Homeschooling in Pennsylvania: what the state requires
The rules for homeschooling in Pennsylvania, in plain English, from the state’s own sources.
Checked October 1, 2026 against official Pennsylvania sources. State page: Pennsylvania Department of Education — Home Education and Private Tutoring. Compulsory school age: 6 to 18 (effective with the 2020-21 school year).
Home education program (24 P.S. §13-1327.1)
A parent, guardian or legal custodian with a high school diploma or equivalent supervises the program, files a notarized affidavit each year, keeps a portfolio, and has it reviewed by a qualified evaluator whose written evaluation goes to the district by June 30.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. Before the program begins; then annually by August 1 — Notarized affidavit to the superintendent of the school district of residence. Contents: supervisor name, child's name and age, address and phone of program site, instruction in English, outline of proposed education objectives by subject, evidence of immunization and required health/medical services, assurance of compliance, and certification that the supervisor and adults in the home have not been convicted of enumerated offenses within the past five years. Covers the school year July 1 – June 30. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, geography, history of the United States and Pennsylvania, science, civics, safety education (including fire prevention), health and physiology, physical education, music, art, mathematics, social studies (civics, world history, U.S. and Pennsylvania history) — Elementary (K-6): English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, geography, U.S. and PA history, science, civics, safety education incl. fire prevention, health (incl. physical education and physiology), music, art. Secondary (7-12): English, mathematics, science, social studies (civics, world history, U.S. and PA history), health, physical education, music, art (optional: economics, biology, chemistry, foreign languages, trigonometry, etc.). |
| Records | Required. Portfolio: a log made contemporaneously with instruction designating by title the reading materials used; samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials; grade 3/5/8 test results. Log documents 180 days or the required hours. Portfolio is no longer submitted to the district (only the evaluation). |
| Teacher | Supervisor must have a high school diploma or its equivalent (includes a supervisor-issued home education diploma after Oct. 31, 2014, a diploma from an approved diploma-granting organization, or a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma). |
| Other | Immunizations per 24 P.S. §13-1303(a) and health/medical services per Article XIV (medical or religious/ethical exemptions). Special-education students (not gifted) need program approval by a certified special-education teacher or licensed/certified psychologist. Act 55 of 2022 (2023-24): districts must allow homeschoolers in cocurricular activities, CTE, and academic courses up to 25% of the school day. |
By grade
| K–6 | 180 days or 900 hours a year |
|---|---|
| Grade 7–12 | 180 days or 990 hours a year |
Either 180 days or 900 hours per year at the elementary level (K-6), or 180 days or 990 hours per year at the secondary level (7-12).
Testing or evaluation in grade 3, grade 5 and grade 8. Standardized tests in grades 3, 5 and 8 in reading/language arts and mathematics (PSSA or a PDE-approved nationally normed test; no opt-out); results go in the portfolio. Annual written evaluation by a qualified evaluator (licensed clinical or school psychologist; PA-certified teacher, or nonpublic school teacher/administrator, with 2 years grading experience at the level; or another person with superintendent's prior consent; not the supervisor or spouse), who interviews the child and reviews the portfolio. Evaluation submitted to the district superintendent by June 30.
Subjects by grade: Elementary (K-6): English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, geography, U.S. and PA history, science, civics, safety education incl. fire prevention, health (incl. physical education and physiology), music, art. Secondary (7-12): English, mathematics, science, social studies (civics, world history, U.S. and PA history), health, physical education, music, art (optional: economics, biology, chemistry, foreign languages, trigonometry, etc.).
High school and graduation
The state sets requirements. Minimum courses in grades 9-12, stated in years: four years of English, three of mathematics, three of science, three of social studies, two of arts and humanities. Under Act 196 of 2014 (eff. Oct. 31, 2014) the home education supervisor issues a state-recognized diploma on PDE form 6008, signed by the student's 12th-grade evaluator; an affidavit must be filed for the graduation year. Alternatives: diploma from a PDE-approved home education association, or Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma. English 4.0, Mathematics 3.0, Science 3.0, Social Studies 3.0, Fine Arts 2.0.
Official sources:
- PDE — Home Education and Private Tutoring Guide (May 2026)
- PDE — Purdon's Statutes: Home Education Program (24 P.S. §13-1327.1)
- PDE — Home Education Diploma and Definitions
- PDE — Home Education and Private Tutoring
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Statute text on legis.state.pa.us could not be fetched (blocked); facts taken from PDE's guide and PDE's Purdon's page. Portfolio retention period not confirmed from an official source.
Private tutoring by a certified teacher (24 P.S. §13-1327(a); 22 Pa. Code §11.31)
A Pennsylvania-certified teacher (who may be the parent) provides the majority of instruction to one family at a time. No affidavit or annual evaluation is required.
For every child
| Notice or registration | Required. No affidavit. The tutor must verify Pennsylvania certification and clearances with the superintendent of the district of residence and report names and residences of children tutored (and when tutoring ends); the parent gives written assurance to the superintendent that instructional requirements are met (22 Pa. Code §11.31(b)(2)). |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, geography, history of the United States and Pennsylvania, science, civics, safety education (including fire prevention), health and physiology, physical education, music, art, mathematics, social studies (civics, world history, U.S. and Pennsylvania history) — Same elementary and secondary subject lists as the home education program. |
| Testing or evaluation | Not required. No routine testing or evaluation. On a complaint, the superintendent may request evidence of academic progress and documentation of required days/hours (22 Pa. Code §11.31(b)(3)). |
| Records | Required. Tutor or parent should keep portfolio-like documentation in case of a superintendent investigation. |
| Teacher | Must hold a valid Pennsylvania teaching certificate, with PA State Police, child abuse (DHS) and FBI clearances. |
| Other | Tutor reports 3 days of unexcused absence (24 P.S. §13-1332). Health/immunization records may be provided voluntarily. |
By grade
| K–6 | 180 days or 900 hours a year |
|---|---|
| Grade 7–12 | 180 days or 990 hours a year |
180 days or 900 hours (K-6); 180 days or 990 hours (7-12).
Subjects by grade: Same elementary and secondary subject lists as the home education program.
High school and graduation
PDE: no direct path to a state-recognized diploma through private tutoring and no graduation requirements. Options: Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma, or switch to a home education program for 12th grade.
Official sources:
Not confirmed on an official state page yet: Statute and 22 Pa. Code §11.31 text not fetched directly; facts from PDE's guide.
After graduation: what to plan for
Suggestions from Homeschool Corral, not state rules. Most families keep the college path open through 10th grade, then narrow.
- 4 English, 4 math (through Algebra II, pre-calculus if they can), 3–4 science with 2 labs, 3–4 social studies, 2–3 years of one foreign language, 1 fine arts
- A one-paragraph description for every high-school course; the parent signs the transcript and diploma
- PSAT in 10th and 11th; SAT or ACT by spring of 11th; dual credit, AP or CLEP where it fits
- A log of activities, service and work from 9th grade; two adults who can recommend them
- A Scholarship Finder profile by 11th grade; FAFSA when it opens in the fall of 12th
- A diploma and transcript with 4 English, 3 math, 3 science, 3 social studies; applied math every year
- Dual-credit career and technical courses in 11th–12th; OSHA 10 and first aid/CPR; a driver’s license
- Real projects and a part-time job logged as credits, with references; visit the union hall about pre-apprenticeships in 11th
- A parent-issued diploma and full transcript, signed and dated; recruiters ask for both
- Strong reading and arithmetic for the entrance test; a practice ASVAB in 11th
- Physical fitness as a logged course; service and leadership; for an academy or ROTC, the college list plus the SAT/ACT early
- The diploma and transcript anyway; personal finance and business basics as credits
- Work experience logged with hours and a reference from 10th grade; typing, spreadsheets, a clear email
- Keep the college path open: a foreign language and Algebra II cost little now
My Homeschool turns these into a checklist for each child, with the credits recorded in Transcripts counted against the plan.
PDE: umbrella schools, correspondence courses and private cyber programs are not separate legal options; families using them must still meet all home education program requirements.
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
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