Pennsylvania Homeschooling – PA Homeschool Laws Firm but Fair
May 19th, 2008 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: General Homeschool PostsHowever, I want you to see just the opposite is true.
Pennsylvania laws are actually a good thing for our Pennsylvania homeschoolers.
Why?
- First, we will never have to go through the battle that is going on in California, where homeschoolers are scrambling to retain their rights to homeschool. Because early homeschoolers fought for a specific homeschool law in Pennsylvania, we know exactly what we must do to retain our rights to homeschool in our state.
- Second, our school district officials cannot simply move in to our homes and try to take away our rights to homeschool here in Pennsylvania. Because our Pennsylvania homeschool law clearly defines the process for us, we can simply follow that process and take advantage of the freedom we have to homeschool in Pennsylvania. As long as we follow that process, we retain the freedom to do it our way.
- Third, our homeschool laws require an evaluation by a certified teacher. This is one part of the Pennsylvania homeschool law for which I have mixed feelings.
- As an evaluator, I spend much of my time providing advice on how to address specific learning problems, how to provide advanced courses for exceptional students, how to handle electives, how to prepare students for college or the workforce, how to work with struggling readers, how to meet the expectations of the Pennsylvania homeschool law, and so much more. Parents have often expressed their appreciation and look forward to meeting with me each year.
- However, as a homeschool mom, I did not want to participate in the evaluation process. The thought of maintaining a portfolio of our school year seemed daunting and an appointment with an evaluator sounded like more trouble than it was worth. However, I found the homeschool evaluation to be valuable for my kids, who really enjoyed showing their homeschool evaluator all that we accomplished throughout the school year. And that portfolio becomes a wonderful record every year of the accomplishments of my kids.
- As the principal of Bridgeway Academy, the face to face evaluation is a wonderful time to put a face to the many names of Pennsylvania Bridgeway Academy homeschoolers. It is an opportunity to get to know our students and to see more than just their academic accomplishments.
Homeschoolers in Pennsylvania also have the distinct advantage of access to public school extra-curricular activities. On November 11, 2005, Pennsylvania became the 15th state to open public school extracurricular activities to homeschoolers.
Although, individual Pennsylvania school districts can still make their own policies on who is eligible for sports, Pennsylvania homeschoolers can no longer be excluded simply because they are homeschoolers.
In fact, Pennsylvania homeschoolers are also eligible to participate in school bands, school plays, and all other extracurricular activities.
This was an exciting addition to the homeschool laws in Pennsylvania and we were quick to take advantage of the opportunity for my daughter to join the chorus in our local school district.
Although not all homeschoolers wish to take advantage of their ability to access extra-curriculars, Pennsylvania homeschool laws have made it an option to consider.
Pennsylvania homeschooling law also requires children to be tested in grades 3, 5 and 8. This standardized testing requirement prepares our children for the reality of SATs, ACTs, and other testing that they will experience if they decide to continue their education at the college level.
Although many parents find the testing to be intimidating, the reality is that it can provide an excellent assessment of areas that we need to work on with our kids. I encourage parents not to put too much stock in standardized testing, but to watch for huge gaps that need to be filled. If we do not allow standardized testing to be our measurement for success, we can certainly use it as a tool in our homeschool program.
Homeschooling laws in Pennsylvania have also encouraged homeschoolers to organize and work together to meet the requirements established in our Pennsylvania homeschool law.
Homeschool support groups organize field trips, enrichment classes such as art, music, physical education, foreign language, etc., while local organizations open their doors to homeschoolers.
My children have had the opportunity to take part in science classes at the DaVinci Science Center in Allentown, where they studied physics, chemistry, and biology. They took advantage of monthly animal science classes at the Philadelphia Zoo; they were involved in art classes at the Baum School of Art in Allentown; physical education classes at Parkettes, a gymnastic training center in Allentown; and saw history come alive in Gettysburg, PA. They traveled with Bridgeway Academy students to Hershey Park for a homeschoolers day, and visited a model space shuttle and station with a group of other Bridgeway Academy students.
Many of those specialized classes would not have been organized if Pennsylvania homeschoolers were not working to meet the specific requirements of the Pennsylvania homeschool law.
So my encouragement to fellow Pennsylvania homeschoolers is to follow the requirements of the law and enjoy the freedom inherent in that law.
Six simple steps to the Pennsylvania Homeschool Law:
- File an affidavit by August 1st. Download your affidavit here or pick one up from your local school district.
Include the following:- A copy of your high school diploma
- A list of objectives for the school year (these will likely change throughout the school year but will give you a basic plan for the year)
- Medical records as required (check the law for specifics on when you must submit eye and dental exams, etc.)
- Maintain your portfolio as you go. This makes it so much easier when evaluation time rolls around. Simple things to include:
- A daily log (this does not need to detail what you did in each subject, but must simply record specific school days throughout the school year and totaling 180 days). I usually recommend using a calendar and checking off the days in which you conducted school.
- A few samples from each subject
- Tests from each subject
- Two to three writing samples
- A list of field trips (and/or brochures, pictures, etc.—not required but fun)
- A reading list
- Standardized test results
- Samples of art projects
- A list of art, music, health and PE activities
- Participate in standardized testing for students in grades 3, 5 & 8
- Schedule an evaluation for late spring
- Turn your evaluation and portfolio in to your school district by June 30th.
- Start the process again by August 1st for the upcoming school year.
Follow these simple steps to meet Pennsylvania homeschool requirements and enjoy the freedom that the law provides.
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1.
What if you havent filed an afidavit yet. Does that mean I cant homeschool my children. I do not want my child to attend schhol this year. What rights do I have
If you are homeschooling for the first time, this deadline does not apply to you. However, you do want to file your affidavit before you begin homeschooling.
If you decide to continue homeschooling next year, be sure to file the affidavit by August 1st. Best bet is to file your affidavit when you turn in your portfolio. That way you only need to keep one deadline in mind.
Do I have to file an affidavit by August 1st if I’ve never homeschooled before and my son will be 5 by Sept.?
No, you do not need to file an affidavit until your son is 8 years old.
If you were planning to homeschool a child for the first time who is eight and over, I would recommend meeting the August 1st deadline (just makes things easier). This prior question was from an individual who decided to homeschool after August 1st.
Hi, first time homeschooling. We will be starting in September. Can you tell us how in depth the curriculum outline for school district has to be? We will be starting with the kindergarten level. Thank you
We are considering moving to Pennsylvania, but it would most likely be after August 1. I currently homeschool our children. Would I just file an affidavit once we moved?
@Jerri (ID 10015): That is exactly what you can do. Just contact your school district once you arrive and pick up the affidavit forms. Or you can download affidavits from the Bridgeway Academy website at http://www.homeschoolacademy.com/resources/state-laws/pennsylvania-homeschooling-laws/ and have them ready when you arrive. Hope your move goes well!
I have been homeschooling my child in PA for the past 2 years and just learned of the need to file affidavits, have evaluations and turn in portfolios. I have not done so for for the past two school years and now I am terrified. What should I do?
Christina, How old is your child? You don’t have to file an affidavit, objectives or portfolios and evaluations until they are 8 years old (typically 2nd grade level). Just make sure you turn them in for the school year they will turn 8 during. This is my first year homeschooling and I am pulling my Daughter out of PS. She is already 8 so this will be our first year for all the nitty gritty stuff and I have 2 younger sons (early Pre school and P-K levels) They don’t need evaluations for several more years
She is going into the 6th grade.
Christina, just go ahead and file with the school district for the upcoming school year. You can obtain the affidavit from your district office, or click here http://www.homeschoolacademy.com/resources/state-laws/pennsylvania-homeschooling-laws/ for links to the PA Department of Education page. Feel free to contact me if you have any difficulties.
We’re moving to PA in the fall. We’ve researched the PA Homeschool law and can’t find how long we have to file an affidavit. Does the law provide for a specific time period for ano affidavit to be filed after moving in?
I enjoyes your article, but I respectfully disagree with you on the desirability of the PA homeschool law. We’ve homeschooled in GA, VA, and FL and find PA’s homeschool law unnecessarily complex, intrusive on our right to homeschool, too differential to the judgment of bureaucrats, and at the same time too vague where it shouldn’t be like in my question above. If this restrictive law is the price of legal predictability, it’s too high a price.
Thanks for your comment. Because I have never experienced the lack of a homeschool law, I cannot disagree with you. However, I can share that the majority of homeschoolers easily meet the academic requirements of the law. Therefore, if you focus on the affidavit, portfolio and evaluation you will find it easy to follow. And most evaluators and very willing to help with suggestions or answer questions as needed.
Sometimes the fact that there is a law can intimidate people; however, it is actually fairly simple to follow. Please feel free to drop me a note when you are here in PA and I will be happy to spend some time talking you through the dos and don’ts
As for the affidavit, if you file within a few weeks of arriving you should have no problem. If the school district responds negatively, just keep calm and be friendly. In many cases they themselves are not super familiar with the law. However, if things get rough, ask them to send a certified letter. That said, I am certain you will have no problem. The individuals who supervise the homeschool programs are usually very gracious and helpful.
We’ve JUST arrived from Oregon, with 2 children aged 7. We made the choice to home educate beginning this year and didn’t know until about 10 weeks ago that we needed to immediately come East for my husband’s business. Today is our 15th day here … and I’m wondering what my first steps need to be. We are renting a house … do I need to go to my local school or the actual district? Is there something I can download?
Tx for any and all assistance.
I saw that someone said one doesn’t need to file until age 8 – that would allow us the time to get more organized. We are utilizing several online solid ed programs, as a way to bridge things as we put our house together.
I’m just concerned that we be in compliance with whatever regulations exist.
Cindi,
As far as regulations go, it sounds as though you can relax this year. You are right that you do not need to register until your child is age 8. And that means that you have until next year.
In Pennsylvania, you must file an affidavit if your child turns eight before or during the first two weeks of the annual school term. However, if the child turns 8 during the rest of the school term, you do not need to file until the next school year. See PA Law 24 PS 13-1304 & 24 PS 13-1326.
So that means, you can get your feet wet this year, get settled in to your permanent school district and file your affidavit next year as early as July 1st but not required until August 1st. Once you file, you can begin homeschooling and counting the days towards your 180 days.
I’m considering pulling my son out of Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School and homeschooling myself with Alpha Omega…is it too late for this year. Can I submit an affidavit at this late date? He is in the 8th grade and has been with PAVCS since 2nd grade.
I am currently homeschooling my two daughters. They were both in public school last year ( K & 2nd ) grade and we pulled them out to homeschool. What I am wondering is what tests are required for them to take this year. They are in 1st & 3rd grade this year. Is my First grader required to take the Terra Nova ( since she is already registered for school)? And what are the tests that my 3rd grader would need to take?
Thanks so much!
Hi Marcy,
Homeschoolers in Pennsylvania need only offer the Terra Nova testing to their students in grades 3, 5 & 8. So no, your first grade student does not have to take the testing. Your third grade student may opt to take the Terra Nova, Stanford, Iowa or PSSAs (I believe those are the most common tests found in PA).
There are often opportunities to take the testing with other homeschoolers as a group if you prefer not to take the kids in to the school to be tested. If you are located within traveling distance to Allentown, Bridgeway Academy offers testing at the beginning of April. Any homeschooler may participate. You can call for information at 610-266-9016.
Hope this helps!
HI,
I had just pulled my daughter (1st grade) out of public school two weeks ago to homeschool. I had hand delivered a letter that I was taking her out and I was told that I coul dnot take her out b/c it was after the 3rd quater and the person that deals with this is not in. They were suppose to call me last week and still have not heard anything and I have call and left 3 messages.
I told them I was not sending her b/c I was in fear of her safety. I am still getting calls that she is absent from school. I called the school and they told me I need to fill out some papers at the district but noone every calls back..
Just wondering is there a law that u can not take your child out of school to homeschool after a certain time
Thanks in advance
Natisha
No, there is no law that you cannot pull her after the third quarter. You have the right to pull her at any time. Just be sure that you have filed your affidavit and objectives. If you have not completed this step and need some direction, you can find a sample at this site. http://www.catholichomeschoolpa.org/hsforms.htm.
You do not need to request permission and they should not be asking you to wait for a person to come in. Just file the affidavit and the objectives and get started. If you need help with curriculum, check out http://www.curriculumexpress.com or http://www.bridgewayacademy.com.
I have been looking to move to MD or PA. When I was looking at MD, they have an umbrella program to unite the homeschoolers & helps with the laws in MD. They also include PA homeschoolers, but not given preference. Is there a point to joining the umbrella in MD for a PA resident? My daughter is 5, so this is beginning to raise itself as something I need to make sure I am doing.
I would say there is no real benefit to joining an umbrella program in MD if you will be a resident of PA. In fact, at the age of 5, you do not need to do anything in PA to register as a homeschooler. The law does not require you to register with your school district until your daughter reaches the age of 8. Do you have a specific area in PA where you plan to reside? I would be happy to help you find a local support group with which you can connect. I think you will find that to be a great solution for you as you make your move.
If you are seeking an umbrella school, take a look at http://www.bridgewayacademy.com, which is located in Pennsylvania but serves students from all over the world.
It looks like we may be in southeastern York county. If not there then southern Lancaster county. Wow age 8, that’s really kind of nice. My husband’s territory will include Philly, DE, Baltimore, or DC, 3 days a week. We are planning on taking the girls to museums and such on the days when he travels more than an hour away. I have no idea how we are going to document this yet, but giving us 3 years really will take the edge off. MD was register by age 5, I was getting more ancy when we were looking there.
I would love a support group, this past year my 5 year old has really decided that friends are a really cool thing. Thank you so much for your help!
Jessica,
We are looking into homeschooling in fall. Where do we and how do we go about getting an Affidavit? I want to make sure we have have everything ready for fall. Thank you.
Tami
Tami Jackson (ID 15624) » You must file your affidavit on or before August 1st and can find a sample affidavit here or contact your school district to request an affidavit. Be sure to have it notarized before you submit it.
I attended an overview session of PA homeschooling laws and it was noted in this session that the mandatory testing can be given by anyone as long as it is not the primary person providing the education…or their spouse. There is no requirement to take the test in a school or with an organization that offers testing and that I could have the test administered by another relative, a neighbour, a minister, etc. It was also noted that if the homeschooler failed the standardized test, it was a marker of what needed improvement and that the test could be taken more than once. Is any of this true?
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for your comment. All of the information you were given at the overview session of PA homeschooling laws is correct.
Jessica
I am wondering what will happen if you have a child under eight but pull them out of school if they don’t like it. Are you then required to submit all the required homeschool paperwork and evaluation since they were in the system already even though they are only five or six? We have considered a public charter school but are afraid it may be more than we want to put on our son. If it means that I am setting myself up for more hassle if I then choose to homeschool, I just don’t want to bother with it. Thanks for your time.
Jessica,
Is there subjectivity in the term “extracurricular” among school districts? I would like to enroll my 4th and 5th graders in the elementary “4th and 5th grade chorus”. Is there the possibility that elementary chorus is not considered extracurricular? How does the law define it?
Cheri,
The law does not get that specific. However, I can tell you that my daughters took part in the elementary chorus at our local school district. Might be good to call the school just to inquire if they have an extracurricular activity for chorus. If they identify it as such then ask what you need to do to register your kids for it.
Hi Misty,
If your child has been in the school system already, you will have to file an affidavit as required by law. However, it does sound like more of a hassle than it really is–the trade off for the freedom in homeschooling is well worth the time it takes to meet the requirements of the law.
For help step by step through the process from selecting your curriculum, to filing the affidavit, to records, and portfolios, contact Bridgeway Academy. Having that support gives you the peace of mind that you are on track and can take advantage of all the homeschooling has to offer.
I’m planning to begin homeschooling my three children (ages 9, 7 and 5) this fall. I haven’t filed the affidavit yet but plan to soon. I’m wondering if I have to submit anything special for a child who has an existing gifted IEP or 504 Plan already in place. My children have both. (I know there is extra paperwork for an IEP, but I didn’t see a special requirement for GIEPs or 504 plans). Also, I am having trouble finding a Philadelphia area support group, but noted that you mentioned several local activities in your piece. Where is a good place to look for one? Thanks, in advance, for any advice you can offer. This process is obviously intimidating, perhaps more so because my children have some special needs.
Heather (ID 24671) » Hi Heather! You are on the right track–seeking the right information to ensure that things go smoothly. I will do my best to be helpful. You are correct that you are not required to submit information on your GIEPs. On the 504 plan, it will depend on the reason for the plan. If physical, then don’t worry about it. However, if it addresses academic accomodations, you will need to meet with a special education evaluator to have your objectives for the year reviewed and approved.
As for support groups, visit http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regional/PennsylvaniaSupport.htm#Philadelphia for a list of support groups in the Philadelphia area. There are also quite a few places in Philadelphia that offer options for homeschoolers. For example, the Philadelphia zoo will do any of their education programs for a homeschool group of 10 or more; the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia offers fencing lessons and many other organizations have started to cater classes to homeschoolers.
I know the process is intimidating but it will be well worth it! Especially because you will see that what you can do for your special needs kids is so much greater than what can happen in the schools. If you would like step by step help and support, contact Bridgeway Academy at 800-863-1474 http://www.bridgewayacademy.com. The admissions representatives can walk you through your questions and outline some options for you.
Hang in there! You will do great!
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