Pennsylvania Homeschool Notice of Intent

Legal Framework

Pennsylvania's homeschool law is found in Title 24, Section 13-1327.1 of the Pennsylvania Statutes, commonly referred to as "Act 169" (passed in 1988). Pennsylvania is considered a moderately to heavily regulated state, requiring annual notification, specific subjects, a portfolio of student work, standardized testing at certain grade levels, and an annual evaluation by a qualified evaluator. The state also offers alternative paths through private tutoring and enrolling in a religious school's satellite program.

Homeschooling Options

Pennsylvania offers several legal paths for home-based education:

• Option 1: Home Education Program (Act 169) -- The most common choice. You file an affidavit, teach the required subjects, maintain a portfolio, and have an annual evaluation. This is what most people mean when they say "homeschooling in PA."
• Option 2: Private Tutoring -- You hire a Pennsylvania-certified teacher to tutor your child. The tutor must provide 180 days of instruction in the required subjects and submit regular reports.
• Option 3: Religious School Satellite Program -- Enroll your child in a religious day school that offers home-based instruction. The school supervises your homeschool and files paperwork on your behalf.
• Option 4: Cyber Charter School -- Enroll in a tuition-free public cyber charter school like PA Cyber, PA Virtual, or Commonwealth Charter Academy. Your child is technically a public school student learning from home, with PA-certified teachers and a provided curriculum.

Step-by-Step Process (Home Education Program)

1. File an affidavit with the superintendent. Before you begin homeschooling each year (by August 1 is recommended), submit a notarized affidavit to the superintendent of your school district. The affidavit must include the names and ages of children being homeschooled, the address where education will take place, the name of the parent/supervisor (who must have a high school diploma or equivalent), and an outline of the proposed education objectives for each subject by grade.
2. Obtain immunization records. Pennsylvania requires proof of immunization for homeschooled students (or a medical or religious exemption).
3. Teach the required subjects. Provide 180 days of instruction (or equivalent hours: 900 for elementary, 990 for secondary) in the mandated subjects.
4. Maintain a portfolio. Keep a log of instruction (made contemporaneously), designating reading materials used, along with work samples including writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials.
5. Administer standardized tests in grades 3, 5, and 8.
6. Have an annual evaluation. A qualified evaluator reviews the portfolio and interviews your child, then provides written certification that "an appropriate education is occurring."
7. Submit the evaluator's certification to the superintendent by June 30.

Required Subjects

Elementary level: English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, science, geography, history of the United States and Pennsylvania, civics, safety education (including fire prevention), health and physiology, physical education, music, and art.

Secondary level (grades 7-12): English (language, literature, speech, composition), science, geography, social studies (civics, world history, U.S. and PA history), mathematics (general math, algebra, geometry), art, music, physical education, health, and safety education. Optional subjects include economics, biology, chemistry, foreign languages, and trigonometry.

High school graduation: Four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, and three years of social studies.

Record-Keeping

Your portfolio is the centerpiece of Pennsylvania's homeschool compliance. The log must be created as you go (contemporaneous), not reconstructed at the end of the year. Include the titles of reading materials, work samples for each subject, and any standardized test results. Think of your portfolio as telling the story of your child's year in education -- it does not need to be fancy, but it needs to be thorough.