Homeschooling in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Home Education Program, established by Act 169 of 1988 (24 P.S. §13-1327.1), creates a structured framework with three deadlines: the August 1 affidavit, quarterly portfolio maintenance, and the June 30 evaluator's certification. The paperwork is significant, but the law is clearly defined and thousands of families successfully comply each year. Pennsylvania is one of only a few states to require an annual independent evaluator review.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: Three pathways — Home Education Program (most common), Private Tutor (24 P.S. §13-1327), or Religious Day School Extension / Satellite Program.

Notification: Home Education Program: file a notarized affidavit (or unsworn declaration since Act 196 of 2014) with your local school district superintendent by August 1 each year, before starting the program.

Instructional time: 180 days per year, OR 900 hours for elementary (grades 1-6) / 990 hours for secondary (grades 7-12).

Required subjects: Elementary (grades 1-6): English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, science, geography, history of US and PA, civics, safety education (including fire prevention), health and physiology, physical education, music, art. Secondary (grades 7-12): same plus higher-level English/math/science, world history, foreign language, and additional subject requirements. 11 total subject areas..

Testing and evaluation: Standardized testing required at grades 3, 5, and 8 in reading/language arts and mathematics. Test cannot be administered by the parent..

What Pennsylvania families need to know

Notarized affidavit (or unsworn declaration): file with the school district superintendent by August 1 each year. Must include parent/supervisor name, child's name and age, address, telephone number, educational objectives by subject area, certification of compliance with 24 P.S. §13-1327.1, certification that the supervisor and adults in the household have not been convicted of certain criminal offenses within the past 5 years, evidence that the supervisor has at least a high school diploma or GED, and immunization records (or religious/medical exemption).

Portfolio: must be maintained throughout the school year. Required contents include (a) a contemporaneous log of reading materials by title, (b) samples of writing, math, and other subject work, (c) a log of instruction with hours by subject, and (d) standardized test results in testing years (grades 3, 5, 8).

Annual evaluator's certification: by June 30 each year, an independent qualified evaluator must interview the student, review the portfolio, and certify in writing whether 'an appropriate education is occurring.' Submit this certification to the superintendent. Qualified evaluators include (1) a licensed psychologist, (2) a Pennsylvania-certified teacher with 2+ years' teaching experience, or (3) a non-public school teacher or administrator with 2+ years' experience in the past 10 years. The supervisor and supervisor's spouse cannot serve as the evaluator. Most evaluators charge $75-$200.

Standardized testing: required at grades 3, 5, and 8 in reading/language arts and mathematics. Acceptable tests include nationally normed achievement tests (Iowa, CAT, Stanford, Terra Nova) or the PSSA. Test cannot be administered by the parent — many families arrange group testing through co-ops or hire a certified administrator.

Private Tutor pathway: a Pennsylvania-certified teacher (which may be a parent if certified) provides 180 days of instruction. No affidavit, portfolio, or annual evaluation required — the tutor's credentials and reporting fulfill compliance.

Religious Day School Extension: enroll as a satellite student of a religious day school accredited by an accrediting association approved by the State Board of Education. Compliance is handled through the school.

Act 55 of 2022 expanded participation rights: Pennsylvania homeschool students may participate in public school co-curricular activities, academic courses, athletics, theater, music, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at their resident school district.

12th grade evaluator co-signs PDE diploma: when a senior completes the program, the evaluator co-signs the PDE-issued diploma confirming the student is suitable for graduation. This makes Pennsylvania one of the few states with state-recognized parent-issued diplomas.

Compulsory attendance: ages 8 through 17 (this changed from ages 6-18 to 8-17 in 2020 via Act 16). Children younger than 8 are not subject to compulsory attendance, though many families file affidavits earlier.

Always verify current requirements with the Pennsylvania Department of Education before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

Pennsylvania is uniquely supportive of homeschool diplomas: the supervisor (parent) issues a state-recognized diploma using a PDE-developed standardized form, co-signed by the qualified evaluator. This diploma is recognized by employers, the military, and PA colleges. Pennsylvania state colleges (Penn State, Pitt, Temple, etc.) and private colleges accept homeschool transcripts. Graduates may also receive diplomas from state-approved diploma-granting organizations.

Getting started in Pennsylvania

If you are new to homeschooling in Pennsylvania, here is the practical sequence to follow:

1. Read the statute. Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
2. Choose your legal pathway. Pennsylvania offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
3. Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
4. File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
5. Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
6. Connect with a local homeschool organization. Pennsylvania has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.

Pennsylvania homeschool organizations

The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for Pennsylvania homeschool families:

• Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania (CHAP) — Largest statewide Christian organization with annual convention and evaluator directory — chaponline.com
• Pennsylvania Homeschoolers (PHS) — Inclusive statewide organization with AP courses and magazine — pahomeschoolers.com
• Pennsylvania Home Education Network (PHEN) — Inclusive statewide network
• HSLDA Pennsylvania — Legal defense and member support

Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Pennsylvania homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.

Beyond the legal requirements

Meeting Pennsylvania's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:

Homeschool360 • Pennsylvania State Guide