Pennsylvania Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Pennsylvania, based on 24 P.S. Section 13-1327.1 (Home Education Program). Pennsylvania is classified as High regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home Education Program, the most common of Pennsylvania's 3 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Letter of Intent & instructional plan
Submit to superintendent of the school district of residence. Deadline: August 1 annually; prior to commencing if starting mid-year.
Deadline: August 1 annually; prior to commencing if starting mid-year
More details
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.
Send a withdrawal letter
If your child is currently enrolled in school, send a withdrawal letter to superintendent of the school district of residence.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
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.
Confirm your qualification
This pathway requires a high school diploma or GED.
Deadline: Before you start
More details
Supervisor must be the parent or guardian. Must have a high school diploma or GED. Must not have been convicted of certain criminal offenses within the preceding 5 years (Criminal History Background Check provisions).
Ongoing
Required subjects (varies by grade)
elementary–K–6: English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, science, geography, history of the United States and Pennsylvania, civics, safety education (including fire prevention), health and physiology, physical education, music, art. secondary–7–12: English (language, literature, speech, composition), mathematics (general math, algebra, geometry), science, geography, social studies (civics, world history, U.S. history, Pennsylvania history), safety education (including fire prevention), health and physiology, physical education, music, art
More details
Secondary level adds speech and composition to English, algebra and geometry to mathematics, and expands social studies. Trigonometry, biology, and chemistry may be included at the discretion of the supervisor but are not required. World languages are not required by statute.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 900 hours/year. You must track and document hours.
More details
180 days of instruction OR 900 hours (elementary, grades 1-6) / 990 hours (secondary, grades 7-12). No requirement to follow a specific school calendar or daily schedule. Hours should be logged and available for review.
Show your child's progress
Portfolio review or Standardized test or Teacher evaluation — annually. At grades: 3, 5, 8.
More details
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.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records, grades or evaluations, student portfolio. Records may be reviewed by the district.
More details
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.
Submit annual progress reports
Submit annual progress reports to superintendent of the school district. Annual renewal also required by August 1.
More details
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.
Filing requirements
- 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
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.
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓English (spelling, reading, writing)
- ✓arithmetic
- ✓science
- ✓geography
- ✓history of the United States and Pennsylvania
- ✓civics
- ✓safety education (including fire prevention)
- ✓health and physiology
- ✓physical education
- ✓music
Secondary level adds speech and composition to English, algebra and geometry to mathematics, and expands social studies. Trigonometry, biology, and chemistry may be included at the discretion of the supervisor but are not required. World languages are not required by statute.
Detailed requirements by grade
elementary–K–6
- ✓English (spelling, reading, writing)
- ✓arithmetic
- ✓science
- ✓geography
- ✓history of the United States and Pennsylvania
- ✓civics
- ✓safety education (including fire prevention)
- ✓health and physiology
- ✓physical education
- ✓music
- ✓art
secondary–7–12
- ✓English (language, literature, speech, composition)
- ✓mathematics (general math, algebra, geometry)
- ✓science
- ✓geography
- ✓social studies (civics, world history, U.S. history, Pennsylvania history)
- ✓safety education (including fire prevention)
- ✓health and physiology
- ✓physical education
- ✓music
- ✓art
Instructional time
- Hours per year:
- 900
180 days of instruction OR 900 hours (elementary, grades 1-6) / 990 hours (secondary, grades 7-12). No requirement to follow a specific school calendar or daily schedule. Hours should be logged and available for review.
Testing and assessment
- Accepted types
- Portfolio review, Standardized test, Teacher evaluation
- Frequency
- annually
- At grades
- 3, 5, 8
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 details.
Recordkeeping
- ✓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.
Reporting
- Progress reports
- annual reports to superintendent of the school district
- Annual renewal
- Required by 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)
Instructor qualifications
The instructor must have a high school diploma or GED.
Supervisor must be the parent or guardian. Must have a high school diploma or GED. Must not have been convicted of certain criminal offenses within the preceding 5 years (Criminal History Background Check provisions).
Other ways to homeschool in Pennsylvania
This checklist covers Home Education Program, the most common pathway. Pennsylvania offers 3 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home Education Program(this checklist) : 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. Compare all pathways for Pennsylvania
Related guides
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Pennsylvania checklistRequirements sourced from 24 P.S. Section 13-1327.1 (Home Education Program). Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026