Moving to Virginia....WWYD?

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by nkdent, Jan 3, 2007.

  1. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    Vantage and Natalie,
    You are right, all the people I have come across in VA that are "in charge" of homeschooling are really nice and friendly and very helpful. In fact it was the president of the homeschool board that helped me word all my letters. She was very nice.
    I'm going to send you that email now.
    Kim R
     
  2. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    My dh says that I didn't need that comma after the word year in my first post. I stand corrected. LOL
    Kim R
     
  3. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    Kim, who is in charge of homeschooling in VA? I always thought it was the state that was in charge in all states. I never knew you had to get permission to homeschool in VA. I always thought from what I have read that an intent to homeschool had to be submitted but that is not the same as getting permission, basically you are telling them you are homeschooling, not asking permission. Wow! That is different from most states. I have never heard of this before.


    I think in the end, regardless what road you take, you should contact HSLDA. They know all the laws and they stand in up in court. In the long run you do not want to be doing something illegal. We can all give you advice but I would rather be safe then sorry.
    Good luck!
    Let us know what you come up with.
    Patty
     
  4. Jennifer R

    Jennifer R Active Member

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    I'm not sure either, but I would figure you have to go with the school system where you are assigned. My sis is an AF wife and is currently hsing my nephew in NY State. They really have to jump through hoops. Before that they were stationed at Bolling for 5 years but she was able to have her son in a real good Christian school. They were in DC on 9/11 and that actually had a hand in her ending up hsing when they ended up "stationed" at Cornell College. I am prior military my ownself and know how hard the moves can be on a family.
     
  5. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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  6. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    Oops!:oops:
    This is the post I meant to quote in my previous post.
    Sorry!
    Patty
     
  7. Mary68

    Mary68 New Member

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    I live in Va and it is not so hard...

    If you ar not under religious exemption, there are four ways to do the hsing on the notice of intent form.

    First though, where are you going? Norfolk, Va Beach or Yorktown? ( I am from Norfolk, and lived in Va Beach. I also homeschooled in both places.)

    You need to fill out a notice of intent to homeschool. It is a basic form, not too crazy. You can get one from the website here:

    http://www.heav.org/thelaw/intent/index.html

    It is in pdf format but you can print it out and use it. You can put both children on the same form.

    The way that I did the schooling before, when my kids were younger, is I filled out the notice of intent and wrote a brief letter explaining a rough outline of what would be covered. Also, print out the Va SOL requirements if you are not going through a pre-made curriculum.

    If you have that as your guide, they generally don't do a lot of asking questions. Provide a copy of your hs diploma as well.

    As far as a premade curriculum, such as the Sonlight you are using, I would bring in the contract or invoice to show what you are using. You don't need to bring in every book, etc.

    It takes about a week to get the approval letter. In Va Beach, the lady (forget her name) is really sweet and will walk you through the form. In Norfolk, they need to be reminded to get to you so that you have your letter. Unfortunately, in Va you do have a bit of unwanted "help" from the local schools. They try their best to get kids in school. It is all about the funding.

    I am in Central Va now, in Halifax County. It was easier to get approval in Va Beach than here, but I basically let them know that I know the HS law and I have the right to educate my children.

    As far as the religious exemption.. if you are asked for a meeting, you can say that all info needed was in your letter. The religious exemption is a very huge step to take. It excludes your children from compulsory attendence laws in the state permanently.

    If you have any questions that I might be able to help with, just zip me an email. peterbenma@yahoo.com

    Good luck with your move!

    Maryelizabeth
     
  8. sloan127

    sloan127 Active Member

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    I don't know how old your twins are but I have always thought that kids in NC didn't have to be in school until they are seven years old. Do you know if Va. has a law like that? If you are only going to be there 6 months maybe you don't have to put them in school at all and can just keep doing what you are doing now. I don't know. My youngest was still six when she was in first grade. Just a thought. Beth
     
  9. Emma's#1fan

    Emma's#1fan Active Member

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    Maryelizabeth, I am confussed!:D :D
    Will you please explain to me what you mean when you said, "It was easier to get approval in Va Beach than here, but I basically let them know that I know the HS law and I have the right to educate my children."
    I think I am confussing the approval part with your right to HS."
    Did my question make sense?
    I guess I should ask, what are you getting approval for if you have a right to homeschool?
    The only reason I am interested is because I can't stand not understanding things and this has me stumped.:lol:
    Thanks in advance.
    Patty
     
  10. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Patty, often officials try to "bully" you. They did that to a friend of mine here in Ohio a few years back. She was practically in tears, because of all the hoops they wanted her to jump through. Another woman that visited here from a small Ohio town was told by the supervisor that he would no longer accept a portfolio evaluation of her children, because the evaluator was too lenient!!! But if you know the law, you can firmly but politely tell them that they are exceeding their authority, and you will obey the LAW, not some beurocrat that has too high an opinion of himself. (Oh, I DID say politely! ;) Sorry!) And, of course, if they start trying to throw their weight around, there's always HSLDA to take them down a few notches!
     
  11. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    Hi All,
    Maybe I confused some out here in my trying to help. The state is in control of the laws, but the school board office in each county is the one who approves you (the one I quoted as being "in charge") It's not a big deal, just you have to send in a letter of intent and a list of books you are using. Someone will zip you out a letter of approval from that office, in my case it was Dr. Rutherford, the president of the homeschool office in Montgomery County. She was also the one who told me the exact words to use in that first letter of intent. Piece of cake really. At the end of the year you either need to send a grade report or portfolio. One year though, I sent in my letter of intent in August, and didn't get my approval letter until January of the next year. This year it took less than a week to get it. Apparently it is different in each county a little bit here. Maybe my county is easier than others.

    Maryelizabeth you explained things much better than I did, good job!!! Either way Natalie, if you need my help either email me or call. I'll help all I can.

    Kim R
     
  12. Kim R

    Kim R New Member

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    Patty,
    We just have to fill out a couple of forms to play along and follow the laws here. They cannot really disapprove us, because it is our right to homeschool our children. Some counties just make it harder than others in their requirements. A friend of my dh's homeschooled his boys for one year and he has to keep the books he used until they finish school even though they are now back in ps. We do have the right to homeschool, we are just following the laws and sending in that letter of intent and a list of books we will be using basically. I don't personally know of anyone that has been told that they cannot homeschool in VA. I can see from all the responses why VA seems like a hard state now. Maybe it is just my attitude that makes it easy for me. They really can't say no, and all I have to do is send in a couple of sheets of paper to satisfy them, life is good in my opinion.

    Anyway, have a good day, and I hope I didn't make this clear as mud LOL.
    Kim R
     
  13. KrisRV

    KrisRV New Member

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    Kim, I understood what you were saying. You don't kiss anyones behind, you do what you want to do and if they don't like it, they can fly a kite. GOT IT. Sounds wonderful to me and easy. Thanks. Oh, you do send in a few papers to make them happy and they leave you alone. Good job. Sounds easy to me.
     
  14. Ava Rose

    Ava Rose New Member

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    I have to send in a lesson plan and stuff like that here in Ohio. I pretty much just use a scope and sequence of one of the curriculums I use. I have never had a problem. Some states act like they need more than they do. Where I live, the homeschool board is notorious for making things difficult and trying to ask for more information than is legal. There are articles about this online. Funny though, that was how I heard how bad my area was. lol. I never had any problems. Other homeschoolers I know have not had problems either. I only do the minimum the state requires for me to homeschool. I don't even give my phone number---though my area tried to say it was requried---it isn't. Know the law...follow the law...in spite of what the state says because they know the law also---so they know they are being jerks. They are just upset because that is more money their school is loosing. They get money based on the number of kids. My homeschool office toyed with the idea of requiring homeschoolers to have foreign language at the school. That was an attempt to count homeschoolers into their budget. Not legal and didn't happen. So, be careful and KNOW the law, don't be afraid of it. Right now, we still have the power...if you don't use it we will loose it. We may loose it anyway, sadly enough.
     
  15. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Ava, I had someone from the district calll me this year, wanting to know what grade my cildren were in. "I'm sorry, the law doesn't require me to give you that information...." Boy, was she irritatated with me!!! "I can't process this form without that information!!!" "Yes you can. I'm not required to give you that information." "Well, EVERYONE ELSE I've talked with are willing to give it to me!!!" "That's fine for them. It's not required by law, and I chose NOT to give it to you." "Well then, I can't process your paperwork, and it just won't get done!!!" "Fine. Then YOU will be the one breaking the law, not me."
     
  16. Hoosier Mama

    Hoosier Mama New Member

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    I am so glad Indiana doesn't require anything but attendance keeping. I would be a nervous wreck wondering if I am keeping up with everything they way they want me to! I guess the more experience you have the easier it becomes, but.....agh!
     
  17. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    Wow, I understand it as that here in California my tax money goes to my local school regardless of if my kid is involved.. thats one of my pet peives , do you all operate under a voucher system or anything?
    Thanks for answering, I am just curious how it all works,
     
  18. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Vouchers is a big fight in Ohio right now. Instead of vouchers, I'd be happy for a tax credit. If we were to get voucher money, I'd be afraid they'd try to hold us "accountable" to their standards. Keep in mind that people without children also pay taxes to the schools!

    Also, in Ohio, the local district are required to mail out our letter saying we're excused from compulsary education within a certain number of days after recieving our notification.
     
  19. Deena

    Deena New Member

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    Here, I think, when you sign the Letter of Intent to Homeschool, it puts you in a district area (from your address), and the school gets the credit anyway. I'd LIKE to get the credit, but I agree about the vouchers---I don't want to be beholden to anyone!
     
  20. timkelmom

    timkelmom New Member

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    Ava is right, know your laws. However, they do get money for our kids. Don't forget the taxes you pay that go towards a school system you don't participate in, plus in GA my kids are counted as students who attend school in our county and state and the school system get federal money every year based on the number of students who are currently enrolled in school. Homeschooling students are included in that count.

    I am pleased that I only have to provide attendance and testing every 3 years.

    I fax in my attendance from all over the country, and they have never given me a hard time. They could as I list my GA address as where our homeschool is based and rarely teach from there.

    Our superintendant of schools is my veterinarian and he know all about our lifstyle and applauds what we do, so I know it's not a problem.

    I really hope you get the answers you need.
     

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