October 2026 · Legal
How to Start Homeschooling in Pennsylvania: Affidavit, Portfolio and Evaluation
To start homeschooling in Pennsylvania, the parent (the "supervisor") files a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration with the superintendent of your school district, with an outline of education objectives by subject and the required health records attached. You keep a portfolio through the year, test in grades 3, 5 and 8, and have a qualified evaluator review the portfolio and interview your child. The evaluator's written report goes to the superintendent by June 30. Your first year can begin as soon as the affidavit is filed; after that it's due by August 1 each year.
Pennsylvania has a reputation for being strict, and it does ask for more paperwork than most states. But it's a predictable yearly cycle, and the rules are written down in one statute: 24 P.S. §13-1327.1.
Pennsylvania Homeschool Law at a Glance
File with the district?
Yes, an affidavit
Deadline: Before you begin; then by August 1 each year (§1327.1(b)(1))
Attach an outline of proposed objectives by subject plus immunization and required health-service records, or a documented exemption.
Instruction time
180 days or hours
Minimum: 180 days, or 900 hours (elementary) / 990 hours (secondary)
Pennsylvania's compulsory attendance ages are 6 to 18. Kindergarten isn't required.
Who can supervise?
Parent with a diploma
Requirement: High school diploma or equivalent
The affidavit also certifies that no adult in the home has been convicted of certain offenses in the past five years.
Step by Step: Starting Homeschool in Pennsylvania
1. File your affidavit
Use your district's form or the sample affidavit in the Department of Education's Basic Education Circular. Include your name, each child's name and age, the program's address and phone number, and the attachments above. Check your district's board policy for which forms it uses. Until it's filed, the home education program doesn't legally exist, so file before you withdraw a child who is enrolled.
2. Teach the required subjects
§1327.1(c) lists them. At the elementary level they include English (spelling, reading and writing), arithmetic, science, geography, U.S. and Pennsylvania history, civics, safety education including fire prevention, health, physical education, music and art. The secondary list adds subjects like algebra and geometry, and sets graduation requirements for a home education diploma.
3. Keep a portfolio as you go
It includes a log made at the time of instruction that lists reading materials by title, samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials, and, in grades 3, 5 and 8, the results of the required standardized tests (or state assessments). Our printable workbook has a reading log and progress pages that fit this.
4. Get your annual evaluation
A qualified evaluator (for example a Pennsylvania-certified teacher, a licensed psychologist or another person allowed by the statute) interviews your child, reviews the portfolio and certifies in writing whether an appropriate education is occurring. You submit that certification to the superintendent by June 30. The evaluator is chosen and paid by you.
Common Pennsylvania Questions, Answered
- Do I have to file for kindergarten? No. Kindergarten isn't required, but PDE notes that if your child was enrolled in public school for kindergarten or above and then left to homeschool, an affidavit and evaluation are due every year.
- Can I use an online program? Yes, as curriculum. If you're running a home education program, the affidavit, portfolio and evaluation rules still apply.
- Are there other legal routes? Yes. Pennsylvania also allows a certified private tutor, a religious or private day school, or a cyber charter school, each with its own rules.
- Other states? See our state-by-state overview.
Want the Whole First Month Mapped Out?
The Homeschool Starter Guide ($19) walks you through choosing an approach, planning your year, selecting curriculum, scheduling and record-keeping, and includes a state-by-state legal reference.
Sources We Used
- Pennsylvania Department of Education: Home Education Program (Basic Education Circular)
- Pennsylvania Department of Education: Home Education and Private Tutoring Guide (PDF)
- Pennsylvania Public School Code, 24 P.S. §13-1327.1 (Home Education Program)
- HSLDA: Pennsylvania Homeschool Law
This is general information, not legal advice. We last checked these rules against the sources below in October 2026. Laws change, so confirm with the official sources before you file anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Next steps for your homeschool
Ready to go deeper? Get The Homeschool Starter Guidefor the complete step-by-step roadmap, or book a 1-on-1 consultationand we'll build a plan together for your family.
