Homeschool testing in Virginia
Verified against primary sources on July 19, 2026
Virginia asks for evidence of progress every year by August 1 for each child aged 6 and up taught under the home instruction statute. A nationally normed test is the best-known route, but Va. Code § 22.1-254.1(C) accepts two alternatives many families prefer.
At a glance
- Testing required
- Yes
- When
- annual, age 6+ (by Aug 1)
- What qualifies
- Nationally normed test required
- Who administers
- No state credential rule — publisher’s administration rules govern.
- Results
- Filed with the state
- Score floor
- Composite in/above 4th stanine (≈23rd percentile); failure → 1-year probation → cessation.
What the law says
“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.”
— Va. Code § 22.1-254.1(C)
Your options
Nationally normed test — 4th stanine or better
Any nationally normed standardized achievement test qualifies (VDOE keeps no approved list), as does an equivalent score on the ACT, SAT, or PSAT. The composite score must land in or above the fourth stanine — roughly the 23rd percentile. Falling short triggers a one-year probation, and a continued shortfall can end home instruction.
Evaluator letter
A letter from a person licensed to teach in any state — or holding a master's degree or higher in an academic discipline — stating that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress.
Report card or transcript
From an institution of higher education, a distance-learning program, or a correspondence school.
Key dates
- August 1
- Evidence of progress (test score or alternative evaluation) due to the division superintendent for the school year just ended.
Worth knowing
VDOE maintains no approved list — “any nationally normed standardized achievement test” qualifies, and the ACT/SAT/PSAT count via score equivalence.
Where the Fledgemark Check fits
The Fledgemark Check is not nationally normed and produces no stanine, so it cannot serve as Virginia's test evidence. If testing is your route, choose a nationally normed battery — and use the Check beforehand so the fourth-stanine bar holds no surprises.