Pennsylvania Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026Homeschooling is legal in Pennsylvania, and most families use a home education program. You file a notarized affidavit or an unsworn declaration with your local school district superintendent, teach the subjects the law names, keep a portfolio, and have a qualified evaluator write an annual assessment. A second, narrower option exists: instruction by a Pennsylvania certified private tutor. Standardized testing applies in three grades.
Last Reviewed: August 14, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 14, 2027.
Pennsylvania Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | From age 6 to age 18 |
| Notification or registration | An affidavit or unsworn declaration filed with the superintendent of your district of residence, due by August 1 each year. A first program may begin at any point in the year |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | A home education program supervised by a parent or guardian, or instruction by a private tutor who holds Pennsylvania teacher certification |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | The supervisor must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, and must not have certain criminal convictions within the past five years. A private tutor must be a Pennsylvania certified teacher |
| Required subjects | Elementary: English including spelling, reading, and writing; arithmetic; geography; the history of the United States and Pennsylvania; science; civics; safety education; health including physical education and physiology; music; and art. Secondary: art, English, health, mathematics, music, physical education, science, and social studies |
| Instructional time | 180 days of instruction, or 900 hours per year at the elementary level and 990 hours per year at the secondary level |
| Testing or evaluation | A standardized test in grades three, five, and eight, plus an annual written evaluation by a qualified evaluator, due by June 30 |
| Required records | A portfolio with a contemporaneous log designating by title the reading materials used, plus samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials |
| Responsible government agency | Your local school district superintendent receives the affidavit and the evaluation. The Pennsylvania Department of Education publishes the statewide guidance and sample forms |
Two Ways to Teach at Home
Home education program. A parent or guardian supervises the program. This is the route most families use, and it carries the affidavit, the portfolio, the annual evaluation, and the testing years described below.
Private tutor. A tutor who holds Pennsylvania teacher certification provides the majority of a child's instruction for a fee or other consideration. This is a distinct legal path with its own requirements, not a variation on the home education program.
How to Start Homeschooling in Pennsylvania
- File the affidavit or unsworn declaration. Send it to the superintendent of your district of residence. It is due by August 1 each year, and a first program may begin at any point in the school year.
- Include everything the filing asks for. That means the child's name and age, the address where the program is located, a statement that instruction will be in English, your educational objectives by subject area, evidence of immunization, records of required health and medical services, an assurance that the program will comply with the law, and the criminal background certification.
- Plan the subjects and the hours. Build a year of 180 days, or 900 hours at the elementary level and 990 hours at the secondary level, covering the subjects for your child's level.
- Start the portfolio on day one. The reading log has to be made at the same time as the instruction, so it is far easier to keep as you go.
- Line up your evaluator early. The annual written evaluation is due by June 30, and qualified evaluators book up.
Testing, Evaluation, and Record Keeping
Pennsylvania asks for three things across the year: the portfolio, the standardized test in the required grades, and the annual evaluation.
The portfolio holds a log, made at the same time as the instruction, that designates by title the reading materials used, along with samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials. Standardized testing is required in grades three, five, and eight without exception.
The annual evaluation is based on an interview of the child and a review of the portfolio, and it is due by June 30. Evaluators must be qualified: licensed clinical or school psychologists, Pennsylvania certified teachers with two years of grading experience, or nonpublic school teachers with equivalent experience at the appropriate level. Choose someone who meets one of those descriptions, since an evaluation from anyone else will not satisfy the requirement.
Official Pennsylvania Homeschool Resources
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, Home Education and Private Tutoring
- Pennsylvania Home Education and Private Tutoring Guide
Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?
Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.
Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.