Learn the PA Homeschool Law
When Do I Have to File Documents With My School District?
- Public schools are responsible for enforcing compulsory attendance laws, so documents need to be filed with the school district before your child is considered truant. Any child that is 6 years old as of September 1st needs to be filed for. From Section 1326:
Section 1326- Definitions
“Compulsory school age” shall mean the period of a child’s life from the time the child’s parents elect to have the child enter school and which shall be no later than six (6) years of age until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age. The term does not include a child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited, licensed, registered or approved high school. (Def. amended June 28, 2019, P.L.117, No.16)
“Truant” shall mean having incurred three (3) or more school days of unexcused absences during the current school year by a child subject to compulsory school attendance under this article.
- To continue homeschooling, you must file your new affidavit/unsworn declaration each year by August 1.
With Whom Do I File?
- The superintendent of your local school district.
(1) A notarized affidavit of the parent or guardian or other person having legal custody of the child or children, filed prior to the commencement of the home education program and annually thereafter on August 1 with the superintendent of the school district of residence
What Documents Must I File?
- A completed and notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration.
- An outline of proposed education objectives for each of the required subject areas for the level of instruction for each student.
- Evidence of the child’s immunization and medical and dental care.
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If you have a child with a learning disabled or a student with an IEP, you may also need a statement from a properly qualified person that the educational plan is appropriate for the child.
What Grade Level Should I Say My Child is in?
- The law does not require that you declare a grade level, when you file you provide the childs age.
- You do not need to have the age of your child and the conventional school grade match up.
What Must I Do During the School Year?
- Keep a contemporaneous log which designates by title the reading materials used.
- Keep track of EITHER 180 days OR 900 hours in the elementary grades, and either 180 days or 990 hours in the secondary grades.
- Compile a portfolio of sample work accomplished by the student.
- For kids in grades 3, 5 and 8 visit our standardized testing page
What Do I Turn in at the End of the Year?
- At the close of the year, you must provide a statement to the local school district from a qualified evaluator who states that your student is making sustained educational progress.
- You must also submit a portfolio of work representative of your student’s work to your evaluator.
- If your child has finished the third, fifth, or eighth grade, you need to submit the results of standardized achievement testing for the evaluator to verify completion.
How Much Do I Have to Teach?
- The law states that you must teach either 180 days or 900 hours in the elementary grades, and either 180 days or 990 hours in the secondary grades. You do not need to keep detailed lesson plans or daily logs. You can decide what constitutes a school day.
What Control Does the District Superintendent Have?
- Almost none.
- You must appropriately file each year, meet the 180 days or 900/990 hours requirement, test your child in grades 3, 5, and 8, and your evaluator must state annually that you are making sustained educational progress.
- You must maintain compliance with the health/medical services requirements.
- If you meet these requirements, the school district has no other control over you.
Tips
- Set goals for each child (intellectual, physical, spiritual, social – see Luke 2:52).
- Determine what you want covered this year.
- Order appropriate materials to accomplish goals.
- Decide on “school” schedule.
- This schedule can be whatever works best for your family.
- You are not required to follow a typical public schooling schedule of 8-3, Monday- Friday, September-June.
- For example, some families may use the regular public school schedule, and others may educate year-around, and others may work eights weeks on, one week off, for five cycles. They may begin at 6 a.m. and finish by 10 a.m., or they may eat a late breakfast because dad works night shift, and they may work on lessons from 10 till 3.
- Peruse materials and determine what you will cover and what you will not. Your curriculum is a tool, not a master.
- Divide materials by number of weeks or number of days.
- Build in some “down time.” Plan to succeed by recognizing that there will be tough days, sick days, good weather days, catch-up laundry days, etc.
- Lay out a framework (1 math lesson per day M-Th with math game Friday; 1 Learning Language Arts Through Literature lesson per week, 1 science unit per month, etc.).
- Write out a plan to accomplish your goals. Use pencil!
- Measure yourself against the goals God has given you, not against your neighbor.