Homeschooling in Pennsylvania: Complete 2026 Guide to the Affidavit, Portfolio, and Evaluator System

Pennsylvania is one of the more regulated US states for homeschoolers. The framework requires a notarized affidavit, a contemporaneous portfolio of work, mandatory standardized testing in specific grades, and an annual evaluation by a qualified third-party evaluator. None of this is insurmountable; tens of thousands of Pennsylvania families homeschool successfully each year. But it is paperwork-heavy, and the deadlines and procedural details matter.

This guide explains each requirement, walks through the annual cycle, and covers the college admission pathway. The structured legal reference is on the Pennsylvania state requirements page.

How Pennsylvania homeschool law works

Pennsylvania's framework is set out in Section 1327.1 of the Public School Code (Act 169 of 1988, with subsequent amendments). The Section creates the Home Education Program as a recognized alternative to school enrollment, conditioned on compliance with the procedural and substantive requirements.

The key features:

1. Annual paperwork to the local school district. Notarized affidavit, plus the Evaluator's Certification at year-end.
2. Substantive portfolio. Maintained at home, reviewed by the evaluator, not submitted to the district.
3. Required third-party evaluation. The parent cannot self-evaluate; an independent qualified evaluator is required.
4. Standardized testing in specific grades. Grades 3, 5, and 8.
5. Required subjects. Mathematics, English, science, social studies, and several specific topics including fire safety and civics.

This produces Pennsylvania's pattern: a real bureaucratic regime with clear rules and procedural protections (the portfolio stays with the family, the third-party evaluator is the substantive reviewer), but with full pedagogical freedom inside the framework.

The annual timeline

Pennsylvania's homeschool year operates on a fixed calendar:

• By August 1: Notarized affidavit to the local school district. The gateway document.
• September through May: Daily teaching, contemporaneous portfolio maintenance, standardized testing in applicable grades.
• By the end of the school year: Annual evaluation by the qualified evaluator.
• Within 30 days of receiving the Evaluator's Certification (typically by late June or early July): Submit the Certification to the superintendent. The Certification confirms continued homeschool program.

The deadlines are firm. Late affidavits can prompt district follow-up; chronic non-compliance can lead to loss of homeschool program status and a return-to-school requirement.

The notarized affidavit

The affidavit is the gateway document. It must be filed with the local school district by August 1 each year for the upcoming school year. Required content:

• Child's full name, age, address.
• Parent's signature, notarized. Notarization is a Pennsylvania-specific requirement and can be done at a bank, postal service, UPS Store, or other notary public.
• Educational objectives for the year by subject. General learning goals organized by required subject area.
• Documentation of immunizations or a religious or philosophical exemption from immunization.
• Verification of medical and health services if applicable.
• Confirmation that no person residing with the child has been convicted of certain offenses specified in the Code.

Many districts have their own affidavit form. Using the district's form is fine. Families can also use templates provided by Pennsylvania Homeschoolers (askpauline.com), CHAP, or HSLDA. The substantive content is the same.

The district acknowledges the affidavit. Once acknowledged, the homeschool program is formally established for the school year.

The portfolio (the substantive document)

The portfolio is maintained throughout the year. Required content:

• A log made contemporaneously with the teaching showing what was studied. The "contemporaneous" requirement means the log is built throughout the year, not assembled retroactively.
• Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student.
• Standardized test results in grades 3, 5, and 8.
• The Evaluator's Certification at year-end (added when the evaluator completes the review).

The portfolio is the substantive record of the year. It is reviewed by the qualified evaluator at the end of the year. It is not submitted to the school district. The portfolio remains with the family.

What works: a binder per child per year, organized by subject, with monthly tabs for the contemporaneous log, photo or PDF copies of work samples, and a list of books read. Five to ten minutes a week is enough to maintain it.

What hurts: trying to assemble the portfolio retroactively at the end of the year. Pennsylvania's "contemporaneous" requirement means the log should be built day by day or week by week, not in June.

The qualified evaluator

Pennsylvania requires an independent qualified third-party evaluator. The parent cannot evaluate their own child, regardless of qualifications. Eligible evaluators:

• A Pennsylvania certified teacher (active or retired).
• A licensed psychologist.
• A person with at least two years of teaching experience in a public or private school.
• A non-public school administrator with appropriate credentials.

The evaluator's role:

1. Review the portfolio thoroughly at year-end.
2. Conduct an interview with the student (often required, sometimes optional depending on the evaluator's practice).
3. Confirm that an appropriate education has been provided in light of the child's age and ability.
4. Write the Evaluator's Certification. A signed letter confirming the program meets the legal standard. The Certification is the document submitted to the superintendent.

Evaluators charge fees for their service, typically $50 to $200 per child. Many evaluators specialize in particular pedagogies (Waldorf, Charlotte Mason, classical, eclectic) and serve families across multiple Pennsylvania counties. Pennsylvania Homeschoolers and CHAP maintain lists.

Required subjects in Pennsylvania

The Public School Code lists required subjects:

• Reading, writing, English, spelling.
• Mathematics.
• Science.
• Geography.
• History of the United States and Pennsylvania.
• Civics.
• Health and physiology.
• Physical education.
• Music and art.
• Safety education (including specifically fire safety).

The portfolio documents how each required subject is addressed. Fire safety is a specific Pennsylvania requirement and is sometimes overlooked by new homeschool families; integrating it into health education or science is the typical solution.

Grades 9-12 add additional requirements: 4 years of English, 3 years of mathematics, 3 years of science (including biology and chemistry or physics), 3 years of social studies, 2 years of arts and humanities, plus health, physical education, and electives. The portfolio for high school is meaningfully more extensive than for elementary years.

Standardized testing in grades 3, 5, and 8

Pennsylvania requires standardized testing in grades 3, 5, and 8. The parent chooses from the approved test list:

• California Achievement Test (CAT).
• Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS).
• Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS).
• Stanford Achievement Test.
• Other tests approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The test is administered by:

• A Pennsylvania certified teacher (the family's evaluator often serves as the test administrator).
• An accredited testing center.
• Another qualified person approved for test administration.

Test results are placed in the portfolio for the evaluator's review. They are not submitted to the superintendent. The evaluator considers the results in light of the child's age and ability when writing the Certification.

Withdrawing a child from a Pennsylvania school

If your child is currently enrolled in a Pennsylvania public school and you are starting homeschooling:

1. File the notarized affidavit with the local school district. The district acknowledges the affidavit and adds the family to the homeschool program list.
2. Notify the school in writing of withdrawal. Include the affidavit acknowledgment as proof of the homeschool program.
3. The school removes the child from enrollment.

The conservative path: file the affidavit before submitting the withdrawal letter, to ensure no truancy gap.

What you can teach (in Pennsylvania)

Required subject coverage is the substantive standard. Within that, full pedagogical freedom. Common approaches:

• Conventional textbook curriculum. Mapped to required subjects. Easiest for portfolio documentation.
• Waldorf: the eight-year main lesson rotation covers most required subjects. Supplement with explicit fire safety, civics, and arts/PE coverage. Pennsylvania has Waldorf homeschool networks in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, and elsewhere.
• Charlotte Mason: living-books-based, with narration. Maps cleanly to required subjects.
• Classical: trivium-based with Latin, mathematics, and great books.
• Project-based and unschooling: legal but requires careful portfolio translation. Pennsylvania Homeschoolers publishes examples.
• Eclectic: the most common approach.

Equal Access law (sports and extracurricular)

Pennsylvania's Equal Access law (Act 169 of 2005, the same Act that established the Home Education Program) guarantees that homeschool students can participate in public school extracurricular activities on the same terms as enrolled students. This includes:

• Athletic teams (football, basketball, soccer, baseball, track, swimming, etc.).
• Music programs (band, orchestra, choir).
• Academic teams (debate, math, science Olympiad).
• Performing arts (drama, dance).
• Clubs.

The student must meet the same eligibility requirements as enrolled students: academic standards, residency in the district, no-pass-no-play. Pennsylvania has one of the strongest extracurricular access laws for homeschoolers in the country.

College admission for home-educated Pennsylvania students

Penn State, Pitt, Temple, Drexel, Carnegie Mellon, Penn (the University of Pennsylvania), Bucknell, Lehigh, Villanova, and the rest of the Pennsylvania higher education system admit homeschool students. The standard inputs:

• SAT or ACT scores. Most Pennsylvania colleges still expect them.
• Parent-issued transcript with course names, grades, GPA, and graduation date. The Evaluator's Certifications from the high school years can supplement the transcript.
• Application essay.
• Letters of recommendation from co-op teachers, dual-enrollment professors, employers, coaches, or community leaders.
• Some colleges accept the GED or HiSET as an alternative to a parent-issued diploma.

Pennsylvania has a substantial dual-enrollment ecosystem at community colleges and some four-year institutions. Many Pennsylvania homeschool families take advantage of dual enrollment during the high school years, which both demonstrates academic capability and earns transferable credits.

What to do to start homeschooling in Pennsylvania

1. Read this article and the Pennsylvania state requirements page. Confirm you understand the affidavit, portfolio, evaluator, and testing requirements.
2. Choose your educational approach and map it to the required subjects.
3. Identify your evaluator early. Pennsylvania Homeschoolers and CHAP maintain lists. Make sure the evaluator is comfortable with your pedagogy.
4. File the notarized affidavit with your local school district by August 1.
5. If your child is enrolled in a Pennsylvania school, withdraw after the affidavit is filed.
6. Set up your portfolio system: a binder per child per year with monthly tabs for the contemporaneous log, work samples, materials list, and reading log. Maintain weekly.
7. Schedule the standardized test in grades 3, 5, and 8. The evaluator can often administer.
8. Schedule the year-end evaluation with your evaluator, typically in late May or June.
9. Submit the Evaluator's Certification to the superintendent within 30 days of receipt.
10. Connect with a local network: Pennsylvania Homeschoolers, CHAP (Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania), regional homeschool groups in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, Lehigh Valley, and other PA regions.

Related reading

• Homeschooling laws by US state: complete guide
• Easiest US states to homeschool in 2026
• Homeschooling in New York
• How do I start Waldorf homeschooling?
• Is there a Waldorf homeschool curriculum?