Pennsylvania Homeschool Requirements 2026
Everything you need to homeschool legally in Pennsylvania: notification deadlines, required subjects, testing requirements, and graduation standards. Updated for the 2025–2026 school year.
Official source for Pennsylvania
We link to the authoritative source so you can verify requirements directly with your state.
Questions to ask your state
- What are the notification requirements (deadline, form, who to send it to)?
- What subjects must be taught at my child's grade level?
- Is standardized testing required? At what grades, and what tests are accepted?
- Is a portfolio or annual evaluation required? What must it contain?
- What attendance or instructional hours are required per year?
- Who has authority to issue a high-school diploma for a homeschooled student?
- What is the process for withdrawing my child from public or private school?
- What records do I need to keep, and for how long?
Last reviewed
This is a summary for planning. Homeschool law changes. Confirm current requirements with the official source above before making enrollment decisions.
Additional Requirements Detail
Verified requirements for Pennsylvania.
Legal Requirements
What you need to homeschool legally in Pennsylvania
- Notification
- File a notarized affidavit with the local school district superintendent by August 1 each year (or within 30 days of establishing a home education program).
- Required Subjects
- Mathematics, English (spelling, reading, writing), science, social studies (geography, history of Pennsylvania and the US, civics), safety education, health and physiology, physical education, music, and art. Additional subjects required in certain grade bands.
- Testing
- Annual evaluation is required. Students in grades 3, 5, and 8 must also take a standardized test in addition to the annual portfolio evaluation. A qualified evaluator (certified teacher or other approved professional) must review the portfolio and provide a written evaluation each year.
- Portfolio / Records
- A portfolio of instructional materials and work samples must be maintained throughout the year and presented to a qualified evaluator for annual assessment. The evaluator's written certification must be submitted to the superintendent.
Graduation Requirements
- Diploma Issued By
- Parent issues the home education diploma.
- Credit Requirements
- No specific credit-hour requirements are set by the state for home education graduates. Students must demonstrate satisfactory completion of the required subjects and satisfactory progress each year.
- Notes
- Pennsylvania has some of the most detailed home education regulations in the country (Act 169). Annual evaluations and portfolio maintenance are strictly required. Families should keep thorough records throughout the school year.
College Prep Readiness
Coming soon — Lab requirements, foreign language expectations, SAT/ACT targets, and dual enrollment policies for Pennsylvania colleges.
Available with the College Prep add-on