Pennsylvania Homeschooling High Regulation

Homeschooling in Pennsylvania: What You Need to Know

Manage your Affidavit, Objectives, and Portfolio without the headache. We keep your Pennsylvania homeschool records audit-ready.

Regulation Level

High Regulation

Oversight

Local School District Superintendent

At a Glance

  • Notarized Affidavit due annually by August 1st
  • Educational Objectives required
  • Medical/Immunization records required
  • Annual evaluation by qualified evaluator

Pennsylvania law requires a specific set of documents to be notarized and filed, along with ongoing tracking of days or hours. The requirement for an annual evaluation by a qualified evaluator adds an extra layer of preparation.

1

📜Affidavit & Objectives

Filed annually by August 1st with the local superintendent. Must be notarized and include educational objectives.

2

⚕️Medical Services

Evidence of immunization or exemption, and health/medical services required by law.

3

⏱️Instructional Time

180 days of instruction OR 900 hours (elementary) / 990 hours (secondary).

4

📂Portfolio & Evaluation

Maintain a portfolio with samples of work and a log of reading materials. Annual evaluation by a qualified evaluator (interview + portfolio review).

Common Challenges

Homeschooling in Pennsylvania comes with unique hurdles.

Sound Familiar?

These are the top struggles we hear from Pennsylvania families.

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The Portfolio Pile

Saving every worksheet and project in a giant box, then spending weeks organizing it before the evaluation.

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Counting Days vs. Hours

Trying to keep a manual log of days or hours and worrying if you'll hit the 180-day / 900-hour mark.

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Evaluator Prep

The stress of preparing for the meeting with the evaluator and ensuring you have 'enough' to show.

How HatchEDU Solves Pennsylvania Compliance

We've built specific tools to handle Pennsylvania's regulations.

Digital Portfolio Builder

Snap photos of work and upload them to Hatch. We organize your portfolio by subject and date automatically.

Smart Log

Track days and hours simultaneously. See your progress toward the 180-day/900-hour goal in real-time.

Evaluator-Ready Reports

Print a comprehensive summary and reading log for your evaluator. Make the review process smooth and impressive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to test every year?

No. Standardized testing is required in grades 3, 5, and 8. The results must be included in your portfolio.

Does the school district approve my curriculum?

No. You must submit objectives, but the district does not have the authority to approve or reject your specific curriculum materials.

Who can be an evaluator?

A licensed psychologist, a certified teacher (with 2 years experience), or a non-public school teacher/administrator (with 2 years experience).

Do I have to submit my portfolio to the district?

No! You submit the portfolio to the *evaluator*. You only submit the evaluator's certification letter to the district.

Can I start homeschooling mid-year?

Yes, you must file the affidavit and objectives before you begin homeschooling.

⚠️ Important Legal Notice

Homeschool laws can change. Always confirm requirements with your local school district or state education officials. HatchEDU provides tools to assist with compliance but does not provide legal advice.

Ready to simplify your Pennsylvania homeschooling?

Take the stress out of compliance and get organized with confidence.

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