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PENNSYLVANIA HOMESCHOOL LAW
Compulsory
School Age: 8 - 17
Pennsylvania
state law offers three legal homeschooling options: 1) establish and
operate a homeschool, 2) use of a private tutor, and 3) operate a homeschool
as a satellite of a church-operated day school.
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The first option
is to establish and operate a homeschool. Parents wishing to
school their child under this option must file a notarized
affidavit with the local school superintendent before starting the
homeschool program and annually thereafter by August 1.
Homeschool students are required to receive 180 days of instruction
(or 900 hours for elementary grades and 990 hours for secondary
grades).
Students are to be instructed in required subjects as follows:
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Elementary
grades: English, spelling, reading, writing, math, U.S. history,
Pennsylvania history, civics, health and physiology, physical
education, music, art, geography, science, safety, and fire
prevention
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Secondary
grades: English language, literature, speech and composition,
science, geography, civics, world history, U.S. history,
Pennsylvania history, algebra, geometry, art, music, physical
education, health, safety, and fire prevention
In order to meet
minimum teaching qualifications, parents must hold a high school
diploma or its equivalent. A portfolio containing materials
used, student work, results from standardized tests (required in
grades 3, 5, and 8), and a written evaluation must be maintained and
completed by June 30 each homeschool year.
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The second
option is to use a private tutor. In order to be in compliance
with Pennsylvania statute, the tutor must be one who teaches the
child of a single family, provides all or most of the
instruction, and receives payment for his/her service. The
tutor must also be certified as a teacher. Parents must file a
copy of the tutor's teacher certification and criminal history
record with the local school superintendent. Homeschool
students under this option are required to receive 180 days of instruction (or 900
hours for elementary grades and 990 hours for secondary grades).
Students are to
be instructed in required subjects as follows:
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Elementary
grades: English, spelling, reading, writing, math, science,
geography, U.S. history, Pennsylvania history, civics, safety
and fire prevention, health and physiology, physical education,
music, and art
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Secondary
grades: English language, literature, speech and composition,
science, biology, chemistry, geography, social studies, civics,
economics, world history, U.S. history, Pennsylvania history,
foreign language, general math and statistics, algebra and
geometry, art, music, physical education, health, safety, and
fire prevention
There are no
requirements regarding recordkeeping or testing under the private
tutor option.
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The third and
final option is to establish and operate a homeschool as a satellite
of a church-operated day school. In order to establish a
homeschool under this option, the principal of the day school must
file a notarized affidavit with the Pennsylvania Department of
Education. Homeschool students under this option are required to receive 180
days of instruction (or 900 hours for elementary grades and 990
hours for secondary grades).
Students are to be
instructed in required subjects as follows:
-
Elementary
grades: English, spelling, reading, writing, math, science,
geography, U.S. history, Pennsylvania history, civics, safety
and fire prevention, health and physiology, physical education,
music, and art
-
Secondary
grades: English language, literature, speech and composition,
science, biology, chemistry, geography, social studies, civics,
economics, world history, U.S. history, Pennsylvania history,
foreign language, general math and statistics, algebra and
geometry, art, music, physical education, health, safety, and
fire prevention
There are no
requirements regarding parent/teacher qualifications, recordkeeping,
or testing for this homeschool option.
Find a homeschool group
in Pennsylvania.
View these
websites for more information about Pennsylvania homeschool laws:
Please
note: This is a brief summary of Pennsylvania homeschool law and is
presented for informative purposes only and not as legal advice.
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