Home Education Program

24 P.S. §13-1327.1

Date of Issue: December 23, 2022
Date of Review: October 15, 2022; February 1, 2017; January 29, 2015; March 15, 2009; June 30, 2004

Purpose

Section 1327.1 of the Pennsylvania School Code provides for a home education program designed to permit a parent, guardian, or legal custodian ("supervisor") who has a high school diploma or its equivalent to conduct a home education program for his or her child or children. This BEC provides a listing of the requirements for the supervisor to establish a home education program, a list of acceptable tests to fulfill the law's requirements, and sample affidavit form for use by the supervisor.

Procedures

Prior to the commencement of a home education program and annually thereafter by no later than August 1, the supervisor must submit a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration to the Superintendent of the school district of residence in accordance with Section 1327.1(b)(1) and 1327(d). Attached to this BEC are sample affidavits and unsworn declarations that may be used by the supervisor of a home education program. These samples are not exclusive, and the use of other forms is permissible if all required information is provided.

In addition to the notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration, the parent, guardian, or legal custodian must attach:

An outline of proposed education objectives by subject area;
Evidence (records or a letter from the physician) that the child or children have been immunized as required by 24 P.S. § 1303(a) unless a physician certifies the child has a medical contraindication to immunization or the parent submits documentation objecting to immunizations based upon religious or philosophical reasons; and
Evidence (records or a letter from the physician) that the child or children have received medical services required for students of the child's or children's age or grade level in Article XIV, or a religious exemption.

Regulation found in 22 Pa. Code § 11.31a states that school district approval is not required to commence a home education program when all necessary paperwork has been filed.

Effective beginning with the 2023-24 school year, a school district must have policies and procedures that allow home educated students in the district to participate in any cocurricular activity that merges extracurricular activities with a required academic course, career and technical education (CTE) programs, and academic courses equaling up to at least 25% of the school day for full-time district students. To take advantage in these opportunities, the home education student must:

Meet the same eligibility participation criteria and prerequisites (or the equivalent) that apply to full-time district students; and
Comply with all policies, rules and regulations or their equivalent of the school district.

The board of school directors may adopt additional policies to implement participation of home education students in cocurricular activities, academic courses, and CTE programs. Section 1327.1(f.4) permits school districts and CTCs to establish policies that prioritize participation in courses or programs with limited seating and enrollment.

School districts must allow students who are in a home education program in their school district to participate in extracurricular activities under 24 P.S. § 5-511 such as, but not limited to, clubs, musical ensembles, athletics, and theatrical productions.

The school district of residence shall, at the request of the supervisor, lend to the home education program copies of the school district's planned courses, textbooks, and other curriculum materials appropriate to the student's age and grade level. We strongly encourage school districts to provide supervisors with current planned courses, texts and other curriculum materials immediately following a supervisor's request for these materials.

It is the Department's view that friendly compliance with the home education law is in the best interest of children and their education. For example, school districts can extend to supervisors of home education programs the opportunity to have home educated children participate in the district's health program, since these students must receive the same health tests as public school students.

Mandatory Annual Reporting

A home school parent must submit a home school evaluation report, completed by a licensed clinical or school psychologist or a teacher certified by the Commonwealth or by a nonpublic teacher or administrator, for each homeschooled student to the district of residence on or prior to June 30 of the year to comply with PA Home Education Law. Failure to do so could result in a formal hearing, conducted by the local school district of residence. The possible consequences include a remedial plan of increased reporting or the loss of homeschooling rights for up to one year. Qualifications of the evaluator and the content of the report are detailed in the Home School and Private Tutoring Guide found on PDE's website.

Tests

The Pennsylvania School Code, 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(e)(1) states that the portfolio for home education students in grades 3, 5 and 8 must include the results of the statewide tests (PSSAs) for reading/language arts and mathematics or nationally normed standardized achievements tests. If the supervisor of the home education program requests that the student(s) take the statewide tests administered in these grades, the school district must allow the student to take the test at the school building the home education student normally would attend or other accommodations agreed to by the school district and the parent. The Department has approved the following nationally normed standardized tests for use by home education programs if they choose not to take the statewide tests:

California Achievement Test
Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPIV)
Iowa Test of Basic Skills
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
Metropolitan Achievement Test
Peabody Achievement Individual Test – Revised Version
Stanford Achievement Test
Terra Nova
Woodcock-Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement III
Woodcock-Johnson IV
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test III (WIAT-III)

Policy

School districts are encouraged to establish written policies on home education, including procedures for submitting the affidavits/unsworn declarations, administering PSSA tests, enrollment procedures for home education students, and participation in curricular/cocurricular activities, academic courses, CTE programs, and dual credit agreements.

Information about home education in Pennsylvania, including the Pennsylvania law on home education and related statutes and regulations, and a list of home education organizations serving Pennsylvania families, is available on our Home Education and Private Tutoring webpage.

References

Bureau/Office Contact

School Services Office
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street 7^th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Email questions: RA-home-education@pa.gov