Homeschooling in Pennsylvania? We’ll walk you through it.

The portfolio stays with you. It includes a log, made as you go, of the reading materials you use by title; samples of your child's writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials; and, in grades 3, 5, and 8, standardized test results in reading/language arts and mathematics. Each year a qualified evaluator interviews your child, reviews the portfolio, and certifies whether an appropriate education is occurring. You submit only that certification to your superintendent by June 30.

Your program provides 180 days of instruction, or 900 hours at the elementary level or 990 hours at the secondary level. At grades 3, 5, and 8, your child takes a nationally normed test from the Pennsylvania Department of Education's list, or the statewide tests. The test may not be given by the child's parent or guardian. Results go in the portfolio; they are not sent to the district.

The affidavit includes a certification, signed by the supervisor, that the supervisor, all adults living in the home, and anyone with legal custody of the child have not been convicted of the criminal offenses listed in Section 111(e) of the School Code within the past five years.

If your child has been identified as needing special education services, your home education program must address the child's specific needs and be approved by a teacher certified in special education or a licensed clinical or certified school psychologist. Written notice of that approval is submitted with your affidavit (24 P.S. 13-1327(d)).

Pennsylvania offers three pathways. The Home Education Program (13-1327.1) is run by the parent as supervisor. Private Tutoring (13-1327(a)) requires a Pennsylvania-certified teacher, paid for the instruction, who provides most of the instruction to children of a single family and files a copy of the certification and criminal history record with the superintendent. A religious day school (13-1327(b)) is a day school operated by a bona fide church or other religious body that meets the statute's days or hours and course requirements, with the principal's notarized affidavit filed with the Department of Education. Testing and attendance records are not required of the family by state law for the tutoring and religious school options; the tutor or school reports enrollment, withdrawals, and unexcused absences to the school district (24 P.S. 13-1332).

Evaluator selection. Your evaluator can be a licensed clinical or school psychologist, a Pennsylvania-certified teacher, or a nonpublic school teacher or administrator with at least two years of teaching experience in a Pennsylvania school within the last ten years, with experience at your child's level (elementary or secondary). Others may evaluate with the superintendent's prior consent. The evaluator cannot be you or your spouse.

Extracurriculars and courses. Under 13-1327.1(f.1), your school district of residence must let your home-educated child participate in activities such as clubs, musical ensembles, athletics, and theatrical productions, if your child meets the eligibility and tryout criteria. Under 13-1327.1(f.2), districts must also allow participation in cocurricular activities and in academic courses equaling at least one quarter of the school day, under district policies.

Portfolio tips. Your portfolio does not need to be elaborate. A reading log (titles), representative samples of work, and test results in grades 3, 5, and 8 cover the statutory contents. Many families use a three-ring binder organized by subject.

Special education services. The supervisor may ask the school district or intermediate unit to provide services for a child with special needs. When both agree, services are provided in the public schools or a licensed private school.

High school. Under 13-1327.1(d.1), a student who completes the home education graduation requirements can receive a diploma awarded by the supervisor on the Department of Education's standardized form, signed by the student's twelfth grade evaluator, or a diploma from a Department-approved diploma-granting organization.