West Virginia law requires that you outline a "plan of instruction." Technically, the law does not require that the plan be turned into the county school board office when you inform them that you intend to homeschool. However, officials in Monongalia County do request it, and in the spirit of cooperation we do provide it. The plan of instruction need not be very detailed. In Monongalia County, they are most interested in seeing a list of materials you intend to use. If you are using a purchased curriculum, briefly describe it and list texts/materials. Homeschoolers may obtain public schools textbooks, so list those if you plan to use them. If you are designing your own curriculum or are planning more of an "unschooling" approach, you can list any kind of educational materials. If you are going to use any textbooks, list them; if not, explain, for example, that you plan to use appropriate books from the public library for science or social studies topics.
Keep in mind:
1.You do not have to cover exactly what is being taught in the public school for the grade/age of your child. That is one of the advantages of homeschooling. If your child would be in the fourth grade in public school, but is reading on a sixth grade level and doing math on a third grade level, that is acceptable. What is important is that your child makes progress. You may fine tune your curriculum to meet your child's educational needs. If you use the portfolio method of assessment, you must show that "the child's academic progress for the year is in accordance with the child's abilities." If you are planning to use testing as your method of assessment, you need to be more concerned about what is covered in public schools in your child's grade. Some basic test preparation materials can be very helpful. Also, if there is a possiblity your child may return to public school in the next year, you will want to follow school guidelines more carefully.
2. You may adjust your plan of instruction throughout the year to meet your child's needs and abilities. You may try a curriculum for a couple of months and decide it isn't appropriate. You may discover some excellent materials or a wonderful learning experience that you never planned. Prepare to be flexible!
3. Keep it brief. No one has time to read reams of homeschooling plans. So save yourself some work and keep it concise. Provide enough information to reassure school officials that you are competent and will properly educate your child, but do not feel the need to be too detailed. Click here if you would like to see a sample curriculum written for a second grader, as an example. Many people write less than this.
Be sure to send the "intent to homeschool" form to the school board office by the first of August (in Monongalia County). Other counties may set their own policies for the date they would like to receive your notice, but if you are later that the first day of public school, your children are truant. Please be cooperative and get your paperwork in on time. If you are taking your child out of public school, you are supposed to provide a two week notice, though this is rarely enforced.
Return to "Getting Started with Homeschooling" page
Return to "Monongalia Homeschoolers Home Page"