Source: https://a2zhomeschooling.com/laws/united_states/pennsylvania_home_school_laws/
Timestamp: 2019-10-16 20:07:29
Document Index: 789317473

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 12', '§ 13', '§ 13', '§ 11', '§ 13', 'art.\n22', '§ 11', '§ 13', '§ 11', '§ 13', '§ 13']

Pennsylvania Homeschooling Laws - Home School Legal in PA | A2Z Homeschooling
Pennsylvania homeschooling laws and requirements
Requirements to homeschool Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania homeschooling laws. Ways to homeschool legally within Pennsylvania homeschooling laws.
For the purposes of this section, “properly qualified private tutor” shall mean a person who is certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to teach in the public schools of Pennsylvania; who is teaching one or more children who are members of a single family.
*This is not intended to be legal advice and is distributed for information purposes only. Check for updates at your public library or online at the State of Pennsylvania’s Department of Education Home Education and Private Tutoring Site.
2014 changed to homeschool law
On Friday, October 31, 2014, Governor Corbett signed HB 1013, which took effect immediately. The new law, Act 196 of 2014, eliminates the requirement of a portfolio review by superintendents (or any school personnel), gives parent-issued diplomas the same status as a Commonwealth-issued diploma and requires more accountability by a superintendent who questions whether an appropriate education is occurring.
Compulsory attendance – Between 8 and 17 years of age. Only file if one of the following is true:
1. Child is age 8 or older, up until their 17th birthday;
2. Child who turns 8 within the first 2 weeks of your district’s “official” start of the school year, or not yet 17.
3. Child who has “attended” public school for 1st grade or beyond (kindergarten attendance does not count).
24 P.S. § 12-1205.1 Continuing professional development
(e) The requirements of this section and section 1205.2 do not apply to a professional educator not employed by a school entity who serves as an evaluator of a home education program authorized under section 1327.1(e)(2) or who provides private tutoring services as part of a home education program under section 1327.1.
24 P.S. § 13-1326 Definitions
The term “compulsory school age,” as hereinafter used, shall mean the period of a child’s life from the time the child’s parents elect to have the child enter school, which shall be not later than at the age of eight (8) years, until the age of seventeen (17) years. The term shall not include any child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited senior high school.
24 P.S. § 13-1327.1 Home Education Program.
(2) At the secondary school level, the following courses shall be taught: English, to include language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry; art; music; physical education; health; and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires. Such courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor of the home education program, economics; biology; chemistry; foreign languages; trigonometry; or other age-appropriate courses as contained in Chapter 5 (Curriculum Requirements) of the State Board of Education.
(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this act or any other law or regulation to the contrary, a high school diploma awarded by a supervisor or an approved diploma-granting organization shall be considered as having all the rights and privileges afforded by the Commonwealth, a Commonwealth agency, including, but not limited to, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, a political subdivision, a local agency and an authority or instrumentality of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision to a high school diploma awarded under this act, subject to subparagraphs (i) and (ii):
(i) In the case of a diploma awarded by a supervisor the following shall apply
The portfolio shall consist of a log, made contemporaneously with the instruction, which designates by title the reading materials used, samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials used or developed by the student and in grades three, five and eight results of nationally normed standardized achievement tests in reading/language arts and mathematics or the results of Statewide tests administered in these grade levels. The department shall establish a list, with a minimum of five tests, of nationally normed standardized tests from which the supervisor of the home education program shall select a test to be administered if the supervisor does not choose the Statewide tests. At the discretion of the supervisor, the portfolio may include the results of nationally normed standardized achievement tests for other subject areas or grade levels. The supervisor shall ensure that the nationally normed standardized tests or the Statewide tests shall not be administered by the child’s parent or guardian.
(g) When documentation is required by this section to be submitted to the hearing examiner, the hearing examiner shall return, upon completion of his review, all such documentation to the supervisor of the home education program. The hearing examiner may photocopy all or portions of the documentation for his files.
(i.1) If the superintendent has a reasonable belief, at any time during the school year, that appropriate education may not be occurring in the home education program, he may submit a letter to the supervisor, by certified mail, return receipt requested, requiring that an evaluation be conducted in accordance with subsection (e)(2) and that an evaluator’s certification stating that an appropriate education is occurring for the school year under review, be submitted to the district by the supervisor within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the certified letter. The certified letter shall include the basis for the superintendent’s reasonable belief. If the tests, as required in subsection (e)(1), have not been administered at the time of the receipt of the certified letter by the supervisor, the supervisor shall submit the other required documentation to the evaluator and shall submit the test results to the evaluator with the completed documentation at the conclusion of the school year. If the certification is not submitted to the superintendent within thirty (30) days of receipt of the certified letter, the board of school directors shall provide for a proper hearing in accordance with subsection (k).
If you or your spouse is a PA credentialed teacher, you may qualify to
homeschool as a private tutor.
Private Tutoring Law ­ Pennsylvania state statute regarding the private tutoring
option for compulsory attendance
Regular daily instruction in the English language, for the time herein
required, by a properly qualified private tutor, shall be considered as
complying with the provisions of this section. For the purposes of this section,
“properly qualified private tutor” shall mean a person who is certified by the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to teach in the public schools of Pennsylvania; who
is teaching one or more children who are members of a single family; who
provides the majority of the instruction to such child or children; and who is
receiving a fee or other consideration for such instructional services.
22 Pa Code § 11.31. Students not enrolled in public schools due to private tutoring.
(1) The instruction of students not enrolled in public schools due to private tutoring by a qualified tutor under section 1327 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § 13-1327) must include for elementary school level students: English, including spelling, reading and writing; arithmetic; geography; the history of the United States and Pennsylvania; science; civics, including loyalty to the State and National government; safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires; health, including physical education and physiology; music; and art.
22 Pa. Code § 11.31a Students not enrolled in public schools due to participation in a home education program
Students of compulsory school age participating in a home education program are subject to sections 1327(d) and 1327.1 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § 13-1327(d) and 1327.1). School district approval is not required to commence home education programs.
22 Pa Code § 11.33 Dual enrollment students enrolled part-time in the public schools
For reimbursement purposes, membership and attendance of nonpublic school students, students in a private tutoring program under section 1327 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § 13-1327), and students in a home education program under section 1327.1 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § 13-1327.1), lawfully enrolled part-time in the public schools, shall be calculated by counting the time the students spend in the public school program on a pro rata basis.
Other Resources for this Law
The legislation and regulations referenced in this website are included for your convenience. However, legislation and regulations also can be read online by following these directions. Pennsylvania Department of Education.
PHEN- Pennsylvania home education law
Please read the law for yourself. Informed people are empowered people. Yes, it’s difficult to read and it seems as if it’s written in a foreign language (in a way it is). But it is important to do, and once you start reading it will begin to make sense. Available in 3 formats.
Until recently, Pennsylvania had one of the strictest home-school laws in the nation. But in October, 2014, Pennsylvania relaxed some of its requirements. The recent changes eliminated the requirement that families submit their children’s portfolios, as well as the results of standardized testing in third, fifth and eighth grade, to school district superintendents. The new law also allows parents to certify that their children have completed high school graduation requirements and to issue homegrown diplomas without any outside endorsement.
askPauline’s Guide to Homeschooling in PA
This page is designed as an OVERVIEW of the PA Home Education law. I have included many links, which will help you to understand the details of the law. Don’t get overwhelmed! It’s easier than it looks!
If you’re wondering how to homeschool your child in PA, here’s a brief list to help you figure out where to start. I know it seems like a lot to take in. Just focus on steps 0, 1 and 2 if you haven’t filed initial paperwork yet. Be sure to check out the forms page.
The Ultimate Guide to Pennsylvania Homeschooling (and Unschooling)
I love living in Pennsylvania – and I hope I can shine a light on some of the resources that have helped us homeschool without a problem, and while having a great time! By Joan Otto.
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