Virginia Homeschool Funding
Tax credits, ESA status, and supports.
VA
Funding guide
State programs
Main program
Program name: Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits (EISTC)
Admin: Virginia Department of Education (approves scholarship foundations); Virginia Department of Taxation (tax credits).
Typical award
Amount: Varies by approved scholarship foundation and school (generally partial or full private school tuition/fees).
Disbursement: Scholarship paid to a participating nonpublic school for an eligible student; not a reimbursement/ESA for home instruction purchases.
Who qualifies
- Residency: Virginia resident attending a participating eligible nonpublic school.
- Age/grade: K–12 (private school enrollment required).
- Needs/other: Eligibility set in statute (income-based and/or students with disabilities) and by each approved scholarship foundation.
Timeline
- Application opens: Varies by scholarship foundation (most begin late winter–spring for fall placement).
- Deadline: Varies by foundation; many use rolling admissions while funds last.
- Fund availability: When the foundation awards a seat at a participating private school.
Overview
Virginia does not have a statewide education savings account (ESA) for homeschool purchases. Families primarily educate under the Home Instruction statute and may: (1) enroll full- or part-time in local public offerings if the division allows, (2) self-pay for online courses (e.g., Virtual Virginia) or dual enrollment, and/or (3) switch to a participating private school and seek a scholarship through the state’s EISTC program (a tax-credit scholarship, not an ESA). Key homeschool requirements and access to exams (PSAT, AP) are set in Code of Virginia §22.1-254.1.
Programs
Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits (EISTC)
- Type: Tax-credit scholarship (donor-funded; scholarships distributed by VDOE-approved foundations)
- Award: Varies by foundation and school; typically covers some or all private school tuition/fees
- Uses: Tuition and required fees at a participating nonpublic K–12 school (not for home-instruction purchases)
- Admin: VDOE (approves scholarship foundations) & Department of Taxation (credits)
Virtual Virginia & Dual Enrollment (access options)
- Type: Course access (tuition/fees usually paid by the family unless a public division sponsors)
- Award: Not a grant; families pay posted tuition/fees
- Uses: Online courses (Virtual Virginia) and college dual-enrollment credits through the Virginia Community College System
- Admin: Virtual Virginia (VDOE) & VCCS colleges
Virtual Virginia Dual Enrollment info :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Eligibility
- Residency: Virginia residence required for both home instruction and EISTC scholarship students.
- Age/grade: K–12, per compulsory attendance and program rules.
- Prior enrollment: Not required for home instruction. Private schools and scholarship foundations set their own admissions rules.
- Income / IEP: EISTC uses income and/or disability criteria defined in statute and by foundations; documentation required.
- Other criteria: Home instruction options (diploma, teacher license, or approved curriculum) and annual progress are set by §22.1-254.1.
How to apply
- Home instruction: File your annual Notice of Intent with your school division by Aug. 15 and choose one of the statute’s qualification routes.
- Private school scholarship (EISTC): Apply directly through a VDOE-approved scholarship foundation; the foundation determines eligibility/awards and pays the participating school.
- Virtual Virginia / Dual Enrollment: Create the required accounts, complete placement steps, and pay tuition/fees (or coordinate with a sponsoring division/college if available). :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- Track requirements: Keep proof of progress for home instruction (e.g., standardized test or evaluation) and submit by the statutory date.
Covered expenses
- EISTC (private school route): Tuition and required fees at a participating nonpublic school; specific inclusions vary by school/foundation.
- Virtual Virginia course tuition/fees (family pays unless sponsored). :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
- Dual-enrollment tuition/fees & textbooks (family pays unless a local program covers them).
- College-entrance & AP exams access at public schools (exam fees typically family-paid).
- Special education evaluations via Child Find; ongoing services depend on local policies/federal rules (not guaranteed for home instruction). :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
- No statewide ESA/reimbursement for homeschool purchases (curriculum, supplies, tech). Families self-fund unless using a private-school scholarship.
- Local public-school classes/activities may be allowed at division discretion (policies vary; not guaranteed statewide). :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
- PSAT/AP access must be offered to home-instructed students at the public school (space permitting).
Deadlines
| Milestone | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home instruction Notice of Intent | Aug 15 | Submit annually to your school division. |
| Evidence of progress due | Typically by Aug 1 | Testing/evaluation timeline in §22.1-254.1(C). Check your division’s instructions. |
| EISTC scholarship windows | Varies | Each approved scholarship foundation sets its own application window. |
Docs & forms
- Home Instruction—Code of Virginia §22.1-254.1
- Virtual Virginia Dual Enrollment—How to enroll :contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}
- EISTC statute—§58.1-439.26
Official sources
- Code of Virginia—Home Instruction (§22.1-254.1)
- Code of Virginia—EISTC (§58.1-439.26)
- Virtual Virginia—Dual Enrollment :contentReference[oaicite:32]{index=32}
- VCCS example—TCC Dual Enrollment
FAQs
Does Virginia have a homeschool ESA?
No. Virginia has no statewide ESA for homeschool purchases. Families either self-fund home instruction or enroll in a private school that participates in the EISTC scholarship program.
Can funds cover extracurriculars?
EISTC scholarships apply to private school tuition/fees, not home-instruction extracurriculars. Access to public-school activities (including VHSL sports) is set by local division policy; there is no statewide guarantee. :contentReference[oaicite:35]{index=35}
Can homeschoolers take the PSAT or AP at the local public high school?
Yes. Public schools must make these exams available to home-instructed students (space permitting). Contact your school early for ordering and payment.
Is dual enrollment open to homeschoolers?
Yes. Homeschoolers can enroll in dual-enrollment courses through participating community colleges (tuition/fees usually family-paid unless locally sponsored). :contentReference[oaicite:37]{index=37}
Contacts
Your local school division
Policies for part-time classes, activities, and test administration are set locally. Find your division on the VDOE website.
Virginia Department of Education
Law & regulations
- §22.1-254.1 Home instruction — annual notice, parent qualification options, progress, and exam access.
- §58.1-439.26 EISTC — tax-credit scholarship framework and oversight.
Funding programs (Virginia)
This section lists current funding sources with direct links to the administering site. Existing content on this page is preserved below.
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Hope Portal
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External program site