West Virginia Homeschool Reporting & Compliance: Annual Checklist

Key Takeaways:
– File Notice of Intent once (not annually) with county superintendent
– Annual assessment required; submit results for grades 3, 5, 8, 11 by June 30
– Assessment options: standardized test, portfolio review, SAT/ACT, or other approved method
– Keep assessment documentation for 3 years
– Minimal state oversight; no curriculum approval, home visits, or intensive reporting

West Virginia’s homeschool compliance requirements are straightforward. Unlike states with annual reregistration or curriculum approval, West Virginia uses a simple Notice of Intent system. Once you file, you’re registered. You assess annually, submit results for certain grades, and maintain basic records. That’s the compliance framework.

This checklist helps you stay compliant and organized.

Pre-Homeschooling: Initial Setup

Before you begin homeschooling, handle these one-time items:

Before First Day of Instruction

Gather documentation:
– [ ] Copy of student’s birth certificate
– [ ] Most recent public school records (if transitioning from public school)
– [ ] Parent’s high school diploma or GED certificate (copy is fine)

File Notice of Intent:
– [ ] Contact your county superintendent’s office (special education or homeschool coordinator)
– [ ] Request NOI form (or visit State Board of Education portal if implemented)
– [ ] Complete form with: student name, address, age, grade level
– [ ] Include evidence of parent HS diploma/GED
– [ ] State assurance of annual instruction and assessment
– [ ] Submit at least on or before the date homeschooling begins
– [ ] Request written confirmation of filing
– [ ] Keep copy for your records

Plan assessment method:
– [ ] Decide on assessment approach: standardized test, portfolio review, ACT/SAT, other
– [ ] If portfolio review: find certified teacher reviewer (spring is good time to identify)
– [ ] If standardized test: research options (Iowa, Stanford, CAT, Terra Nova) and register if needed
– [ ] Budget for assessment costs

Notify previous school (if applicable):
– [ ] Provide withdrawal notice to public school
– [ ] Request student records
– [ ] Verify enrollment termination

Year 1: First School Year Checklist

Fall (September)

• [ ] Organize curriculum materials
• [ ] Set up record-keeping system (file folders, Google Drive, etc.)
• [ ] Join CHEWV or WVHEA if desired (for community and resources)
• [ ] Begin curriculum
• [ ] Keep simple curriculum log (what you’re using, how it’s going)

Winter (November-December)

• [ ] Review first semester progress
• [ ] Adjust curriculum if needed
• [ ] Collect work samples if planning portfolio assessment
• [ ] Start thinking about spring assessment

Spring (March-April)

• [ ] Begin preparation for annual assessment (if assessment-ready grade)
• [ ] Organize work samples or test materials
• [ ] If portfolio: contact certified teacher reviewer, present portfolio
• [ ] If standardized test: prepare and schedule testing
• [ ] Take ACT/SAT (if applicable)

Late Spring/Early Summer (May-June)

• [ ] Complete annual assessment by end of school year
• [ ] Collect test scores, portfolio review, or other assessment results
• [ ] For grades 3, 5, 8, 11: prepare submission to county superintendent
• [ ] Submit assessment results to county by June 30 (if applicable)
• [ ] File copies of assessment documentation
• [ ] Plan next year’s curriculum

Keep on file:
– [ ] Assessment results (3-year retention)
– [ ] Copy of NOI filing
– [ ] Curriculum documentation

Annual Compliance Checklist (Years 2+)

Every school year, complete:

Before or At Start of School Year (August)

• [ ] Review NOI status (confirm you’re registered; no annual re-filing required)
• [ ] Plan curriculum
• [ ] Set up record-keeping system (new year’s materials)
• [ ] Plan assessment method

Throughout School Year

• [ ] Maintain curriculum log (what you’re using, progress notes)
• [ ] Collect work samples or plan assessment method
• [ ] No home visits, state inspections, or ongoing reporting required

Spring/Early Summer (April-June)

• [ ] Complete annual assessment (all students)
• [ ] For grades 3, 5, 8, 11: Submit assessment results to county by June 30

Submission process:
– [ ] Compile assessment results (test scores, portfolio review, ACT/SAT, etc.)
– [ ] Contact county superintendent’s office (or use State Board portal if available)
– [ ] Submit as required (email, in-person, or online)
– [ ] Keep confirmation of submission

Year-End Closeout (June-July)

• [ ] File assessment documentation (keep for 3 years)
• [ ] Document annual instruction for your records
• [ ] Review curriculum: what worked, what didn’t?
• [ ] Plan next year’s curriculum
• [ ] Discard old assessment results (if beyond 3-year retention)

Special Situations: Compliance Adjustments

Transferring INTO West Virginia Homeschool

Timeline: Before or at start of instruction

• [ ] File WV Notice of Intent with county superintendent
• [ ] Provide parent HS diploma/GED evidence
• [ ] Include child’s name, age, grade level, address
• [ ] Submit assessment plan (how you’ll assess)
• [ ] Request confirmation of filing

First WV assessment year:
– [ ] Continue assessment method from previous state (or switch if desired)
– [ ] Submit results per WV timeline (grades 3, 5, 8, 11 by June 30)

Transferring OUT OF West Virginia Homeschool

Before leaving:

• [ ] Request confirmation letter of homeschool status from county superintendent
• [ ] Gather assessment records (keep all—you’ll need them in new state)
• [ ] Create transcript draft (especially for high school students)
• [ ] Document curriculum used and instruction completed
• [ ] Request any records from county

In new state:
– [ ] Contact new state’s homeschool authority (requirements differ by state)
– [ ] Understand new state’s requirements
– [ ] Provide assessment records from West Virginia as history

Adding a Second Student to Homeschool

File separate NOI for each student:
– [ ] Each student gets their own Notice of Intent
– [ ] Each must have individual assessment
– [ ] Each must meet grade-level assessment requirements separately

Multiple Children, Different Grades

• [ ] NOI filed once per student
• [ ] Annual assessment required for all students
• [ ] Assessment submission required only for grades 3, 5, 8, 11
• [ ] Other grades: assess annually but no submission required

Example:
– Grade 2: assess annually (no submission required)
– Grade 3: assess and submit by June 30
– Grade 5: assess and submit by June 30
– Grade 8: assess and submit by June 30

High School (Grades 9-12)

Annual assessment:
– [ ] Continue annual assessment for grades 9, 10, 11, 12
– [ ] Submit results for grade 11 by June 30

High school transcript building:
– [ ] Maintain detailed course records (subject, dates, grade, credits)
– [ ] Collect work samples showing rigor
– [ ] Document test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, CLEP if applicable)
– [ ] Track dual enrollment transcripts (if applicable)
– [ ] Document awards, service, activities

Graduation:
– [ ] Create final transcript (you issue this)
– [ ] Issue diploma (you issue this)
– [ ] No state approval required; parent-issued diploma is legal

Assessment Submission Details

What to submit (for grades 3, 5, 8, 11):

If using standardized test:
– [ ] Test score report (provided by test administrator)

If using portfolio review:
– [ ] Written narrative assessment by certified teacher
– [ ] Include: student name, grade, school year, teacher signature, date

If using ACT/SAT:
– [ ] Score report

If using other approved assessment:
– [ ] Whatever documentation the assessment provides

Submission details:
– [ ] Due: by June 30 of school year assessment is required
– [ ] To: County superintendent’s office
– [ ] Method: Email, in-person, or online portal (depending on county/state)
– [ ] Keep copy for your records

Contact information:
– [ ] Contact your county superintendent’s office to confirm submission method
– [ ] Many counties now use State Board of Education online portal
– [ ] Ask for confirmation once submitted

Documentation Retention

Keep for 3 years (state requirement):
– [ ] Annual assessment results (all grades, all years)
– [ ] Copy of NOI filing and confirmation

Keep indefinitely (for your reference):
– [ ] Curriculum records and logs
– [ ] High school transcripts and work samples
– [ ] Test scores (SAT, ACT, AP, CLEP)
– [ ] Dual enrollment transcripts
– [ ] Awards and recognition

Can discard after 3 years:
– [ ] Old assessment results beyond 3-year window
– [ ] Year-to-year curriculum notes (once planning for next year complete)

Common Compliance Questions

Q: Do I have to re-file NOI annually?
A: No. File once; you’re registered. No annual re-filing.

Q: What if I move to a different county in West Virginia?
A: Notify new county superintendent, provide NOI documentation, and continue.

Q: Can the state do home visits?
A: Only with probable cause and court order. Random or administrative visits are not permitted.

Q: What if I miss the June 30 assessment deadline?
A: Contact your county superintendent. Late submissions may be accepted. Avoid regular delays by planning assessment in advance.

Q: Do I need to report curriculum choices?
A: No. Curriculum approval is not required. You choose curriculum without state review.

Q: What if I’m questioned about instruction?
A: Your assessment documentation, curriculum records, and student work samples demonstrate instruction. The state burden is high to challenge a homeschool with documented assessments.

Compliance Made Simple

West Virginia’s compliance framework is:
1. File NOI (once)
2. Assess annually (all students)
3. Submit certain grades (3, 5, 8, 11 by June 30)
4. Keep records (3 years)

Beyond this, there’s minimal state oversight. No curriculum approval, no home visits (without court order), no ongoing reporting.

This is by design. West Virginia trusts homeschooling families. In exchange, you maintain basic compliance and assessment. It’s a fair deal.