Homeschooling in Pennsylvania: How To Homeschool While Following State Laws

by Rita Onyx

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular. Just in the last years alone, homeschooling rose up by 700%. What was once seen as old-fashioned and outdated is now a modern way to educate the next generation.

There are many benefits to homeschooling; it gives parents freedom in choosing the curriculums and subjects their children learn. Remote learning also ensures their children are kept safe, away from potential dangers like bullying or viruses in public schools. It’s a win-win situation.

Thinking of homeschooling your children too? Then follow this quick guide on how to homeschool your children if you live in Pennsylvania. Know the Pennsylvania homeschool state laws and regulations in your state so you can homeschool properly.

Quick Facts:

• There are four ways to homeschool:

1. Homeschool statute
2. Private tutor
3. Satellite of a religious day school 
4. Satellite of an accredited day or boarding school

Requirements:

• Children between 6-18 of age must be in school 

• You MUST notify your local school district of your intentions

• There are NO teacher qualifications

• There ARE state mandated subjects 

• There are NO required assessments or testing 

• There ARE immunization requirements

How to Homeschool Under the Homeschool Statute

• Instructor must at least have a high school diploma or equivalent

• Submit a notarized affidavit with the local superintendent before you start homeschooling by August 1^st

• Include in the notarized affidavit:

1. Name of parent/supervisor
2. Name of child
3. Age of child
4. Address
5. Telephone number
6. Affirmation that instruction will be taught in English
7. Outline of curriculum
8. Immunization record
9. Evidence of health and medical services required by law
10. Certification that the home school program will comply with 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1
11. Certification that the instructor, all adults living within the home, and anyone who has legal custody of the children have not been convicted of certain criminal offenses within the past five years

• Instruction must be for at least 180 days or 900 hours for elementary school and 180 days or 990 hours for high school

• Subjects must include:

For K-6:

1. English (including Spelling, Reading, Writing)
2. Math
3. Civics
4. U.S. history
5. Pennsylvania history
6. Health and physiology
7. Physical education
8. Art
9. Music
10. Geography
11. Science
12. Safety education (including the prevention and dangers of fires)

For 7-12:

1. English (including Language and Literature)
2. Speech
3. Composition
4. Math (including General math, Algebra, Geometry)
5. Social studies (including Civics, U.S. history, Pennsylvania, World History)
6. Health
7. Physical education
8. Music
9. Art
10. Science
11. Geography
12. Safety education

• Maintain a portfolio of work samples, logs, and standardized tests for grades 3, 5, and 8

• Standardized tests can be one of the following:

• California Achievement Test
• Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPIV)
• Iowa Test of Basic Skills
• Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
• Metropolitan Achievement Test
• Peabody Achievement Individual Test—Revised Version
• Stanford Achievement Test
• Terra Nova
• Woodcock-Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement III
• Woodcock-Johnson IV
• Wechsler Individual Achievement Test III (WIAT-III)

• Evaluate your child annually by sending your child’s portfolio to a qualified evaluator and submit the evaluator’s certification to the superintendent by June 30^th

• The evaluation can be done by one of the following:

a) A licensed psychologist

b) Pennsylvania-certified teacher with at least 2 years of teaching experience

c) Nonpublic school teacher or administrator with at least two years’ teaching experience in the last 10 years in public or nonpublic school

How to Homeschool with a Private Tutor

• The tutor must be:

a) A Pennsylvania-certified teacher

b) Able to teach one or more children who are members of a single family

c) Provide the majority of the instruction

d) Receive compensation for teaching

• The tutor must file a copy of their certification with the superintendent of the school district where the student lives

How to Homeschool as a Satellite of a Religious Day School

• Instruction must be for at least 180 days or 900 hours for elementary school and 180 days or 990 hours for high school

• Subjects must include:

For K-6:

1. English (including Spelling, Reading, Writing)
2. Math
3. Civics
4. U.S. history
5. Pennsylvania history
6. Health and physiology
7. Physical education
8. Art
9. Music
10. Geography
11. Science
12. Safety education (including the prevention and dangers of fires)

For 7-12:

1. English (including Language and Literature)
2. Speech
3. Composition
4. Math (including General math, Algebra, Geometry)
5. Social studies (including Civics, U.S. history, Pennsylvania, World History)
6. Health
7. Physical education
8. Music
9. Art
10. Science
11. Geography
12. Safety education

The principal of the school must file a notarized affidavit with the Department of Education affirming the following:

1. The required subjects will be taught in English
2. The school is in compliance with the law
3. The school is a nonprofit organization
4. Submit the names and addresses of all children in the school between 6-18 years of age who are enrolled in the school

How to homeschool as a satellite of an accredited day or boarding school

• Enroll in an extension or satellite of a day or boarding school that is accredited by an accrediting association approved by the State Board of Education

Helpful links:

https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Home%20Education%20and%20Private%20Tutoring/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.askpauline.com/hs/homeschoollaw.html

https://www.phaa.org/

https://www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ELC_FactSheet_HomeschoolingPA_5_2_08.pdf

https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/regulation-map/pennsylvania.html

Contact Information–State and Federal Departments of Education

• Pennsylvania Department of Education
  333 Market Street
  Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
  Phone: 717-787-5820
  Nonpublic and Private Schools: 717-783-5146
  Home Schooling: 717-787-4860 or 717-214-8212
  Fax: 717-787-7222
  Website: http://www.pde.state.pa.us/

• U.S. Department of Education, Pennsylvania

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.