My current location: , | Change location

West Virginia Compulsory Education Laws


More Information on Compulsory Education Laws

Code Section18-8-1, et seq.
Age at Which School Attendance is RequiredBetween 6 and 16
Exceptions to Attendance RequirementsEnrolled in private, parochial, or other approved school; instruction in home; physical/mental incapacity; residence over 2 miles from school or school bus route; conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous; child has graduated; work permit granted for students who have completed 8th grade; serious illness or death in family; destitution in the home
Home School ProvisionsNotice given; records kept; if child's education is suffering or for another compelling reason, superintendent may seek court order denying home instruction; instructor must have graduated high school or had formal education 4 yrs. higher than the most advanced student; child must take standardized test
Penalties on Parents for NoncomplianceFirst offense: $50 to $100 and cost of prosecution; subsequent offense: $50-100 fine plus 5 to 20 days jail; each absent day is separate offense

Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Research the Law:

Related Resources for Compulsory Education Laws: