“I think I want to do this… but I have no idea where to start?” 

 

Breathe, friend. 

 

Homeschooling in West Virginia is actually one of the more accessible options in the country. I’ll hold your hand as I say this: yes, you can. You just need a little push, and I am going to give you one in the simplest way that I can.

 

 

Know Your “Why”

Before anything else: Why are you doing this?

There will be hard days; and when they come, your "why" is what keeps you grounded.

 

Think of it as the engine that runs the operation: Maybe it’s academics. Maybe it’s your child’s well-being. Maybe it’s your faith and the desire to shape both heart and mind.

 

A friend of mine, Lauren—who has homeschooled her children from the beginning—explains her “why.”

​

 

“Everybody loves a good cheese-pull—like the perfect cheese stick or pizza slice kind of cheese-pull that keeps going and going... I didn’t want mine and my children’s connectedness to end prematurely. I wanted to continue that connection and discipleship.”

​

 

Knowing your "why" in homeschooling doesn’t mean you have all the answers, but it does mean you can be confident in the academic choices you make for your children going forward. 

 

​

Know Your “What”

You don’t need to buy a curriculum yet, but it is time for some detective work.

 

A simple Google search will give you a list of several different styles of homeschooling that are common: Charlotte Mason, Traditional, Classical, Online Programs, Unschooling, Montessori, Eclectic, and Waldorf are among the most common routes.

 

You know your child.

How do they learn best? 

What are they interested in? 

What do you want them to be exposed to or find interest in?

 

Do some research and decide which style you’d like to start with first. And if it doesn’t work out, that’s ok and perfectly normal. Change it up and try a different style!

 

Another friend of mine, Shannon, recently transitioned her daughter from public school:

 

 

“She never did bad in public school, but it’s better for her in homeschooling because we have the ability to pause and focus on what needs to be focused on.”

​

 

However your journey begins, you don’t have to get it perfect—you just have to start.

 

 

Choose Your Path: Traditional vs. HOPE Scholarship

West Virginia offers two main homeschooling options: Traditional Homeschooling or the HOPE Scholarship (IIP)

 

Traditional Homeschooling is exactly what it sounds like: you have full flexibility and minimal oversight, but all expenses are out of pocket. To get started, you would need to submit a notice of intent (NOI) to your superintendent at the State Board of Education in your county and provide proof of a high school diploma or equivalent. The moment this is submitted, either in person or by mail, Congratulations! You are homeschooling.

 

At the end of the school year, you will show your child’s progress by either a portfolio review or a standardized test. The Board of Education only requires you to turn these in for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11, but you should keep records for each year to track their progress.

 

Notice of Intent (West Virginia):

https://wvde.us/media/3205/homeschool-letter-intent

 

Law Overview (West Virginia):

https://hslda.org/legal/west-virginia

 

Pros: Complete flexibility and minimal oversight

Cons: All expenses are out of pocket

 

Likewise, the HOPE Scholarship is a West Virginia education savings account program that provides state-funded money for students to use for approved educational expenses. Each student receives roughly $5,267 per year, distributed in quarterly payments into an online HOPE account that can only be spent through the program’s approved portal for material such as curriculum, tutoring, and online learning.

​

To begin, apply online through the official HOPE Scholarship portal. If approved, you’ll receive the education savings account for homeschooling expenses. After approval, submit a notice of intent to your county school system, withdraw your child from public or private school (if needed), and begin homeschooling using your HOPE funds while meeting basic annual requirements.

 

Website:

https://hopescholarshipwv.com

 

Application:

https://api.hopescholarshipwv.com

 

Pros: Financial support for curriculum and resources

Cons: Less flexibility, more oversight

 

​

Know Your “When”

In West Virginia, children are not required to begin school until the fall of the year they turn six years old (cutoff: July 1). If your child is already enrolled in public or private school, you’ll need to either withdraw or wait for a new school year.

 

There’s no perfect timing—just do what’s best for your child.

 

​

Get Started

At some point, you simply have to begin.

 

The most vital step is mental: you must let go of what you think school is "supposed" to look like and lean into what it “could be.” Start small by choosing a curriculum and establishing a simple routine. Little bites—you aren't doing this alone!

 

Find your people by joining a local homeschooling co-op and connecting with other homeschooling families to build a support system that sustains you.

 

You are the principal, teacher, staff, and parent.

 

This is your school; give yourself permission to breathe, find joy, and flourish.