Home Instruction

As excerpted and summarized from the Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE) Home Instruction Manual and Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia: 

These provisions impact any home-schooled student who wishes to transfer back to a public school and wants to receive credit for courses taken while home schooled.

Section 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia (Standard 4 of the Standards of Quality) requires local school boards to make provisions for students who transfer between secondary schools and from nonpublic schools or from home instruction as outlined in the SOA.  

Students transferring in grades K-8:  

1. Students receive recognition for all grade-level work completed at other Virginia public schools, including Virtual Virginia and state-operated programs, or nonpublic schools accredited by one of the approved accrediting constituent members of the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE). 
2. The academic record of students transferring from all other schools shall be evaluated to determine appropriate grade placement in accordance with policies adopted by the local school board.  (8VAC20-132-60.A) 

Students transferring in grades 9-12: 

1. Students receive transfer credits toward graduation received from other Virginia public schools and Virginia nonpublic schools accredited by one of the approved accrediting constituent members of the VCPE.  (8VAC20-132-60.D) 
2. Students receive transfer credits from Virginia’s virtual learning program, Virtual Virginia, and state-operated programs. 
3. When a student transfers from a nonpublic school that is not accredited by a constituent member of the VCPE, or in the case of some students who have received home instruction, the receiving school may: 
   1. Use the results of any nationally-normed standardized content-specific test already taken by the student as a basis for awarding credit.  Schools should refrain from using teacher-made tests because the transferring student has not been provided with the specific instruction for these tests that was made available at the receiving school. 
   2. Review course descriptions, lesson plans, tests, or other appropriate documentation from the student’s previous school when the courses for which the student received credit can be substituted for courses for which the receiving school gives standard credit, and the school from which the child transfers certifies that the courses for which credit is given meet the requirements of 8VAC20-132-110 (140 clock hours of instruction).  

Parents who wish to transfer students from home instruction to a public school should contact the local school division for information about the transfer process. 

For questions about awarding a Virginia High School Diploma, please see the next section. 

If your child is transferring to King George High School from home instruction, please contact the Office of Student and Family Services for additional information on the Transfer Credit Review process. 

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) establishes the requirements for a Virginia high school diploma. Students must be enrolled full-time in a public school in Virginia to be a candidate for a Virginia high school diploma. Students must earn a certain number of Standard Credits and Verified Credits. 

• Standard Credits - Standard Credits are earned when a student successfully completes a required course in a specific content area. 
• Verified Credits - In some courses, students have to "verify" that they have mastered the content by taking an assessment. In most cases, this is an end-of-course (EOC) SOL test. VDOE has also approved Substitute Tests that a student can take to demonstrate mastery after earning a Standard Credit. 

The Virginia Department of Education awards seven different honorary diploma seals to students who have met specific criteria in their coursework. Two seals require additional assessments to demonstrate mastery. 

• Seal of Biliteracy - Pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English, reading, and writing at the proficient or higher level and demonstrate proficiency at the intermediate-mid level or higher in one or more languages other than English as demonstrated through a VDOE approved assessment. Remote-proctored assessments are acceptable so long as they follow test security protocols.  Parent-proctored versions are not accepted. Refer to Evidence of Proficiency (Excel) for a full list of assessment options. The list of approved assessments is reviewed and updated each school year.  

• Career and Technical Education Seal - Students must complete a prescribed sequence of CTE courses with a "B" or better or pass a CTE examination that confers certification from a recognized industry or acquire a professional license in a CTE field from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Visit The Path to Industry Certification for the current approved licenses and examinations.

Section 22.1-253.13:2.N of the Code of Virginia allows (but does not require) school boards to permit part-time attendance of children receiving home instruction or enrolled in non-public schools under the provisions of § 22.1-254.1 of the Code of Virginia.

KGCS does permit home instruction and non-public school students to apply for part-time enrollment. Students who have been approved under Religious Exemption are not eligible to participate in any testing opportunities or to enroll as a part-time student with King George County Public Schools. 

If you are a current KGCS student and you wish to withdraw to home instruction and enroll as a part-time student, you must withdraw to home instruction first by submitting your Notice of Intent and then apply for part-time enrollment. Children may not remain enrolled in school, attend class, or participate in school activities during the application process. Schools/teachers do not have the authority to enroll students on a part-time basis. Please contact this office to begin the application process.

Deadlines: Students in grades K-8 must apply before July 15 for the upcoming school year. Students in grades 9-12 must apply before July 15 for the Fall semester and before December 1 for the Spring Semester. Applications received after the deadline and through the first week of school may be considered as space and resources allow. Decisions are based in part on available resources and class sizes. Therefore, part-time applications may not receive acceptances until the week prior to the start of the semester. 

Part-time students enrolled in courses with SOL tests are required to take these tests under the same regulations as full time students. 

In addition, all private school and home school students in grades 9-12 who live in King George County and who are otherwise eligible for membership in a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (JROTC) unit maintained by a secondary school but for their lack of enrollment in the division, are eligible to apply for part-time enrollment in JROTC at King George High School. 

Part-time enrolled students who are members in the division’s JROTC units must comply with behavioral, disciplinary, attendance and other rules applicable to all students, including rules governing the use of the division’s computer systems. If a student fails to comply, the school may withhold credit and/or terminate the student's participation in addition to taking any disciplinary action that would be taken against a full-time student for similar conduct.

If you would like to apply for part-time enrollment, please contact the Office of Student and Family Services for an application. 

By the Code of Virginia 22.1-254.1 (excerpt)

In the event that evidence of progress as required in this subsection is not provided by the parent, the home instruction program for that child may be placed on probation for one year. Parents shall file with the division superintendent evidence of their ability to provide an adequate education for their child in compliance with subsection A and a remediation plan for the probationary year which indicates their program is designed to address any educational deficiency. Upon acceptance of such evidence and plan by the division superintendent, the home instruction may continue for one probationary year. If the remediation plan and evidence are not accepted or the required evidence of progress is not provided by August 1 following the probationary year, home instruction shall cease and the parent shall make other arrangements for the education of the child which comply with § Compulsory Attendance 22.1-254.

Religious Exemption is not the same as home instruction. There are different procedures for each. Religious Exemption is a request that your child be released from compulsory school attendance through his/her eighteenth birthday. 

Parents may or may not elect to provide instruction during this time period. Proof of academic progress is not submitted. Students who have been exempt are not eligible to participate in any testing opportunities or to enroll as a part-time student with King George County Public Schools.

KGCS assumes that both custodial parents are aware of and agree to the decision to file for a religious exemption. KGCS is not responsible in cases where one parent has not notified the other. For more information on religious exemption, read the linked FAQ and the VA Code.

Supporting documents for seeking religious exemption can be mailed to: 

King George County Schools
c/o Religious Exemption
PO Box 1239
King George, VA 22485

Q. What is the Religious Exemption?
A. Parents who have religious convictions against sending their children to school may petition the school board for religious exemption to compulsory school attendance.

Q. Is Religious Exemption the same thing as Home Instruction?
A. No. Home Instruction is an alternative to compulsory school attendance that has separate procedural requirements.

Q. How do I claim a Religious Exemption?
A. Parents or guardians shall submit a written request to the School Board for exemption stating their religious beliefs that are in conflict with public school attendance along with supporting documentation to the School Board. Please include the student's name, age and primary physical address in the petition to the School Board.

Q. What type of supporting documentation should be sent to support my petition for Religious Exemption?
A. The following are examples of supporting documentation that families often provide:

• A letter from a friend or relative that confirms the family's beliefs are sincere.
• A letter from a religious leader or clergy member, if the family has such an authority, that confirms the belief as spiritual in nature and/or genuine.
• A letter from the student (if they are 12 years of age or older) stating that they also adhere to the religious beliefs of the parent.

Q. Will my petition be considered if I do not include the name, age and primary physical address of my child in the petition?
A. No, the petition will not be considered complete without the child's name, age and primary physical address.

Q. What happens after the School Board approves my petition for Religious Exemption?
A. You will be notified in writing when the petition for Religious Exemption has been granted. The letter will include each child's name for whom Religious Exemption has been granted. The religious exemption does not apply to children who are not of compulsory school attendance age.

Q. Do I have to petition for religious exemption annually?
A. VA Code does not specify the frequency of notifications. Each individual school board may choose the frequency of notification. At this time (June 2025), King George County Schools does not require annual notification for Religious Exemption.

Q: Can Religious Exemption students enroll in classes on a part-time basis through King George County Schools?
A: No. Only students who are in compliance with home instruction requirements or who are enrolled in private school may be enrolled on a less-than-full-time basis in King George County Public Schools.

Under VA Code, compulsory school attendance begins when a child turns 5 on or before September 30. In addition to the home instruction and religious exemption options referenced above, parents may delay kindergarten for one year if, "the child, in the opinion of the parent or guardian, is not mentally, physically, or emotionally prepared to attend school."  Please note that if you choose to enroll your child in KGCS the following year, your child will be enrolled in Kindergarten.

Parents must notify King George County Schools of this decision to delay kindergarten enrollment. Please include your child's full name, age of the child as of September 30, and physical address.

Mail documents to:  

King George County Schools
c/o Delay Kindergarten
PO Box 1239
King George, VA 22485