Homeschooling is a right and the school's permission is not needed, as long as the required documentation is submitted with the affidavit.

The affidavit and its components cover the school year (July 1 – June 30) and should be turned into the Director of Student Services' office no later than August 1 of each school year a child is homeschooled. The exception is the first year a student is homeschooled; that year the home education program may begin at any time during the year, as soon as an affidavit and supporting documentation is submitted.

When the affidavit is submitted for a student with a disability, it must be accompanied by a written notification of approval that the specific needs of the student with a disability are addressed by the program. This approval can be given by a teacher with a valid certificate from the Commonwealth to teach special education, a licensed clinical psychologist, or a certified school psychologist.

During the school year, the supervisor maintains a portfolio of records and materials, demonstrating that an appropriate education is occurring, compulsory attendance laws have been observed, and the student has made sustained progress in the overall home education program. 

Portfolios are required of all homeschooled students. Portfolios are not submitted to the school district. Portfolios must be evaluated by a qualified home education evaluator each year, paid for by the parent, prior to submitting the evaluation to the school district.

The law requires that homeschooled students take statewide tests (PSSAs) or other authorized tests in grades 3, 5, and 8. The results must be reported in the portfolio.

A written evaluation of the home education program must be submitted by the home education supervisor every year to the Director of Student Services in the student’s district of residence no later than June 30.

The evaluation by a qualified home education evaluator is to be based on an interview of the student and a review of the portfolio; it must state whether an appropriate education has occurred for the student and document the student’s progress while in a home education program. 

In order for a student to receive a home education high school diploma that is recognized by the state, an affidavit and evaluation must be submitted to the Director of Student Services in the student’s graduating year.

Since the portfolio must be evaluated before the evaluation is submitted to the Director of Student Services, the homeschool supervisor should identify an evaluator as soon as possible after submitting the affidavit. The parent is responsible for the cost of the evaluation.

A child must comply with compulsory attendance requirements from age six (6) to age eighteen (18). Homeschooling must be documented for all schooling during that time.

A student must attend school until their eighteenth (18^th) birthday or have graduated; therefore, the portfolio and accompanying documentation must be submitted to the evaluator in the graduating year as well.

NOTE: If a child has attended any public or private school in first grade or above, or if the parent has submitted an affidavit for a homeschool program for first grade or above, an affidavit and evaluation is due every year regardless of the child’s age.  If a child was enrolled in a public school for kindergarten and transferred to a home education program, an affidavit and an evaluation is due every year regardless of the age or grade of the child.

Kindergarten is not required in Pennsylvania. Parents may choose to submit an affidavit for homeschooling their kindergarten child, but it is not required.

Parents may request to borrow copies of the school district's own planned courses, textbooks and other curriculum materials appropriate to the student's age and grade level; these are provided free of charge.

There are many other options for obtaining curriculum.

Homeschooled students have the right to participate in the school district's extracurricular activities, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria or their equivalent and complying with all policies, rules and regulations or their equivalent of the governing organization of the activity. Homeschooled students may also participate in any cocurricular activities that merge extracurricular activities with a required academic course, such as band or orchestra.

Diplomas are an important consideration in a home education program. Some parents choose to issue supervisor-issued diplomas, while others seek a Commonwealth - recognized diploma. There are organizations that are authorized to grant a home education diploma.

A home education program has certain legally required courses and standardized testing requirements for completing the elementary grades (kindergarten – 6th) and secondary grades (7th – 12th). There also are requirements for a home education graduation. In order to ensure these requirements are met, and to document the homeschool history, transcripts should be kept by the parent.  The school district does not maintain transcripts.

Additionally, if a home education program moves to another PA school district, the parent is required to submit a letter of transfer from the former school district.  This letter substantiates that the home education program is in compliance with the home education law.

For any child in a home education program identified by the provisions of the Education of the Handicapped Act as needing special education services (excluding those identified as gifted and/or talented), the program must address the specific needs of the student and be approved by a teacher with a valid certificate from the Commonwealth to teach special education or a licensed clinical or certified school psychologist. This written notification of approval must be submitted with affidavit.

If a homeschooled student is identified pursuant to IDEA as needing special education services, then the student’s school district or intermediate unit of residence may provide special education services to the student in accordance with its policies and practices.

The law requires that homeschooled students take statewide tests (PSSAs) or other authorized tests in grades 3, 5, and 8. The results must be reported in the portfolio; they are not reported to the school district. 

• Home Education and Private Tutoring Resources
   
• Home Education Program (PDE/BEC)
   
• Home Education Sample Affidavit – ELEMENTARY  
   
• Home Education Sample Unsworn Declaration – ELEMENTARY
   
• Home Education Sample Affidavit – SECONDARY
   
• Home Education Sample Unsworn Declaration – SECONDARY