How To Start Homeschooling in Pennsylvania
Thinking about making the switch to homeschooling? You’re in luck! Homeschooling in PA is made simple thanks to clear legislation, access to public school extracurriculars, and free learning materials.
PA homeschooling requirements are fairly straightforward. Once you’ve got the legalities down, you’ll be ready to start learning!
Homeschooling in Pennsylvania at a Glance
Pennsylvania — The Keystone State
| Age | 6-18 |
| Standardized Testing | Required |
| Subjects | 11 subjects required |
| Time Requirements | 180 days per year, or at least 900 hours for elementary students and at least 990 for high schoolers |
| Graduation Requirements | Complete required credit hours, a portfolio review and end-of-year evaluation, and the 12th grade affidavit |
| Special Requirements | Parents must have a high school education; all adults in the home must have no major criminal offenses within the last 5 years. |
| Financial Resources Available | No |
Homeschool Options
You have a few options available for homeschooling in Pennsylvania:
Option 1: Homeschool Statute
The homeschool statute provides parents the right to homeschool in Pennsylvania. To homeschool under the homeschool statute, parents must meet all qualifications and standards outlined in this article.
Option 2: Private Tutor
When you homeschool with a private tutor, you’ll follow the Homeschool Statute’s rules with a few extras.
The tutor needs a valid Pennsylvania teaching license and criminal history check before they may teach. They must also receive compensation for teaching and must teach one or more kids in a single family. In addition, they must inform the superintendent of any new students, any student absences over three days, and program withdrawals before a child is 18.
Option 3: Satellite Religious Day School
Satellite schools may be a good option if you prefer external structure and set curricula. As a satellite homeschool, it’s your responsibility to follow the rules and procedures of the school you enroll with.
To homeschool as a religious day school satellite, the principal of the religious school will need to send an affidavit to the superintendent about the school’s subject offerings, legal compliance, and nonprofit status. In addition, you must teach for the same amount of time as outlined in the homeschool statute.
The school must also provide a list of all student information to the superintendent upon admission and must report any new students, absences, and withdrawals, like private tutors do.
Option 4: Satellite Accredited Day School
You may homeschool as a satellite of any day school that is accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the State Board of Education.
Parent Qualifications
To homeschool in Pennsylvania, parents must have a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition, any adult living in the home may not have any major criminal offenses within the last 5 years.
Notice of Intent
Before you begin homeschooling in PA, you’ll need to submit a homeschool affidavit. If you have never enrolled your child in public school, you’ll need to file an affidavit after their sixth birthday. If your child is currently enrolled in school, you’ll need to contact the superintendent to file the affidavit.
Parents must submit the notarized affidavit to their local school district superintendent. The affidavit must include:
- Your name, address and phone number
- The names and ages of each homeschooled student
- Outlined educational objectives
- Immunization records
- Verification that any adults with legal custody of your child and/or residing in your home have no recent criminal charges
- Confirmation that all courses will be taught in English
- Confirmation that your homeschool will abide by the law
For students in grades K-6th, use this PA homeschool affidavit.
For students in grades 7th-12th, use this PA homeschool affidavit.
Attendance
Parents must teach for at least 180 days per school year, or 900 or 990 hours, depending on the age of your student. Elementary students must receive at least 900 hours of instruction, while high school students must receive at least 990.
Homeschool Curriculum
The state requires 11 different subjects for PA homeschoolers. For students K-6th, these subjects include:
| Physical education | English, including spelling, reading and writing |
| Music | Math |
| Art | Civics |
| Geography | U.S. history & Pennsylvania history |
| Science | Health and physiology |
| Safety (including fire safety) |
For students in grades 7th-12th, required subjects include those above, with these modifications:
- English, including:
- Literature
- Composition
- Speech
- Language
- Math, including:
- General mathematics
- Geometry
- Algebra
- Social studies, including:
- Civics
- History of the U.S. and Pennsylvania
- World History
Accredited Homeschool Programs
Choosing the best homeschool curriculum can be hard with so many options! If you want to ensure your child is getting a great education, you may be interested in an accredited homeschool curriculum! Accredited homeschool programs must meet high standards of academic quality and rigor to maintain their accreditation status. Miacademy’s online homeschool curriculum is accredited by the ACS-WASC, and can help you meet state requirements with little need for supplementation.
Testing
PA homeschool law requires students to complete an annual evaluation to assess academic progress. Your evaluator can be a licensed psychologist, a Pennsylvania-certified teacher with at least 2 years of experience, or other qualified person with superintendent approval.
We recommend that you select your evaluator at the beginning of the year when you submit your affidavit. In addition to these evaluations, homeschooled students must take a standardized test in grades 3, 5, and 8. The test must be the Pennsylvania state standardized test, or an approved test listed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The purpose of these tests are so your evaluator can certify that your child is progressing academically. It’s important to keep all testing records in your homeschool portfolio.
Record Keeping
Detailed record keeping is required by law and is essential for yearly evaluations. A 3-ring binder or accordion folder are great options to keep things organized.
Your homeschool records should include…
- Work samples and a reading log
- Attendance records
- Immunization records
- Copies of your homeschool affidavit
- Standardized test results for students in grades 3, 5, and 8
- Your student’s yearly evaluation
Transcripts
If your student is college-bound, they will likely need a high school transcript for their application. You can make your own transcripts or enroll in an online homeschool program that provides them for you.
Graduation Requirements
Unlike many other states, homeschoolers in Pennsylvania can receive state-recognized diplomas after they complete high school! To qualify for this diploma, you must submit your student’s 12th grade affidavit, portfolio review, and annual evaluation.
In addition to these requirements, your student must also meet the following requirements over the course of 9th-12th grade:
- Four years of English
- Three years of mathematics
- Three years of science
- Three years of social studies
- Two years of arts and humanities
Financial Resources
Unfortunately, there are no financial resources provided by the State of Pennsylvania for homeschoolers at this time.
More Tips & Resources
For more information about homeschooling and how to find other homeschool groups in PA, check out:
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Homeschool Pennsylvania.org
- Pennsylvania Homeschool Groups from the Homeschool Mom
If you’re wondering whether Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team! They’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have.
Please keep in mind that this information provided is for research purposes only and is not legal advice. To obtain accurate and comprehensive details on Pennsylvania homeschool laws, we recommend consulting the official resources and guidelines provided by your state. Additionally, staying informed about any changes to these laws is important, so be sure to look out for any updates.
FAQ
What are the requirements to homeschool in PA?
To homeschool in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to meet the education requirements, complete a homeschool affidavit, teach the required subjects for at least 180 days or 900+ hours per year, test your child in grades 3, 5, and 8, keep proper records, and complete an annual evaluation.
Is unschooling legal in PA?
Unschooling is legal in PA as long as the homeschooling requirements are met. Parents are encouraged to teach in whichever way works best for their children while following the law.
Updated: 06/20/2024. All information on this site is provided with no guarantee of accuracy. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information or for the results yielded through use of this information.