Overview
Pennsylvania has one of the more detailed homeschool laws in the country. A parent, guardian, or legal custodian who supervises a home education program must meet qualification, annual filing, instructional-time, subject, portfolio, testing, and annual-evaluation requirements.
Families may use Alabama Church School for curriculum and academic services, but enrollment with an outside school or curriculum provider does not replace Pennsylvania's home-education filings and annual compliance requirements.
Compulsory School Attendance Age
Pennsylvania compulsory school attendance generally applies from age 6 until age 18, subject to statutory exceptions.
Supervisor Qualification
The supervisor of the home education program must be the parent, guardian, or person having legal custody of the child and must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Annual Affidavit or Unsworn Declaration
Before beginning the home education program and annually thereafter by August 1, the supervisor must file either a notarized affidavit or an unsworn declaration with the superintendent of the school district of residence.
The filing includes required identifying information, certification regarding certain criminal convictions, an outline of proposed educational objectives by subject area, and required health/immunization documentation or applicable exemptions.
Instructional Days and Hours
A Pennsylvania home education program must provide either:
• At least 180 days of instruction per year • At least 900 hours of instruction per year at the elementary level • At least 990 hours of instruction per year at the secondary level
Required Elementary Subjects
At the elementary level, required areas include English with spelling, reading, and writing; arithmetic; science; geography; U.S. and Pennsylvania history; civics; safety education including fire prevention; health and physiology; physical education; music; and art.
Required Secondary Subjects
At the secondary level, required areas include English including language, literature, speech, and composition; science; geography; social studies including civics, world history, U.S. and Pennsylvania history; mathematics including general mathematics, algebra, and geometry; art; music; physical education; health; and safety education including fire prevention.
Portfolio and Records
The supervisor must maintain a portfolio containing records and materials demonstrating the student's educational work.
The portfolio is reviewed as part of the required annual evaluation. Families should also maintain attendance, grades, course lists, reading lists, test results, transcripts, and graduation records.
Standardized Testing
In grades 3, 5, and 8, the portfolio must include results from the Pennsylvania statewide assessment in reading/language arts and mathematics or an approved nationally normed standardized achievement test.
Pennsylvania publishes a list of approved alternative nationally normed tests. Homeschool students are not required to take Keystone Exams.
Annual Evaluation
Each homeschooled student must receive an annual evaluation by a qualified evaluator.
The evaluator may be a licensed clinical or school psychologist, a Pennsylvania-certified teacher, or a qualified nonpublic-school teacher or administrator meeting statutory requirements.
The evaluation report must be submitted to the school district by June 30 each year.
Graduation Requirements
Pennsylvania law establishes minimum home-education graduation coursework for grades 9 through 12:
• 4 years of English • 3 years of mathematics • 3 years of science • 3 years of social studies • 2 years of arts and humanities
A diploma awarded by the homeschool supervisor or an approved diploma-granting organization may carry the rights and privileges provided by Pennsylvania law when the statutory conditions are satisfied.
Curriculum Freedom
Parents choose curriculum and educational materials, but the program must provide the required subjects, instructional time, portfolio, testing, and annual evaluation required by Pennsylvania law.
Alabama Church School Services for Pennsylvania Families
Pennsylvania families may choose Alabama Church School for complete curriculum, attendance resources, academic records, report cards, transcripts, diplomas, graduation documentation, and educational support.
Enrollment with Alabama Church School does not replace the Pennsylvania supervisor's responsibility to file the annual affidavit or unsworn declaration, maintain the portfolio, provide required instructional time and subjects, complete testing in grades 3, 5, and 8, obtain the annual evaluation, and submit the evaluator's report by June 30.
Pennsylvania Homeschool Law References
- 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1 — Home Education Program
- Pennsylvania Department of Education — Home Education Program
- Pennsylvania Department of Education — Home Education and Private Tutoring Guide
- Pennsylvania Department of Education — Approved Alternative Standardized Tests
Families should review current state law and official education-agency guidance when beginning homeschooling because procedures, deadlines, and program requirements can change.
How Alabama Church School supports Pennsylvania families
ACS does not replace your state's homeschool requirements — it gives families complete curriculum, academic records, transcripts, diplomas, and documentation while you continue satisfying Pennsylvania law.
Nearby state homeschool guides
Families moving to or from Pennsylvania often review these states next.