Pennsylvania is one of the more structured states for home education. Under Pennsylvania homeschool law, most families operate a home education program. It is not as hard as it may seem, but there are many important details families need to know. The experts at Legacy Online School have supported families with online education and homeschooling for over 10 years, and we would be glad to share the basic information every parent should know.
Quick takeaways:
-
If you decide to start homeschooling, first learn about the legal rules before creating the education plan
- Homeschooling has both advantages and disadvantages. If you choose this type of education, it is important to think about your child’s physical activity and social life
Overview of Homeschooling in Pennsylvania
Homeschooling is permitted in Pennsylvania. Families are not required to submit separate notifications about immunizations. Parents need specific qualifications to teach their children or they must hire a professional tutor. Parents can homeschool their children at the age of 6 and must do the following:
- Notify the local school district about the transition to homeschooling
- Ensure core subjects are being studied by the children
- Conduct regular assessments and testing, and provide reports on the results
Growing Popularity
Students in Pennsylvania who were homeschooled made up 2.04% of the state’s K-12 population in 2021-22, according to John Hopkins School of Education. The number of homeschoolerscontinues to grow today due to the advantages this type of education brings. Homeschooling eliminates many problems of traditional education and is a good option for those who are tired of these problems.
State Laws and Homeschool Requirements
The legal framework most families follow is the Pennsylvania home education statute (24 P.S. § 13-1327.1), supported by PDE guidance and the Home Education and Private Tutoring Guide. PDE’s 2025 guide is especially useful because it explains how districts and families apply the law in practice. Visit the following websites to learn more about homeschooling laws and requirements in Pennsylvania:
Affidavit or Unsworn Declaration
This is the main requirement for homeschooling to be legally recognized. If parents choose the affidavit, it must be signed by a notary. The unsworn declaration does not need a notary, but it is signed under penalty of perjury. Parents choose the option they prefer and send the document to the district superintendent.
Deadlines and End-of-Year Submission
The annual evaluation is submitted by the supervisor to the superintendent by June 30 of each school year. That is why it is recommended to make things easier for the evaluator and keep a portfolio from the first day, so your child’s progress is well documented.
High School and Diploma Planning
PDE notes that Pennsylvania home education law includes a state-recognized high school diploma pathway (subject to statutory requirements), and the guide also discusses how districts may handle enrollment or transfer of home education credits differently. That means families should keep better records than they think they need, especially in high school.
If your student may return to a public school, apply to college, or shift into dual enrollment, careful documentation of courses and assessments matters. Some districts accept more homeschool credit than others, and PDE’s guide explicitly notes that practices vary.
Private Tutoring Option
Some families choose private tutoring instead of a standard home education program. PDE’s guide states that a private tutor must be PA-certified to teach in Pennsylvania public schools and must verify certification and background checks with the district.
How to Start Homeschooling in Pennsylvania?
If you are thinking about homeschooling, the best first step is to understand that Pennsylvania is a paperwork-first state. It means you should set up your process before the school year starts whenever possible. Families who want to homeschool in Pennsylvania usually have a much easier time when they begin with deadlines and documents instead of jumping straight into curriculum shopping. Pennsylvania’s PDE guidance and statute both make that structure very clear.
To homeschool your child legally, the parent or guardian acting as the supervisor of the home education program typically files a notarized affidavit or an unsworn declaration with the district superintendent. PDE’s Home Education Program page specifically states that this must be done before starting and annually thereafter by august 1. If you use an affidavit, you must notarize it. If you use an unsworn declaration, it is signed under penalty of perjury and does not require notarization.
A practical way to get started is to build your setup in this order: confirm your district process, prepare your filing, outline your education objectives, and then organize your first-year curriculum and recordkeeping system.
If your student is older, start transcript planning early. A homeschooler in high school may later need records for district re-entry or a state-recognized diploma pathway.
One more thing that helps: do not treat local district instructions as optional reading. PDE provides the statewide legal framework, but districts often post practical filing instructions and contact information that make the process easier. Checking both the state guidance and your district’s home education page can save you time and prevent avoidable delays in enrollment or compliance.
Support and Resources from School Districts
PDE’s guide outlines district responsibilities and support points that can be very useful to families when handled correctly. For example, school districts maintain records for home education students, which can matter for transfers and other administrative needs.
Pennsylvania families also have the right to borrow a textbook and other curricular materials under home school law, a detail many “quick guides” leave out. PDE’s guide specifically lists this right alongside extracurricular participation and annual evaluation requirements.
For students with disabilities, PDE also explains that districts must evaluate a child when a written request is made, and services may be available based on local policy and agreement. That does not mean the same model as full public school services, but it does mean families should ask informed questions instead of assuming the answer is always no.
Field Trips and Extracurricular Activities
Pennsylvania law gives a homeschooled student meaningful access to district extracurriculars, and PDE’s guide is more specific on this than many articles. It states that a school district must allow homeschooled students to participate in district extracurricular activities (with qualifications), including clubs, ensembles, athletics, and theatrical productions under the applicable law.
For field trips, the law does not work the same way as the extracurricular statute, but PDE’s guide highlights how homeschool co-ops and support groups often organize field trips and events.
Legacy Online School Overview
Legacy Online School has been helping students from around the world get an education and enter higher education institutions and secure jobs for several years. Our experts work with regular students, gifted children, and children with special needs. Our teachers develop individualized learning programs helping homeschool students deal with any problem. Our school provides the following academic support:
Visit these sites to read reviews from families about their children’s education at our school:
