Homeschool Law and Curriculum in Virginia

[autumn01]

Hello Everyone,

We are a Montessori homeschooling family in Virginia. We are currently homeschooling our preschoolers, who will start Kindergarten in the Fall of this year, 2012.I am doing everything I can to be able to continue teaching from the Montessori method, but am nervous and unsure about what exactly Virginia requires for Homeschool families curriculum wise. I was just reading over the Homeschool law in Virginia on this thread but still have a few concerns/questions. I have a high school degree, and am a few classes away from a two year Early Childhood Degree. I also have an extensive work history with children. I have found a few informal Montessor curriculums online, mostly written by homeschooling families, that I could use as guides along with guides about what your Kindergartner should know. I also have several Montessori Guide books as well as Early Childhood text books. Is all this sufficient material to show we are following a curriculum? Is only having a high school degree enough for me to not have to follow a boxed curriculum?

[elliemaejune]

Since you are working on a degree in education, you should understand that the word "curriculum" does not mean "that stack of books there." Also, the law doesn't say you have to "follow a curriculum."


IOW, you do not provide the titles or the publishers of the instructional materials you are using. The law says, "Parents must submit a 'description of curriculum,' which is a list of the subjects they intend to teach. Families are not required to describe the content of the individual courses." You list the subjects you intend to teach: reading, grammar, composition, spelling, early American history, life science, etc.

The law says one of the options is that you have a high school diploma. The end.

Here's HSLDA's legal analysis of Virginia law.

[autumn01]

Thank you for the link and your response. I am confused about item 6. What things would make your 'curriculum' not be approved? Interesting.

[elliemaejune]

Well, the law doesn't say that your curriculum must be approved (#3).

Read #4 carefully.

[autumn01]

Thank you. I did re-read that, and I had misunderstood. Looks like we're good to go

[elliemaejune]

Hooray!!!