Homeschooling FAQs
Who do I send my NOI (Notice Of Intent) too?
Notice of Intent to homeschool is due annually by Aug 15th. However, if pulling your kid out of public or private school mid-year, a NOI can be submitted at the time of starting homeschooling.
An NOI will include a description of curriculum (list of subjects is fine) and proof that you meet one of the 4 criteria i-iv (a copy of a diploma is generally easiest, option i). You are required by law to supply vaccination records if requested (in other words, you don’t have to send them in with the NOI unless they specifically ask.)
If you live in the Prince William County School District you may submit your NOI by email to pwcshomeinstruction@pwcs.edu, or use their online Home Instruction Notification System, or Postal Mail it to the address listed below.
Prince William County Public Schools
Office of Student Services
P.O. Box 389
Manassas, VA 20108
If you live in the Manassas Park City School District you may submit your NOI by FAX to 703-361-4583, or by postal mail to the address listed below.
Mr. Eric Neff, Deputy Superintendent
Manassas Park City Schools
1 Park Center Court, Suite A
Manassas Park, VA 20111
If you live in Manassas City School District you may submit your NOI by postal mail to the following address:
Sharon Chambers
8700 Centreville Road, Suite 400
Manassas, Virginia 20110
If emailing or mailing NOI, feel free to use this version of the NOI form provided by VA Homeschoolers Organization.
Where can I get information on filling out an NOI?
For basic NOI information see the links provided below:
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers NOI Basics
What do I need to provide for Proof of Progress?
As a general rule, kindergartners do not need to do testing unless they are over the age of 6 by September 30th of the school year. Students must score in or above the 4th stanine or 23rd percentile in a composite score of Math and Language Arts.
There are 3 ways to show proof of progress:
Have your child take a standardized test
A letter of evaluation written by a certified teacher or person with a master’s degree
Send in a transcript or report card from a college, a college distance learning program or home-education correspondence school
Who do I send my End of Year Proof of Progress too?
End of Year Proof of Progress is due annually on Aug 1st.
If you live in the Prince William County School District you may submit your Proof of Progress by email to pwcshomeinstruction@pwcs.edu, or use their online Home Instruction Notification System, or Postal Mail it to the address listed below.
Prince William County Public Schools
Office of Student Services
P.O. Box 389
Manassas, VA 20108
If you live in the Manassas Park City School District you may submit your Proof of Progress by FAX to 703-361-4583, or by postal mail to the address listed below.
Mr. Eric Neff, Deputy Superintendent
Manassas Park City Schools
1 Park Center Court, Suite A
Manassas Park, VA 20111
If you live in Manassas City School District you may submit your Proof of Progress by postal mail to the following address:
Sharon Chambers
8700 Centreville Road, Suite 400
Manassas, Virginia 20110
What do I do once we have processed the legal part of homeschooling?
If your child has been in public school, it is recommended to de-school.
What’s that?
De-school involves doing a relaxed form of learning that doesn’t include curriculum or “school at home.” It can include building with LEGO's, going on field trips, doing science experiments, playing games, watching
documentaries and interesting YouTube videos, and making art - the possibilities are endless.
Why?
De-schooling allows everyone to adjust to homeschooling, and allows you to figure out your child’s learning style. You and your child will need to get used to the idea and rhythem of homeschooling. It’s radically different than public school, and it can take some time adjusting.
How long do we deschool?
That’s completely up to you, but experienced homeschoolers suggest 1month for every year the child has been in school. More if the child was traumatized by school in any way.
What types of curriculum are available to homeschoolers?
Secular curriculum
follow strict guidelines accepted by the scientific community. A quick check for secular curriculum is if they include evolution and climate change. For things like history, secular curriculum will include a less euro-centric worldview and take on an academic look at world religions. Secular language arts will not include bible verses for copy work, for example, or hymns to memorize.
Faith-neutral curriculum
will not have religious content, but they will also not include anything potentially controversial. So neutral curriculum will not teach evolution, for example, or will state that different people believe different things. Neutral curriculum omit much that students need to have a balanced view of the sciences in particular. Neutral curriculum is not secular.
Faith-based curriculum
are the overwhelming dominant kind of curriculum found in the homeschool community. Faith based curriculum are Christian, and they actively include faith materials in their teaching. History lessons will include bible stories, language arts would include bible stories, and copy work would include bible verses and so on. They incorporate a Sunday school kind of lesson into the daily academics, and it is impossible to separate the faith material from the educational material, if that is your goal. Faith based curriculum often tend to be softer (and sometimes may be inaccurate) on the sciences.
I keep hearing about unschooling and Classical Conversations, what do those all mean? How do I even
pick one to try?
There are many different approaches to homeschooling, and they each have a different method.
Unschooling
Montessori
Child-Led Learning
Project-Based Homeschooling
Classical
Waldorf
Charlotte Mason
Eclectic
Online Schooling
School At Home
And more ... it’s mind boggling.
The key thing about these methods is that they all vary in how structured they are. Classical is very structured, with a strict “teaching” style, Child-Led is very unstructured, and unschooling is the least structured. You will need to know how your child works best to pick a method – and most of us take bits from different methods and combine them.
Here’s a helpful link to explain the different methods: Find Your Homeschool Method by Homeschooling.com.
If you chose one and it doesn’t work, then try something else. Homeschooling is often a journey of discovery for the whole family. Don’t be afraid to ditch it if it’s not working.
Where can I go to find out more about homeschooling in Virginia?
There are 2 organizations who provide a wealth of information and knowledge about homeschooling in Virginia and can help you with any questions you may have.
How do I teach Drivers Education to my homeschool teen?
To get started on teaching your teen drivers education at home, go to the DMV site linked below and follow each step. ***Be sure you have already completed the first step of having your teen obtain a Drivers Permit.
Drivers Education Information for Homeschoolers
Important: students in Planning District 8 (counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park): Must complete the 90-Minute Parent Teen Course in-person, and a parent or guardian is required to attend. This can be done through the school system.
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Here is a list of dates provided by Prince William County Schools
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For those in Manassas Park Public School jurisdiction, reach out to them via phone or email to get information.