West Virginia Homeschooling Information

Homeschooling in West Virginia

Need some help educating yourself about homeschooling in West Virginia? We hope this page will help you by providing others' experiences with homeschooling. Time4Learning has recruited a state rep from West Virginia to help new homeschoolers in the state get started. Her role is to help you connect with online and local West Virginia homeschool resources.

If you have questions or comments about homeschooling in West Virginia, check out our homeschooling tools and resources or visit our online West Virginia support group.

To find out more about the legal requirements for homeschooling in West Virginia, articles, and state-specific resources, you can also visit one of these sites:

• West Virginia WESTEST Test Prep resource page
• The Homeschool Mom's West Virginia support page
• Home Education in West Virginia by Ann Zeise
• Homeschool World West Virginia support groups

Legal disclaimer: This section is one family's story and how they meet the mandatory homeschooling requirements in West Virginia. It is not intended and should not be used as definitive legal advice. In most states, parents find a variety of legal methods to pursue the educational approach that they prefer for their child.

West Virginia Homeschool Laws

Families choosing to homeschool their children in West Virginia may do so via either "notice" or "approval." The notice option involves simply filing a notice that you are planning to provide home instruction and submitting an annual assessment of each child's progress (a portfolio of child's work, standardized test scores, or an approved outside assessment). The approval option does not require standardized testing, but is regulated by the school board who oversees the homeschool's curriculum, attendance, instructional time, and progress.

West Virginia Homeschool Resources

Both new and veteran homeschoolers can benefit from the wealth of West Virginia homeschool resources available. West Virginia has an annual homeschool conference, and a statewide organization, WVHEA, specifically designed to support homeschoolers in the state. Most counties in West Virginia also have at least one local support group for homeschoolers as well. We've listed a few of the starting points for finding out more about homeschooling resources in West Virginia:

• WVhomeschool– Mailing list for those homeschooling or thinking about homeschooling in West Virginia
• About Homeschooling in West Virginia- A one-stop source for homeschooling in West Virginia
• West Virginia – Jon's Homeschool resources– Listing of support groups and email lists for West Virginia homeschoolers
• Christian Home Educators of West Virginia– Ministry to support Christian homeschoolers in the state
• The Homeschool Mom's WV page– Various West Virginia homeschool resources

The software appealed to me because you can change the grade level of their instruction, to customize it for your child's needs.

1st graders learn about "parts of a whole"
from Sally and Pong in 'The Art of
Fractions' lesson.

Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

West Virginia homeschool law includes the freedom for families to pick and choose their own curriculum based on what works best for their child. However, families new to homeschooling quickly discover a dizzying array of choices when it comes to selecting homeschool curriculum. There is no more popular discussion among homeschoolers on the web than the pros and cons of various homeschool programs. After sifting through the homeschool curriculum reviews, most parents end up mixing and matching homeschool programs trying to create the best match for their child.

Time4Learning's experience shows that there is no single, best homeschool material. Rather than feeling torn between homeschool resources, parents should select a diverse blend of materials and activities.

For families with more than one child, choosing a homeschool program can be more problematic. What works for one child may not work for another. What works for one subject may not work on the next. What works one year, may fall flat the very next year.

Some of the features that make Time4Learning so successful include:

• Time4Learning appeals to a wide range of learning styles. Our online learning materials are especially well-suited to children who are visual or kinesthetic learners. These children can take advantage of Time4Learning's interactive, multi-media materials.
• Children like using the computer to learn. It's a convenient, interactive homeschool resource that provides a welcome change each day to paper-and-pencil workbooks and textbook-based lessons.
• Parents like that it tracks progress and helps children advance by clearly presenting and reinforcing each lesson.
• Time4Learning's self-paced, modularized lesson plans allow you to move forward and back through the materials whenever you want. You can skip lessons that teach concepts your child has already mastered and repeat those he or she has not. The choice is yours. With Time4Learning, you are always in control.

Time4Learning is proven effective with homeschoolers, has a low monthly price, is easy-to-use, and provides a money-back guarantee so you can make sure that it works for your children!

Sign up for Time4Learning as part of your overall homeschool program.

If you have any more questions or comments about homeschooling in West Virginia, head over to the West Virginia Parents Forum.

Some Helpful Tools and Resources

Welcome to Homeschooling Guide - Are you new to homeschooling? This guide was written by seasoned homeschoolers to answer some of the difficult questions new families often struggle with.

Curriculum Lesson Plans - An overview of the number of lessons that are included for each grade and subject. All students have access to at least 2 (and in most cases 3) grade levels of curriculum for each subject, so they can move ahead or review at their own pace.

Homeschool Portfolio Information - Answers common questions about homeschool portfolios and evaluations. It includes tips on organization methods, what to include and how Time4Learning can be used as part of your homeschool portfolio.

The Lesson Activity Finder - One of the many helpful tools that Time4Learning offers its members. The activity finder is a shortcut that makes it easy for parents to preview lessons or find extra practice for their child. You can visit our hints and help section for more information about the activity finder.

Lesson Planning Worksheet - Wondering how many lessons to have your child do each day? Estimate the number of activities per day using this easy to use, printable worksheet.

Online Parent's Forum - Reach out to homeschoolers in your area, join discussions, ask questions and trade ideas on our online community of homeschooling parents. Having the support of seasoned homeschoolers can really help make your homeschooling journey a success.

Sign up for Time4Learning and gain access to a variety of educational materials, which will engage and challenge your child to succeed. Make Time4Learning a part of your children's homeschool resources.

I want to Learn More about Time4Learning's homeschool curriculum or how to use the program for afterschool enrichment.