Homeschooling In Pennsylvania

Is Homeschooling in Pennsylvania Allowed?

Based on education.state.pa.us Parents in Pennsylvania can teach their children at home. Pennsylvania's law on home education (also called “homeschooling”) is called Act 169. In Pennsylvania, children between the ages of eight and seventeen must attend school. Educating a child at home is one way to comply with compulsory school attendance laws.

What is The Requirement Of Homeschooling In Pennsylvania?

A. Homeschooling in Pennsylvania Requirement of The Tutor 

1. Must have a Pennsylvania teacher's certificate; 
2. Must be teaching “one or more children who are members of a single family;” 
3. Must be providing the child or children with the majority of their instruction; and 
4. Must be receiving some form of payment for his or her services 

A tutor have to report his or her Pennsylvania Certificate of Teaching and do let the the superintendent of the students district of residence to do some criminal background check to them. The superintendent of the district must give annual approval to the private tutoring process. 

The tutor should made a program that meet at least 180 days of prgram or at least 900 hours of teaching (or 990 hours at secondary level). If the tutoring program can meet these requirement, than homeschooling process can continued.

B. Homeschooling in Pennsylvania Requirement of Home Education Program

1. The affidavit

Before beginning the home education program, the supervisor of the child’s program must file sworn statement - known as an “affidavit” - with the superintendent of the school district of residence. The supervisor must also file an affidavit by August 1st. every year after the program has begun. 

• The affidavit must contain the supervisor’s name, the name and age of each participating child, and the address and phone number of the home education program site.
• The affidavit must also state that the required subjects will be taught and must contain an outline of proposed educational objectives.
• The supervisor must supply evidence that the child has had the legally required immunizations. The supervisor must also provide evidence that the child has received the required health and medical services (such as annual vision and hearing tests

2. Instructional Process

At the elementary level, the English (including spelling, reading and writing) must be taught to children; arithmetic; science; geography; the history of the United States and Pennsylvania in particular; civics and safety education (including fire prevention knowledge); health; physical education; music and art program must be given to the home students.

At the secondary level, the child must receive English (including language, literature, speech and composition); science; geography; social studies (including civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania); mathematics (including algebra and geometry); art; music; physical education; health; and safety education.

Upon a supervisor’s request, the school district of residence must lend the supervisor copies of the school district’s textbooks and other curriculum materials. 

3. Student Portfolio of Records and Materials

The supervisor must keep a record of the child’s education program, including a log showing the reading materials used, and samples of any writings, worksheets, etc. At grade levels 3, 5, and 8, students must be given standardized tests in reading/language arts and mathematics by someone other than the parent. Pennsylvania Department of Education has identified a list of acceptable standardized tests that known as Basic Education Circular (BEC). The results of these tests must be kept in the child’s portfolio.

4. Annual Written Evaluation

There must also be an annual written evaluation of the child’s education progress. Including a review of the material in the child’s program report by a licensed psychologist, a certified teacher or a qualified private school teacher. This information then have to reported to the superintendent by June 30th of each school year, or upon request. Based on the report if the superintendent believes that the child is not being properly educated, he or she may ask for additional documentation or not allow the program to continue. Parent can challenge a school district’s decision to discontinue a home education program at a hearing in front of an impartial hearing examiner appointed by the school board and then, if necessary, in state court. 

CAN CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMESCHOOLED PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THEY LIVE?
Yes. A student in a home education program may participate in certain school activities in the school district where the child lives. These extra-curricular activities, referred to as Section 511 activities, may include sports, band, and clubs. You should contact your local school district for information about what program are Section 511 activities and open to home education students.

CAN A CHILD WHO IS HOMESCHOOLED RECEIVE A DIPLOMA?
School districts do not issue diplomas to students who complete home education programs. However, there are several ways for a child who is homeschooled to receive a diploma:

• A student can fulfill the requirements to receive a diploma from a homeschooling organization. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has approved several homeschooling organizations to issue homeschooling diplomas. Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency (PHAA) is an example of one such organization. (More information about PHAA can be found at http://www.phaa.org/);
• A student can successfully complete the GED test and receive a Commonwealth Secondary Diploma; or
• A student can successfully complete one year or 30 semester hours at an accredited postsecondary institution and submit that information to the PA Department of Education and receive a Commonwealth Secondary Diploma.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DECIDE TO RE-ENROLL MY CHILD IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AFTER I HAVE HOMESCHOOLED HIM/HER?
Parents can choose to re-enroll their child at any time (as long as the child hasn’t graduated from high school or turned 21). A question often arises about what grade the child should be in. No rule requires public schools to place the child in the grade the parent requests. However, schools cannot make arbitrary placement decisions. To help determine an appropriate placement, parents can provide the school with copies of coursework the child completed during the time he/she was homeschooled. The school can also use objective testing measures to determine the appropriate grade and/or courses for the child.

IS HOMESCHOOLING THE SAME AS HOMEBOUND INSTRUCTION OR INSTRUCTION IN THE HOME?
Homeschooling is NOT the same as homebound instruction or instruction in the home.

• Homeschooling is a home education program developed and provided by a child’s parent and/or guardian. A child who is homeschooled is NOT enrolled in the school district. 
• Homebound instruction is instruction the school district provides to an enrolled student who cannot attend school for a short period of time due to a medical problem (such as a broken leg).
• Instruction in the home is provided by a school district to a student with a disability who needs special education services and who is enrolled in the district. It is provided when the student requires services that cannot be provided appropriately to the student in a school setting. Instruction in the home is restricted to students whose needs require full-time special education services and programs outside the school setting for the entire school day. 

Sources : elc-pa.org

Sources Picture : pahomeschoollaw.com