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How to withdraw from public school to homeschool in Virginia

In Virginia you file a notice and send the school a withdrawal letter. Doing them in the right order avoids absences.

Checked November 2026 against the HSLDA summary for Virginia. Not legal advice: confirm with the source before you file.

Before your child’s last day at school

  1. 01

    Choose your legal option

    Virginia allows more than one way to homeschool: Home instruction; Religious exemption; Certified tutor; Private school at home. Each has its own paperwork, so pick one before you contact the school.

  2. 02

    File the notice your state asks for

    Home instruction: a notice of intent to the superintendent by August 15 every year, with a list of subjects and proof of one parent qualification option. Have it filed (or ready to file) before your child’s last day, and keep a dated copy.

    Write the notice of intent
  3. 03

    Send the school a withdrawal letter

    Tell the principal in writing that your child is leaving to be homeschooled, and the date. Without it, the school may keep marking your child absent. Hand-deliver it or send it by certified mail, and keep a copy.

    Fill in the letter below
  4. 04

    Ask for records and return school property

    Request a copy of the cumulative file (grades, test scores, any IEP or 504 plan, health records). Return the laptop, textbooks and library books so nothing is held against the records.

Virginia school withdrawal letter

Fill in the details and the letter updates on the right. Nothing is uploaded: it stays in this browser.

Children

[Parent name(s)]
[Street address, city, state, ZIP]
[Email · phone]

November 5, 2026

[Principal’s name], Principal
[School name]
[School address]

Re: Withdrawal of [child’s full name] to homeschool

Dear Principal,

Please accept this letter as notice that we are withdrawing the following child from [school name] to be educated at home, in accordance with the laws of the State of Virginia:

  - [Child’s full name, grade]

Please remove our child from the attendance roll as of that date. We have filed the notice that Virginia requires for home education.

We also request a copy of the cumulative school records, including grades, test scores, health records and any IEP or 504 plan, sent to the address above.

Thank you for your help with this transition.

Sincerely,


______________________________
[Parent name(s)]

Keep a dated copy and note how it was delivered. Some districts also have their own withdrawal form.

Your first two weeks at home

  • Start light. A child coming out of a classroom often needs a few days to adjust. Reading together, a library trip and a little math are enough at first.
  • Cover what Virginia asks for. None mandated; you list your subjects.
  • Set the calendar. Virginia sets no minimum days or hours, but a calendar keeps the year on track. Plan the school year.
  • Log attendance from day one. What Virginia expects: keep copies of what you file. Open the attendance tracker.
  • Make a simple weekly schedule. Build it here, print it and put it on the fridge.

Questions about withdrawing in Virginia

Do I need the school’s permission to withdraw my child to homeschool in Virginia?

No. Virginia does not ask the school to approve your decision. What it does ask: home instruction: a notice of intent to the superintendent by August 15 every year, with a list of subjects and proof of one parent qualification option.

Can I withdraw my child in the middle of the school year in Virginia?

Yes. Families start homeschooling at any point in the year. File what Virginia asks before the last day at school: home instruction: a notice of intent to the superintendent by August 15 every year, with a list of subjects and proof of one parent qualification option.

Will my child be marked truant after I withdraw?

Not if the paperwork is in place first. Keep your child in school until the withdrawal letter is delivered and any required notice is filed, and keep dated copies of both. Most truancy problems come from simply stopping attendance without telling anyone.

What happens to my child’s IEP or 504 plan?

Once your child is no longer enrolled, the school’s IEP or 504 plan stops applying the way it did. Some districts still offer services to homeschooled students, for example speech therapy or part-time enrollment, so ask the district what is available before you withdraw. Request a copy of the plan for your own records either way.

How long does it take to start homeschooling in Virginia?

Usually a few days: file the notice, deliver the withdrawal letter, and start. Check whether your district wants its own form, which can add a little time.

The full Virginia requirements

Days, subjects, testing and records are on the Virginia homeschool laws page. This page is not legal advice; read the HSLDA summary for Virginia before you file.

Withdrawing in another state