Comments on: Pennsylvania Homeschooling – PA Homeschool Laws Firm but Fair

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:25:39 +0000

Thanks for your comment. Because I have never experienced the lack of a homeschool law, I cannot disagree with you. However, I can share that the majority of homeschoolers easily meet the academic requirements of the law. Therefore, if you focus on the affidavit, portfolio and evaluation you will find it easy to follow. And most evaluators and very willing to help with suggestions or answer questions as needed.

Sometimes the fact that there is a law can intimidate people; however, it is actually fairly simple to follow. Please feel free to drop me a note when you are here in PA and I will be happy to spend some time talking you through the dos and don’ts

As for the affidavit, if you file within a few weeks of arriving you should have no problem. If the school district responds negatively, just keep calm and be friendly. In many cases they themselves are not super familiar with the law. However, if things get rough, ask them to send a certified letter. That said, I am certain you will have no problem. The individuals who supervise the homeschool programs are usually very gracious and helpful.

By: Debra Benevides

Debra Benevides — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:11:50 +0000

We’re moving to PA in the fall. We’ve researched the PA Homeschool law and can’t find how long we have to file an affidavit. Does the law provide for a specific time period for ano affidavit to be filed after moving in?

I enjoyes your article, but I respectfully disagree with you on the desirability of the PA homeschool law. We’ve homeschooled in GA, VA, and FL and find PA’s homeschool law unnecessarily complex, intrusive on our right to homeschool, too differential to the judgment of bureaucrats, and at the same time too vague where it shouldn’t be like in my question above. If this restrictive law is the price of legal predictability, it’s too high a price.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:48:03 +0000

Christina, just go ahead and file with the school district for the upcoming school year. You can obtain the affidavit from your district office, or click here http://www.homeschoolacademy.com/resources/state-laws/pennsylvania-homeschooling-laws/ for links to the PA Department of Education page. Feel free to contact me if you have any difficulties.

By: christina

christina — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:17:12 +0000

She is going into the 6th grade.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:46:11 +0000

Christina, How old is your child? You don’t have to file an affidavit, objectives or portfolios and evaluations until they are 8 years old (typically 2nd grade level). Just make sure you turn them in for the school year they will turn 8 during. This is my first year homeschooling and I am pulling my Daughter out of PS. She is already 8 so this will be our first year for all the nitty gritty stuff and I have 2 younger sons (early Pre school and P-K levels) They don’t need evaluations for several more years

By: christina

christina — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:18:15 +0000

I have been homeschooling my child in PA for the past 2 years and just learned of the need to file affidavits, have evaluations and turn in portfolios. I have not done so for for the past two school years and now I am terrified. What should I do?

By: Jessica Parnell

Jessica Parnell — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:25:55 +0000

@Jerri (ID 10015): That is exactly what you can do. Just contact your school district once you arrive and pick up the affidavit forms. Or you can download affidavits from the Bridgeway Academy website at http://www.homeschoolacademy.com/resources/state-laws/pennsylvania-homeschooling-laws/ and have them ready when you arrive. Hope your move goes well!

By: Jerri

Jerri — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:31:06 +0000

We are considering moving to Pennsylvania, but it would most likely be after August 1. I currently homeschool our children. Would I just file an affidavit once we moved?

By: Desiree

Desiree — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:28:08 +0000

Hi, first time homeschooling. We will be starting in September. Can you tell us how in depth the curriculum outline for school district has to be? We will be starting with the kindergarten level. Thank you

By: Jessica Parnell

Jessica Parnell — Tue, 18 May 2010 23:34:58 +0000

No, you do not need to file an affidavit until your son is 8 years old.

If you were planning to homeschool a child for the first time who is eight and over, I would recommend meeting the August 1st deadline (just makes things easier). This prior question was from an individual who decided to homeschool after August 1st.