Home instruction is a choice by the parent to home school their child; wherein, the parent accepts all financial responsibility for the child’s curriculum and tutorial needs. This action limits the involvement of the public school and the parent’s accessibility to certain school resources, such as teachers, IEP support and curriculum.

In addition, the student is not eligible to participate in any school sponsored sport programs (unless enrolled in the RCPSOnline Academy). Home instruction should not be confused with homebound, which is an educational service provided by the public school based on medical necessity presented by the student.

ENROLLMENT STEPS

1. Decide what curriculum you will use. RCPS cannot recommend curriculum. Please reach out to your local resources under the Home Instruction links on our website.

2. Complete the Notice of Intent (NOI) and attach the documentation required for approval.

• Choose only ONE of the options below:
  • Option 1: Attach a copy of high school diploma or higher credential
  • Option 2: Attach a copy of a teaching license or a statement to this effect from the Virginia Department of Education
  • Option 3: Attach a letter of acceptance or proof of enrollment letter that includes the name and address of the school and a list of subjects to be studied for the coming school year if the child is enrolled in a correspondence course or distance learning program.
  • Option 4: Attach a statement which describes why you are able to provide an adequate education for you child(ren).
  • Attach a description of the curriculum, limited to a list of subjects to be studied during the coming school year no matter which option is chosen.

3. Mail your NOI and supporting documentation to:

Roanoke County Public Schools
Attn: Home Instruction
5937 Cove Rd NW
Roanoke, VA 24019

4.  Submit Evidence of Progress by August 1st of each year. (See below for more information.)

5.  Submit Notice of Intent for the upcoming year by August 15th of each year.

Section 22.1-254.1 (C) of the Code of Virginia requires that a parent who provides home instruction demonstrate evidence of progress for their student to the division superintendent by August 1 of each applicable year using one of the following options:

(i) evidence that the child has attained a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test, or an equivalent score on the ACT, SAT, or PSAT test or

(ii) an evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress, including but not limited to:

a. an evaluation letter from a person licensed to teach in any state, or a person with a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline, having knowledge of the child's academic progress, stating that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress or

b. a report card or transcript from an institution of higher education, college distance learning program, or home-education correspondence school.

Children who are under the age of six as of September 30 of the school year are exempt from the testing requirements.

Below are suggestions to assist you in securing an appropriate testing instrument, however, you are not limited to those listed below:

California Achievement Test (CAT)
Christian Liberty Academy
502 W. Euclid Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Telephone: (847) 259-4444
Website: www.christianlibertypress.com

Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)
Tests of Achievement and Proficiency (TAP)
Stanford Achievement Test (grades K-8)
Test of Academic Skills (TASK) (Stanford's test for grades 9-12)
Bob Jones University Press
Greenville, SC 29614
Telephone: (800) 845-5731
Website: www.bjup.com