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Pennsylvania Homeschool Requirements Detailed regulation
What Pennsylvania requires from homeschool families — notification, subjects, hours, testing, and portfolio rules — with links to the current law. This is the same state data FolioKid uses to build your portfolio template.
- Governing law: 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1
- Required subjects: English (Spelling, Reading, Writing), Arithmetic, Science, Geography, United States & Pennsylvania History, Civics, Safety Education, Health & Physiology, Physical Education, Music, Art (elementary grades; the secondary list adds language, literature, composition, algebra, and geometry)
- Instructional hours: 900 hours per year (elementary; secondary may differ)
- Instructional days: 180 days per year
- Testing: grades 3, 5, 8
- Evaluator: an annual written evaluation by a PA-certified evaluator (portfolio review and interview, completed by June 30)
Per 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(h)(1): The portfolio and written evaluation shall be provided to the district by August 1 (returning families). The portfolio must include a log of reading materials and be retained for at least two years. Hours requirement is 180 days OR 900/990 hours.
Records you must keep in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a portfolio state — the district reviews an actual portfolio each year. Keep all of the following:
- A portfolio of samples of your child's work across the required subjects (worksheets, writing, projects, photos of hands-on work)
- A log of reading materials used during the year (required by statute)
- A record of instructional time — 900 hours or 180 days (elementary; secondary may differ)
- Standardized test results for grades 3, 5, and 8
- The annual written evaluation from your PA-certified evaluator
- Retain the completed portfolio for at least two years
Your Pennsylvania filing timeline
- By August 1 (each year)File your notarized affidavit and required objectives with the district superintendent before the school year begins.
- All year longKeep the portfolio current — samples, the reading log, and your hours/days record — as you go.
- Grades 3, 5 & 8Administer an approved standardized test and keep the results.
- By June 30Have a PA-certified evaluator complete the portfolio review and interview, and issue the written evaluation.
- By August 1 (returning families)Provide the portfolio and written evaluation to the district.
How FolioKid builds a Pennsylvania-compliant portfolio
You do the teaching; FolioKid assembles the paperwork Pennsylvania asks for:
- Snap photos of work as it happens — FolioKid tags each entry by subject against Pennsylvania's required-subject list.
- Log instructional time toward the 900-hour / 180-day target with a running total.
- Add standardized test scores (grades 3, 5, 8) and keep your reading log in one place.
- Export a Pennsylvania-formatted portfolio PDF — subject sections, hours summary, reading list, and signature blocks — or send your evaluator a read-only share link (no account needed, expires in 30 days).
Free: the Pennsylvania Homeschool Records Checklist
A one-page printable PDF — exactly what to keep, your filing deadlines, and a blank reading & hours log. We'll email it to you.
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Official Pennsylvania sources
Pennsylvania homeschool FAQ
What law governs homeschooling in Pennsylvania?
Homeschooling in Pennsylvania is governed by 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1. Per 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(h)(1): The portfolio and written evaluation shall be provided to the district by August 1 (returning families). The portfolio must include a log of reading materials and be retained for at least two years. Hours requirement is 180 days OR 900/990 hours. Always verify current requirements with your state department of education.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires: English (Spelling, Reading, Writing), Arithmetic, Science, Geography, United States & Pennsylvania History, Civics, Safety Education, Health & Physiology, Physical Education, Music, Art (elementary grades; the secondary list adds language, literature, composition, algebra, and geometry).
How many hours or days of instruction does Pennsylvania require?
Pennsylvania requires 900 hours per year (elementary; secondary may differ) and 180 days per year.
Does Pennsylvania require testing or a portfolio evaluation?
Yes — Pennsylvania requires standardized testing (grades 3, 5, 8) and an annual written evaluation by a PA-certified evaluator (portfolio review and interview, completed by June 30).
Keeping records for Pennsylvania? Snap photos of your kids' work and FolioKid organizes them into a year-end portfolio PDF — formatted around Pennsylvania's requirements.
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