Pennsylvania Homeschool Documents & Templates

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.

A notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration (permitted since April 2020 under the Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act, Title 42 Chapter 62) must be filed including: names/ages of children, address of home education program, assurance that required subjects will be taught, assurance of English-language instruction, criminal history certification (no disqualifying convictions within 5 years), and immunization/health screening certification. An outline of proposed educational objectives by subject area must accompany the affidavit.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(b)

First-time vs. renewal

Status

Required if your child is currently enrolled in school

Send to

superintendent of the school district of residence

The notarized affidavit must be filed with the superintendent before beginning homeschooling. The affidavit itself serves as official notice. Best practice is to also send a written withdrawal letter to the school. No statutory waiting period; homeschooling may begin once the affidavit is filed.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(a)

Submit to

superintendent of the school district

Frequency

annual

Annual portfolio review by a certified evaluator (PA-licensed teacher, teacher at PA-licensed private school, psychologist, or other qualified person per statute). Portfolio must contain: log of reading materials by title, samples of writing/math/other work, evidence of instruction in required subjects. Standardized testing required at grades 3, 5, and 8 in reading/language arts and mathematics. Acceptable tests include PSSA or nationally normed standardized tests (Iowa, CAT, Stanford, Terra Nova). Test results must be included in the portfolio submitted to the superintendent.

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

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(e)

Frequency

annual

Submit to

superintendent of the school district

Notarized affidavit filed annually by August 1. Educational objectives filed with affidavit. Portfolio and evaluator's certification submitted by June 30 each year. Standardized test results included at grades 3, 5, and 8. If superintendent finds non-compliance, written notice of deficiencies is sent; parent must respond within the timeline specified in the notice.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(b), (e)

Deadline

August 1

Notarized affidavit filed annually by August 1. Educational objectives filed with affidavit. Portfolio and evaluator's certification submitted by June 30 each year. Standardized test results included at grades 3, 5, and 8. If superintendent finds non-compliance, written notice of deficiencies is sent; parent must respond within the timeline specified in the notice.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(b), (e)

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

Records may be reviewed by the district.

Portfolio must include: log of reading materials by title, samples of writings/worksheets/workbooks/creative materials, log of instruction with number of hours, evidence that required subjects are taught. Immunization and health records must be maintained. Attendance records needed to demonstrate 900/990 hour compliance. Best practice is to retain records through the child's school-age years and beyond.

24 P.S. §13-1327.1(e)

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