How to Become an Evaluator

1. Licensed clinical psychologist

2. School psychologist

3. Pennsylvania certified teacher with two years grading experience at the level they evaluate (K-6 and/or 7-12)

4. Nonpublic school teacher or administrator with two years PA teaching experience within the last 10 years at the level they evaluate (K-6 and/or 7-12)

5. Persons with other qualifications, with the prior consent of the superintendent of the district of residence (sample letter below)

Some other things to keep in mind:

• Experience in teaching your own children can count for the required two years of grading experience. See law quote below.
• Elementary is grades K-6 and secondary is grades 7-12 according to the homeschool law.
• Evaluators are basically responsible for certifying that the family is following the law.
• Evaluator’s teaching certificate does not have to be active or maintain the Act 48 credits.
• No additional qualifications are needed in order to evaluate for a special education student.
• The supervisor or the spouse of the supervisor of the home education program is not allowed to be the evaluator for their home education program, regardless of any qualifications (24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(e)(2)). You may want to consider filing under the Private Tutor option.
• Continuing Education (Act 48) for an Evaluator – The law specifically exempts evaluators and private tutors from having to maintain an active status for Act 48 Continuing Professional Development. This means an evaluator does not have to maintain Act 48 hours (24 P.S. § 12-1205.1).

  • e) The requirements of this section and section 1205.2 5 do not apply to a professional educator not employed by a school entity who serves as an evaluator of a home education program authorized under section 1327.1 (e)(2) 6 or who provides private tutoring services as part of a home education program under section 1327.1

• Those with a teaching certification from another state can check to see if there is reciprocity between PA and their certifying state or can check to see how to transfer their certification to PA. They could also qualify under the option of Persons with other qualifications, with the prior consent of the superintendent of the district of residence.

The following is the definition of teaching experience from section 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(e)(1) of the PA Homeschool Law:

(i) A teacher or administrator who evaluates a portfolio at the elementary level (grades kindergarten through six) shall have at least two years of experience in grading any of the following subjects: English, to include spelling, reading and writing; arithmetic; science; geography; history of the United States and Pennsylvania; and civics.

(ii) A teacher or administrator who evaluates a portfolio at the secondary level (grades seven through twelve) shall have at least two years of experience in grading any of the following subjects: English, to include language, literature, speech, reading and composition; science, to include biology, chemistry and physics; geography; social studies, to include economics, civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; foreign language; and mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra, trigonometry, calculus and geometry.

(iii) As used in this clause, the term “grading” shall mean evaluation of classwork, homework, quizzes, classwork-based tests and prepared tests related to classwork subject matter.

More information and questions regarding being an evaluator can be found at this helpful Facebook Group:

• Becoming a PA Homeschool Evaluator

Sample Forms:

• Sample Evaluation Form
• Sample Letter Requesting Person of Other Qualifications

The following interviews contain valuable information regarding evaluations and being an evaluator: