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Homeschool laws in Pennsylvania

Checked Oct 11, 2026 against 5 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Pennsylvania to-do

For “Home education program (parent supervisor)”. 1 other legal way below.

  1. File the affidavit before you start First year
    The first affidavit, with its attachments, may be filed any time during the school year, before the program starts. Time counts only after it is filed.
  2. File the yearly affidavit Every year after
    By August 1 of each following school year (it may be filed from July 1).
  3. Take the grade 3, 5 or 8 standardized test Every year Grades 3, 5, 8
    During the school year in grades 3, 5 and 8 (PSSA or an approved nationally normed test); put the results in the portfolio before the evaluation.
  4. Send the evaluator's certification Every year
    By June 30 of each school year, to the superintendent of the district of residence.
  5. Ask for a letter of transfer before moving Every year
    If you move to another Pennsylvania school district: apply by registered mail to your current superintendent 30 days before the move.

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

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What Pennsylvania asks

Pennsylvania parents file a notarized affidavit (or unsworn declaration) with their school district before starting and by August 1 each year, then teach the required subjects for 180 days or 900 hours (990 hours in grades 7-12) and keep a portfolio with a reading log and work samples. Each year a qualified evaluator interviews the child and reviews the portfolio, the parent sends the evaluator's certification to the superintendent by June 30, and grades 3, 5 and 8 also need a state or approved standardized test.

School age: Ages 6–17. A child who is 6 on or before September 1 must attend school or start a home education program that year, until age 18 or high school graduation. Kindergarten is not required, but a child already enrolled in public kindergarten or above, or in first grade or above in another option (including a homeschool affidavit for first grade), is covered whatever their age.

Pennsylvania has 2 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Home education program (parent supervisor)

24 P.S. § 13-1327.1; 24 P.S. § 13-1327(d); 22 Pa. Code § 11.31a · Level 5: Most involved

All the details, deadlines
Notice
Every year: Before the program starts, then by August 1 every year: a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration with an outline of education objectives by subject and immunization and health-service records (or exemptions), sent to the superintendent of the school district of residence.
The state's form
Time
180 days a year or 900 hours (grades K–6) or 990 hours (grades 7–12)
The law asks for 180 days OR a number of hours: 900 hours a year at the elementary level (grades K-6) or 990 hours a year at the secondary level (grades 7-12). Time counts only after the affidavit is filed; the school year runs July 1 to June 30.
Subjects
  • English: spelling, reading and writing (K-6); language, literature, speech and composition (7-12)
  • arithmetic (K-6)
  • mathematics: general math, algebra and geometry (7-12)
  • science
  • geography
  • history of the United States and Pennsylvania
  • civics
  • world history (7-12)
  • safety education, including fire prevention
  • health (with physiology in K-6)
  • physical education
  • music
  • art
Assessment
Evaluation by a qualified evaluator: Every year, all grades: a qualified evaluator interviews the child and reviews the portfolio. Grades 3, 5 and 8 also take the state tests (PSSA) or an approved nationally normed test in reading/language arts and math; results go in the portfolio, not to the district.
The evaluator's written certification is submitted to the superintendent by June 30 (at the end of the program if it does not run the whole school year).
Portfolio
Yes, keep a portfolio
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • portfolio of samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials
  • log made at the time of instruction, listing reading materials by title and showing the days or hours
  • standardized test results in grades 3, 5 and 8
  • the annual written evaluation
Teacher
The supervisor (parent, guardian or legal custodian) must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and no adult in the home may have been convicted of the listed criminal offenses in the 5 years before the affidavit.

Deadlines

  • File the affidavit before you start: The first affidavit, with its attachments, may be filed any time during the school year, before the program starts. Time counts only after it is filed.
  • File the yearly affidavit: By August 1 of each following school year (it may be filed from July 1).
  • Take the grade 3, 5 or 8 standardized test: During the school year in grades 3, 5 and 8 (PSSA or an approved nationally normed test); put the results in the portfolio before the evaluation.
  • Send the evaluator's certification: By June 30 of each school year, to the superintendent of the district of residence.
  • Ask for a letter of transfer before moving: If you move to another Pennsylvania school district: apply by registered mail to your current superintendent 30 days before the move.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Reading list, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Year-end summary, High-school transcript, Course descriptions.

Another option: Private tutoring (PA-certified teacher)

24 P.S. § 13-1327(a); 22 Pa. Code § 11.31 · Level 3: Moderate

All the details
Notice
Not verified yet: check with your state: Not verified yet: check with your state
Time
180 days a year or 900 hours (grades K–6) or 990 hours (grades 7–12)
180 days OR 900 hours a year for an elementary student, or 990 hours a year for a secondary student.
Subjects
  • English: spelling, reading and writing (elementary)
  • arithmetic (elementary)
  • mathematics (secondary)
  • geography
  • history of the United States and Pennsylvania
  • science
  • civics
  • world history (secondary)
  • safety education, including fire prevention (elementary)
  • health
  • physical education
  • physiology (elementary)
  • music
  • art
Assessment
No assessment required
Portfolio
Yes, keep a portfolio
Reports
Not verified yet: check with your state
Records to keep
  • documentation of instructional time (logs or attendance records)
  • evidence of academic progress (work samples, assessments, progress reports)
Teacher
The tutor must hold a Pennsylvania teaching certificate and file background checks with the school district; a parent may tutor their own children only if PA-certified.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Year-end summary.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Keep your Pennsylvania records without the paperwork

Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Pennsylvania asks for.

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