Every requirement, timeline, and documentation standard for homeschooling in Pennsylvania — translated into a parent-friendly checklist with no legalese.
This tool is for organizational reference only. For legal guidance, contact HSLDA or the Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania (CHAP).
| Deadline | Action | Submit To | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1 | File notarized affidavit (or unsworn declaration) with educational objectives by subject, immunization evidence, and criminal background certification | Local school district superintendent | ✓ Annual |
| Ongoing | Maintain portfolio: contemporaneous log of activities + work samples from beginning, middle, and end of year | Keep at home — portfolio stays with family | Ongoing |
| Grades 3, 5, 8 | Standardized testing in reading/language arts AND mathematics (PSSA or nationally normed test) | Include results in portfolio | Grade-triggered |
| By June 30 | Submit evaluator's written certification letter to superintendent | Local school district superintendent | ✓ Annual |
All subjects listed must appear in your educational objectives. You don't need separate lesson plans — one learning experience can cover multiple subjects simultaneously. Click each level to expand.
Elementary (K–6) — Choose ONE:
Secondary (7–12) — Choose ONE:
You choose either days or hours — not both. At ~5 hours/day across 5 days, 900 hours = 36 weeks. Unschoolers who count cooking, nature play, reading, and life skills almost always exceed this. Secondary adds 90 more hours to account for the expanded subject list.
Your annual evaluator must be ONE of:
The evaluator cannot be you (the supervisor) or your spouse. They interview your child and review the portfolio, then submit a one-page certification letter to the district by June 30.
Find a CHAP Evaluator ↗Objectives can be broad and philosophy-aligned. Example for unschooling families:
The supervisor (you), all adults living in the home, and any person with legal custody of the children must certify they have not been convicted of certain criminal offenses within the past 5 years. This is a self-certification in the affidavit — not a formal background check submission.
Under H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025), as of January 1, 2026 you may withdraw up to $20,000/year from a 529 plan tax-free for:
PA state tax treatment may differ. Consult a tax advisor.
A dated record of educational activities. PA law requires this be kept as you go — not reconstructed at year-end. Your learning log in this OS serves as your contemporaneous log.
"Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials." Best practice: 3–5 samples per subject from early, mid, and late in the year. Drawings, dictated stories, math pages, science observations, art — all qualify.
Only the evaluator's letter goes to the district. Your full portfolio stays at home. The evaluator reviews it during the annual interview and writes one page certifying that "appropriate education is occurring."
Required in reading/language arts AND mathematics at grades 3, 5, and 8. Include test results in the portfolio. For 6- and 8-year-olds, no testing is currently required.
You must hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent (GED/HiSET qualifies; 30 college credits also qualifies). As a licensed LCSW, you exceed this requirement significantly.
Self-certify in the affidavit that you have not been convicted of certain offenses in the past 5 years. All adults in the home are included.
NOT required. Once you file your notarized affidavit, you may begin immediately. The district does not approve or deny — they receive and acknowledge.