When beginning your homeschool journey in Pennsylvania, the most important thing is to read the law. The law contains most of the answers to any questions that you may have. Click HERE to read the law for yourself.
Here is an overview of some of the main points to get you started. Use the contact page to send any questions you may have.
How to begin homeschooling in PA –
- Hand in an affidavit or an unsworn declaration and objectives. If you are homeschooling more than one child, they can all be listed on the same affidavit/unsworn declaration. Each child should have their own objectives. These items get sent to your school district’s superintendent. Once you hand in this paperwork you can start homeschooling. You do NOT need to wait for approval to begin homeschooling. By handing in these items you are informing the district that you are homeschooling your child. The law outlines what needs to be included on these papers. You can find an affidavit, unsworn declaration, and objectives on the Homeschool Resource Page.
- If you are a new homeschooler, you can hand in the affidavit/unsworn declaration and objectives anytime before you begin homeschooling. Returning homeschoolers need to hand them in by August 1st.
Throughout the school year –
- The homeschool law tells us what needs to be taught.
- “At the elementary school level, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include spelling, reading and writing; arithmetic; science; geography; history of the United States and Pennsylvania; civics; safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires; health and physiology; physical education; music; and art.”
- ”At the secondary school level, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry; art; music; physical education; health; and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires. Such courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor of the home education program, economics; biology; chemistry; foreign languages; trigonometry; or other age-appropriate courses as contained in Chapter 5 (Curriculum Requirements) of the State Board of Education.”
The subjects listed need to just be covered at some point in some way. You do not need to have a full year or use a curriculum to cover the subjects listed. As the homeschool supervisor you determine how each subject is covered and for how long. “The dangers and preventions of fires” is the only one that needs regular and continuous instruction.
- For Graduation
- The following minimum courses in grades nine through twelve are established as a requirement for graduation in a home education program:
- (1) Four years of English.
- (2) Three years of mathematics.
- (3) Three years of science.
- (4) Three years of social studies.
- (5) Two years of arts and humanities.
- The following minimum courses in grades nine through twelve are established as a requirement for graduation in a home education program:
End of the year –
- Portfolio
- The portfolio needs to have the following items:
- samples of work
- curriculum log
- results of standardized testing if your child is in 3rd, 5th or 8th
- The portfolio needs to have the following items:
- Evaluation
- The evaluation is an opportunity for an evaluator to see that learning occurred throughout the school year. An evaluator will have a little interview with your child. Every evaluator is different. It is best to find an evaluator that fits your family and the style of your homeschool. The evaluator will fill out a form stating that an evaluation was completed, that every thing was in the portfolio and that learning occurred. The homeschool supervisor hands this form into the school district by June 30th.
Willowdale Homestead 