Christian Home Educators of West Virginia
Home Schoolers and Their Driver's License
West Virginia Code Article 18-8-11 provides for “school attendance as a condition of licensing for the privilege of operation of motor vehicle.” Further, Articles 17B-2-3 and 17B-2-5 direct the division of motor vehicles to deny a license or instruction permit for the operation of a motor vehicle to any person under the age of eighteen who does not at the time of application present a diploma or other certificate of graduation issued to the person from a secondary high school of the state or any other state or documentation that the person is (1) enrolled in a GED program from a state approved institution or organization, (2) enrolled in a secondary school of the state or any other state, (3) excused from enrollment due to circumstances beyond his or her control, or (4) enrolled in an institution of higher learning as a full-time student. The law further stipulates that the county attendance director or chief administrator must provide documentation of enrollment status on a form approved by the state department of education. The law makes no provision for the substitution of a written statement from the parent, acting as principal of the private homeschool, as sufficient documentation of compliance with the law.

Homeschooled students between the ages of fifteen and eighteen must request a copy of the prescribed form, signed by a county official, and take that form with them when they apply for a learner’s permit or a driver’s license. Failure to provide the form will result in the state’s refusal to process the application.

There should be no problem getting the required documentation from the county school officials as long as the family continues to file their Notice Intent until the student completes his high school graduation requirements or until the student reaches his eighteenth birthday.

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