Pennsylvania Laws and Requirements for Homeschool

Homeschooling in Pennsylvania is legally recognized and governed by specific statutes to ensure educational standards are met.

Compulsory Attendance Age:

Children between the ages of 6 and 18 are required to attend school. Homeschooling is a recognized alternative to public or private school attendance.

Options for Homeschooling:

Home Education Program:
- Supervisor Qualifications: The program must be supervised by a parent or guardian who has a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Affidavit Submission: Annually, by August 1st, the supervisor must submit a notarized affidavit to the local school district superintendent. This affidavit should include:
  - The supervisor's name.
  - The name and age of the child.
  - The address and telephone number of the home education program site.
  - An assurance that subjects required by law are offered in the English language.
  - Evidence of immunization and health services required by law.
  - A statement affirming that the home education program will comply with the law and that no adult in the home has been convicted of criminal offenses as listed in the statute within the past five years.
Private Tutor:
- Tutor Qualifications: A certified teacher provides instruction to one or more children from a single family.
- Instructional Requirements: The tutor must provide instruction for a minimum of 180 days per year or 900 hours at the elementary level and 990 hours at the secondary level.
- Documentation: The tutor must file a copy of their Pennsylvania teaching certificate and a criminal background check with the superintendent of the student's school district.

Instructional Requirements:

Days or Hours: Instruction must be provided for at least 180 days per year or a minimum of 900 hours at the elementary level and 990 hours at the secondary level.
Required Subjects:
- Elementary Level (Grades K-6): English (including spelling, reading, and writing), arithmetic, science, geography, history of the United States and Pennsylvania, civics, safety education (including fire prevention), health and physiology, physical education, music, and art.
- Secondary Level (Grades 7-12): English (including language, literature, speech, and composition), science, geography, social studies (including civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania), mathematics (including algebra and geometry), art, music, physical education, health, and safety education.

Portfolio and Evaluation:

Portfolio: The supervisor must maintain a portfolio of records and materials, including:
- Samples of the student's work.
- A log of reading materials used.
- Results of standardized tests for grades 3, 5, and 8.
Annual Evaluation: An annual written evaluation of the student's educational progress must be conducted by a qualified evaluator, which can be:
- A licensed clinical or school psychologist.
- A certified teacher with two years of teaching experience.
- A nonpublic school teacher or administrator with two years of teaching experience in the last ten years.
The evaluation should include an interview with the student and a review of the portfolio to certify that an appropriate education is occurring.

Standardized Testing:

Students in grades 3, 5, and 8 must take a nationally normed standardized test or the statewide test administered in public schools. The results should be included in the student's portfolio.

Extracurricular Activities:

Homeschooled students are permitted to participate in extracurricular activities, including athletics, clubs, and music ensembles, in their local public school district, provided they meet the same eligibility requirements as public school students.

Graduation Requirements:

Upon completing the home education program, the supervisor may issue a diploma to the student.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education provides a standardized diploma for home education programs, which is recognized by the Commonwealth.

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