Homeschool Requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of the more demanding states. Pennsylvania asks for more than most. It is entirely manageable once it is written down in one place, which is what this page is for. Nothing here is harder than it looks; there is just more of it.
What you file, and by when
Yes. A notarized affidavit OR an unsworn declaration (Act 196 of 2014 allows the unnotarized declaration) filed with the superintendent of the district of residence before starting the first time, and annually thereafter by AUGUST 1. Contents: name of the supervisor (a parent/guardian who has a high school diploma or equivalent); name and age of each child; address and phone; assurance that subjects are taught in English; outline of proposed educational objectives by subject area; evidence of required immunizations (or exemption) and of health and medical services; and a certification that the supervisor, all adults living in the home, and any person with legal custody have not been convicted within the past five years of the criminal offenses enumerated in 24 P.S. § 1-111(e).
Days or hours
180 days OR 900 hours per year at the elementary level; 180 days OR 990 hours per year at the secondary level. Either the day count or the hour count satisfies the requirement.
Subjects you must cover
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, and art. Secondary (7-12): English (language, literature, speech, composition), mathematics (general math, algebra, geometry), science, geography, social studies (civics, world history, U.S. and Pennsylvania history), art, music, physical education, health, and safety education.
Records you keep
Portfolio required, maintained contemporaneously: a log of reading materials used, samples of any writings/worksheets/workbooks/creative materials, standardized test results where applicable, and documentation showing sustained progress in the overall program. Retained by the parent; the evaluator reviews it and, in some districts, the superintendent may request it. Keep portfolios for the duration of the program plus several years.
Testing or evaluation
Two layers. (1) Standardized testing: students in grades 3, 5, and 8 must take a nationally normed standardized test (or the PSSA) in reading/language arts and mathematics; results go in the portfolio. No minimum score. (2) Annual written evaluation: required every year for every student, conducted by a qualified evaluator, a licensed clinical or school psychologist; a Pennsylvania-certified teacher with at least two years of teaching experience within the last ten years; or a nonpublic school teacher or administrator with the same experience (elementary-level experience to evaluate elementary students, secondary-level for secondary). The evaluator interviews the student, reviews the portfolio, and certifies that an appropriate education is occurring. The evaluator may not be the supervisor or the supervisor's spouse. The evaluator's certification must be submitted to the superintendent by JUNE 30 each year.
Diplomas and transcripts
Pennsylvania is the strongest state in this region for parent-issued diplomas. Under Act 196 of 2014, the home education supervisor issues a diploma that Pennsylvania law recognizes as equivalent to a public school diploma for employment, higher education, and state licensure; PDE publishes the official diploma form and definitions. To qualify, the student must complete, in grades 9-12: 4 years of English, 3 years of mathematics, 3 years of science, 3 years of social studies, and 2 years of arts and humanities. The affidavit and the annual evaluator certification must be on file with the superintendent for the graduating year. Pennsylvania has no ESA program for homeschoolers; the EITC/OSTC tax-credit scholarships fund private school tuition only and the proposed Lifeline/PASS scholarship was not enacted for home education. Families may alternatively enroll in a licensed or accredited PA day/boarding school program under 24 P.S. § 13-1327(b) instead of a home education program.
Where this comes from
Statute: 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1 (Home Education Program), as amended by Act 196 of 2014; see also 24 P.S. § 13-1327 and 22 Pa. Code § 11.31a
Last reviewed: July 2026 · our confidence in this entry: high
Homeschool law changes, and a page like this goes stale without announcing it. Check the statute above against your own reading before a filing deadline. If we are out of date, we would rather hear it from you than have you find out at the district office.
Keeping the records is the other half of this. Our Records System has the editable transcript with the GPA already wired, 131 course descriptions, and this same statute-cited summary for all fifty states and DC. Thirty-nine dollars, one household, however many children you have.