Homeschool Laws in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has one of the most structured homeschool laws in the United States. Requirements include an annual affidavit, a maintained portfolio, required subjects, attendance hours, and an annual evaluation by a licensed educator. Understanding the process up front makes it manageable.

Legal Basis

Pennsylvania home education is governed by 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1, which provides a specific homeschool option alongside public and private school enrollment.

Step 1 — Annual Affidavit

Each year by August 1st, you must submit a homeschool affidavit to your local school district superintendent. If you begin mid-year, submit within 30 days of starting.

The affidavit must include:

• Names and ages of children to be home-educated
• Your name, address, and signature
• A list of proposed subjects (see required subjects below)
• Certification that you have at least a high school diploma or GED
• For children ages 8+: certification that you will provide 180 days (900 elementary / 990 secondary hours) of instruction

The superintendent cannot deny or approve the affidavit — receipt of it simply puts the district on notice.

Step 2 — Required Subjects

Pennsylvania has the most extensive required subject list of any state:

Elementary (grades 1–6):

• English (literature, reading, composition, grammar, spelling, written and oral expression)
• Arithmetic / Mathematics
• Science
• Geography
• History of the United States and Pennsylvania
• Civics
• Safety Education (including fire prevention)
• Health and Physiology
• Physical Education
• Music
• Art

Secondary (grades 7–12): All elementary subjects plus:

• History of the World
• Algebra and/or Geometry
• English Literature
• Laboratory Science
• Government

No specific textbooks or methods are required. You choose how to cover these subjects.

Step 3 — Attendance Requirements

Pennsylvania requires:

• Elementary (grades 1–6): 180 days or 900 hours per year
• Secondary (grades 7–12): 180 days or 990 hours per year

Keep a daily log of instructional hours to document compliance.

Step 4 — Maintain a Portfolio

Throughout the year, maintain a portfolio of records and materials for each child:

• A log of educational activities (by subject, date, and time)
• Representative samples of the child's work in each required subject

The portfolio must be kept for two years and produced if requested by the district.

Step 5 — Annual Evaluation by a Licensed Educator

This is Pennsylvania's most distinctive requirement: at the end of each school year, your child must be evaluated by a licensed Pennsylvania teacher (or a licensed clinical or school psychologist).

What the evaluation involves:

• The evaluator reviews the child's portfolio
• The evaluator may interview or observe the child
• The evaluator provides a written narrative indicating whether the child made "appropriate educational progress"

What "appropriate progress" means: The evaluator uses professional judgment. There is no minimum test score or grade level requirement.

How to find an evaluator:

• Ask in your local homeschool co-op or Facebook group
• HSLDA maintains a list of evaluators in each region
• Many evaluators advertise specifically to homeschool families

Submit the Evaluation Certificate

After the evaluation, submit a copy of the evaluator's written assessment to your school district superintendent. This is the one document you must affirmatively send to the district each year.

If the district has concerns about the evaluation, they can request additional evaluation — but this is rare for families maintaining a complete portfolio.

Compulsory School Age

Pennsylvania's compulsory attendance age is 8 through 17.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a college degree to homeschool in Pennsylvania? No — a high school diploma or GED is sufficient. The evaluator must be a licensed educator, but the teaching parent has no credential requirement.

What if the district rejects my affidavit? They cannot reject it — only acknowledge receipt. If a district attempts to block your homeschooling, contact HSLDA immediately.

Does Pennsylvania allow umbrella school enrollment instead? Yes. Pennsylvania families may also enroll in a private school or cyber charter school, which may simplify some requirements.

What immunization records are required? The same immunizations required for public school enrollment must be documented and kept by the home-educating parent.

Key Resources

• Pennsylvania Department of Education — Home Education
• Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Association
• HSLDA — Pennsylvania