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Withdrawing from public school

How to Withdraw From Public School in Virginia

Pulling your child out of public school in Virginia starts with a letter to the school. The steps are below, with a free Virginia withdrawal letter you can print today and the timing that keeps the district from marking your child absent in between.

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How withdrawal works in Virginia

If your child is enrolled in a Virginia public school, file your notice of intent with the division superintendent by August 15, listing the subjects for the coming year and the qualification you meet. If you start after the school year has begun, notify the superintendent as soon as practicable and complete the filing within 30 days. Notify the school so attendance reflects the change, and keep a copy. Families using the religious-exemption path (§ 22.1-254(B)(1)) follow a separate school-board process instead of the § 22.1-254.1 notice.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Confirm your child is currently enrolled

    This guide is for moving a currently enrolled student to homeschooling. If your child has never attended public school in Virginia (a kindergartner you're starting at home, for example), there's usually nothing to withdraw from. A quick call to the school confirms their status.

  2. 2

    Send a written withdrawal letter to the school

    Moving a child from public school to homeschool in Virginia starts with a written withdrawal to the current school and a notice of intent to the local district. Together they put the new arrangement on record. Homeschool Fox can draft the withdrawal letter for you. It fills in the student, district, and date fields automatically.

    Get the free Virginia withdrawal letter
  3. 3

    File your notice of intent

    Yes, Virginia requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify your local school district. The notice is filed again each school year.

  4. 4

    Keep dated copies for your records

    Save a copy of the withdrawal letter and anything you file, noting the date you sent it. If the district ever asks about attendance, dated proof that you withdrew on time is what closes the question.

  5. 5

    Set up your homeschool

    With the withdrawal handled, the rest is starting your homeschool: planning subjects, setting an hours or days target, and keeping records. The Virginia homeschool guide covers what the law asks for from here.

    Read the Virginia homeschool guide

Withdrawing for the first time? The guide to withdrawing from public school covers the records request and mid-year timing in any state.

Free Virginia printables

Three ready-to-use PDFs for Virginia homeschoolers. No account needed.

Hour log Printable monthly log for dates, subjects, and hours. Withdrawal letter A ready-to-send letter, with a received-by block for the school to sign. Portfolio checklist What the portfolio should hold, in a sheet you work down once a term.

Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.

What Homeschool Fox tracks for Virginia

Virginia leaves the records to you. Keep them in one place anyway. No spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.

  • Parent's choice (testing or evaluation)
  • Daily activity logs
  • Printable PDF reports
  • Progress tracking
  • High school transcripts
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Last verified September 2026 by Andy Leverenz against Virginia's own published requirements. See the sources.

Source pages last confirmed live on Oct 26, 2026.

Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Confirm details with your state or a qualified advisor.

More Virginia guides

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