers to socialize the kids with yours yet, lol!) But knowing what is possible under the state requirements may help influence that decision.

(I've also considered staying in NY and moving to the Ithaca area which has the wonderful Northern Light Learning Center homeschool co-op, and am considering the Raliegh/Chapell Hill area of North Carolina as well.)

Thanks.

[Faol-chù]

Just wanted you to know that I just saw your post, and I intend to respond...

probably tomorrow...I'm too frazzled and pressed at the moment, but I will get back to you! lol..

[KaidaMidnight]

We live in Va Beach, but my boys are still too young to be considered "homeschooled". Not til next year. :) Good luck !

[Brónach Druid]

I live in Virginia, but I did not homeschool my children. I am sure you would have no problems using religious exemption as a reason for homeschooling as that is the main reason most children in this state are homeschooled. Here are two links you may find helpful.
http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/support/
http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/guide/religious_exemption.asp

[Faol-chù]

I live in Virginia, but I did not homeschool my children. I am sure you would have no problems using religious exemption as a reason for homeschooling as that is the main reason most children in this state are homeschooled. Here are two links you may find helpful.
http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/support/
http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/guide/religious_exemption.asp

While it may be true that religion is what led a great number of people in this state to homeschool, the vast majority have NOT filed a religious exemption. It's nice to have religious exemption as your ace in the hole, should you find that the particular county you are dealing with is just going to be difficult, though. If you have a religious exemption, you are exempt from ever having to deal with the state or notify anybody ever again...

If you do not choose to file religious exemption....If you have a high school diploma or above, you can provide the county (or city) school board with a copy of it, and something you are going to use for math and language arts, and they will pretty much be happy. (That's my experience...though I understand the county where I live is very easy to get along with, compared to some.) At the end of the year, some sort of evaluation is required...either a portfolio evaluation by someone deemed 'qualified' or a CAT (or other approved test), with the results provided to them to show that the child is, in fact, progressing from year to year. (The CAT test, if you have never used it, is NOT really challenging, but satisfies the state.)

Even if you do NOT have a HS diploma or above, you can still homeschool, as long as you explain why you think you are qualified to do so.

The site provided by Brónach Druid is a great one...There is even a section which provides text of and discusses the Virginia Homeschooling Laws....here:

http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/law/

[mystyheart]

I'm a homeschool mom in Virginia. The resources shared in this thread are very good.