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Pennsylvania Homeschool Documents & Templates

Every document you need to homeschool legally in Pennsylvania, based on 24 P.S. Section 13-1327.1 (Home Education Program).

These are general templates for Home Education Program, the most common of Pennsylvania's 3 pathways. Our free wizard generates personalized documents with your name, address, and district filled in.

What documents do you need?

Notice of Intent

Required. Send to superintendent of the school district of residence by August 1 annually; prior to commencing if starting mid-year

Withdrawal Letter

Required. Send to superintendent of the school district of residence

Assessment Results

Submit to superintendent of the school district , annual

Progress Reports

Submit annual to superintendent of the school district

Annual Renewal

Required by August 1

Notice of Intent

What to file
detailed plan
Send to
superintendent of the school district of residence
Deadline
August 1 annually; prior to commencing if starting mid-year
How often
annual
Free-form letter accepted?
Yes. You can write your own letter instead of using an official form.

Your notice must include:

  • •parent/guardian name
  • •child's name
  • •child's age
  • •address where instruction takes place
  • •parent/guardian phone or email
  • •list of subjects to be taught
  • •educational plan or objectives

Notarization is required.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(b)

First-time vs. renewal

First-time filing

Deadline: Prior to commencement (may file at any time)

Attachments:

  • •immunization records
  • •criminal history check

Annual renewal

Deadline: By August 1 each year; evaluator's certification by June 30

Starting mid-year?

File notarized affidavit with superintendent prior to commencement

Withdrawal Letter

Status
Required if your child is currently enrolled in school
Send to
superintendent of the school district of residence
Practical tip: The notarized affidavit itself serves as official notice of withdrawal. File it with the superintendent before or at the same time you withdraw from public school. Best practice is to also send a separate written withdrawal letter to the school principal.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(a)

Assessment Results

Submit to
superintendent of the school district
Frequency
annual
Submission deadline:
06-30
Practical tip: Your evaluator must be a PA-licensed teacher, a teacher at a PA-licensed private school, a licensed clinical or school psychologist, or another qualified person approved by the superintendent. The evaluator cannot be the supervisor or their spouse. Acceptable standardized tests include nationally normed tests (Iowa, CAT, Stanford, Terra Nova) or PSSA. The parent may not administer the standardized test.

See our full assessment guide for Pennsylvania for accepted test types, minimum scores, and remediation details.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(e)

Progress Reports

Frequency
annual
Submit to
superintendent of the school district
Evidence required:
evaluator's certification or letter
Submission deadline:
06-30
Practical tip: If the superintendent sends a certified letter stating the program is out of compliance, you have 30 days to respond with a certification that the program is in compliance. If you do not respond, the school board will schedule a hearing. The hearing examiner must be independent (not a school district employee). You may appeal the examiner's decision to the Secretary of Education, Commonwealth Court, or court of common pleas.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(b), (e)

Annual Renewal

Deadline
August 1
Practical tip: If the superintendent sends a certified letter stating the program is out of compliance, you have 30 days to respond with a certification that the program is in compliance. If you do not respond, the school board will schedule a hearing. The hearing examiner must be independent (not a school district employee). You may appeal the examiner's decision to the Secretary of Education, Commonwealth Court, or court of common pleas.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(b), (e)

Recordkeeping requirements

Varies by pathway. Home Education Program: ["reading_log","work_samples","writing_samples","test_results"]; Private Tutoring: undefined; Religious Day School Extension / Satellite Program: undefined

  • ✓Attendance records
  • ✓Grades or evaluations
  • ✓Student portfolio

Records may be reviewed by the district.

Portfolio must include:

  • •reading log
  • •work samples
  • •writing samples
  • •test results

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(e)

Other ways to homeschool in Pennsylvania

This page covers Home Education Program. Pennsylvania offers 3 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:

  • •
    Home Education Program(this page): You file a notarized affidavit with your superintendent by August 1 each year, teach required subjects for 900-990 hours, and submit a portfolio with an evaluator's certification by June 30. Standardized testing required at grades 3, 5, and 8. The most common pathway — structured but manageable.
  • •
    Private Tutoring: A Pennsylvania-certified teacher tutors your child. The tutor files credentials with the superintendent — no approval is needed. No portfolio or standardized testing required — the certified teacher provides accountability. This pathway requires hiring a credentialed tutor, making it less practical for most families.
  • •
    Religious Day School Extension / Satellite Program: You enroll as part of a religious day school extension program. Requirements may differ from the standard Home Education Program and vary by district interpretation. This pathway is less clearly defined in statute and is primarily used by families with religious motivations.

Our wizard helps you choose the right one and generates the correct documents. Compare all pathways for Pennsylvania

Get your personalized documents

These are general templates. The wizard generates documents with your name, address, and district already filled in, ready to download and send.

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Requirements sourced from 24 P.S. Section 13-1327.1 (Home Education Program). Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026