You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone.

If you're thinking about homeschooling in Pennsylvania and you have no idea where to start — this is your first stop. You don't need a curriculum, a schedule, or a full plan. You just need to know three things Pennsylvania actually requires, and how simple the first step really is.

"I really want to homeschool my kids next year. I'm overwhelmed with all the information out there — what needs to be done, how to get started with the district. Does anyone know where to begin?"

— A question asked by hundreds of Pennsylvania families every year. This page is for you.

Just Tell Me What to Do

  1. 1

    File Your Affidavit

    Before you start homeschooling, Pennsylvania asks one main thing of you: a home education affidavit (or unsworn declaration) filed with your local superintendent.

    In your first year, you can begin any time after your affidavit and required documents are submitted. In each following year, you'll file it by August 1st for the upcoming school year.

    Your affidavit includes basic family information, a short list of your learning goals by subject, and confirmations about immunizations, health services, and the background of the adults in your home. Think of it as your annual "we're doing this" declaration to the district. Once it's filed, your home education program is officially underway.

    💡 Want a ready-made form?

    You don't have to build your affidavit from scratch. The Pennsylvania Department of Education keeps sample affidavits and unsworn declarations you can download and fill in for both elementary and secondary students. Head to the state's Home Education and Private Tutoring page, scroll to the "Sample Affidavits and Unsworn Declarations" section, and choose the form that fits your child's grade level.

  2. 2

    Teach, Track, and Log

    For elementary and secondary students, Pennsylvania asks you to provide 180 days of instruction or the required number of hours for your child's grade level each year. Within that time, you'll cover the state's required subjects for that level (for example, English, math, science, social studies, health, physical education, and the arts).

    The good news is that you're probably doing most of this already in everyday life. Your real job is to notice it and write it down. As you move through your week, you'll keep a simple, contemporaneous log of what you read and work on, and tuck in a few samples of your child's work.

    Short notes in real time are enough. One or two sentences about what you did, plus a worksheet, a page of writing, or a project photo here and there, will build the portfolio you need without taking over your day.

    In grades 3, 5, and 8, you'll also add standardized test results in reading/language arts and math to that same portfolio.

  3. 3

    Get Your Annual Evaluation

    Once each school year, a qualified home education evaluator meets with your child, looks through that portfolio, and writes a short letter saying whether an "appropriate education" is taking place.

    You keep the portfolio at home with you. The only thing you send to the district is the evaluator's written certification, due to your superintendent by June 30th each year your child is of compulsory school age.

    That single letter is what officially closes out your homeschool year in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Act 169 — for organizational reference only. Verify legal questions with HSLDA (hslda.org) or CHAP (chaponline.com).

What Pennsylvania Actually Requires for K–6

Eleven subject areas. You're probably doing most of them already.

✓ English
✓ Arithmetic
✓ Science
✓ Geography
✓ History of the US & PA
✓ Civics
✓ Health & Physiology
✓ Physical Education
✓ Music
✓ Art
✓ Safety Education

Your Log Doesn't Need to Be Perfect

Your log doesn't need to be perfect or polished. It just needs to be contemporaneous—written close to when the learning actually happens, not rebuilt weeks later from memory. A sentence or two in the moment carries more weight than a beautifully organized month written at the end.

Pennsylvania asks you to keep a simple log of instruction and reading, along with samples of your child's work, as part of your yearly portfolio. A few quick entries during the week, plus some saved pages and projects, are enough to show that you've met your days or hours and covered the required subjects.

The Wellspring Academy Learning Log is built exactly for this. It's session-based, mapped to Pennsylvania's required subjects, and designed so you can spend a few minutes logging—and the rest of your time actually learning alongside your kids.

Open the Learning Log

Find Your People

The homeschool community in Pennsylvania is active, welcoming, and full of families who felt exactly like you do right now. Many families find a co-op first — and figure out the paperwork second. Two trusted starting points:

CHAP — Christian Homeschool Association of PA

Evaluator directory, co-op listings, and legal support

chaponline.com

HSLDA — Home School Legal Defense Association

Legal guidance, state law summaries, and member support

hslda.org