Pennsylvania homeschool laws

Pennsylvania is among the most regulated homeschool states. Parents file a notarized affidavit (or unsworn declaration) with their local superintendent before starting and by August 1 each year, and must provide 180 days or 900 hours of instruction (990 hours at the secondary level). Parents keep a portfolio with a reading log and work samples (plus standardized test results in grades 3, 5, and 8), and a qualified evaluator's certification is due to the superintendent by June 30.

Expect ongoing requirements, which can include notices, hour or attendance logs, testing, portfolio reviews, or plan approval.

Note: Required courses differ by level. Grades K-6: English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, science, geography, history of the United States and Pennsylvania, civics, safety education (including fire dangers and prevention), health and physiology, physical education, music and art. Grades 7-12: English (language, literature, speech, composition), science, geography, social studies (civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania), mathematics (general mathematics, algebra, geometry), art, music, physical education, health, and safety education (including fire dangers and prevention).

• June 30: Annual evaluator certification due to superintendent

• August 1: Annual home education affidavit due

• English
• Arithmetic
• Mathematics
• Science
• Geography
• History of the United States and Pennsylvania
• Civics
• Social studies
• Safety education
• Health
• Physical education
• Music
• Art

• Elementary (grades K-6): 900 hoursPennsylvania also accepts 180 days of instruction instead of the hour total.
• Secondary (grades 7-12): 990 hoursPennsylvania also accepts 180 days of instruction instead of the hour total.

Parents keep a portfolio with a reading log and work samples (plus standardized test results in grades 3, 5, and 8), and a qualified evaluator's certification is due to the superintendent by June 30.

• A portfolio with a log, made at the time of instruction, that lists by title the reading materials used.
• Samples of the student's writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials.
• In grades 3, 5, and 8: results of a nationally normed standardized test (from the Department's approved list) or the Statewide tests in reading/language arts and math, not given by the parent.
• An annual written evaluation, based on an interview with the child and a review of the portfolio, by a licensed clinical or school psychologist, a Pennsylvania-certified teacher, or a qualifying nonpublic school teacher or administrator (never the supervising parent or their spouse).
• The evaluator's certification that an appropriate education is occurring goes to the superintendent by June 30.

Yes. HomeStudyPath can pre-fill a draft of these filings from your family's records:

• Annual home education affidavit due
• Annual evaluator certification due to superintendent

• Pennsylvania state education agency (opens in a new tab)
• 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1 (home education program) (opens in a new tab)

Independent summary: HSLDA's Pennsylvania page (opens in a new tab)