State requirements

Homeschooling in Pennsylvania: what’s actually required.

Notification required, testing or evaluation required, minimum instruction hours apply.

This is a plain-language preview to help you get oriented — not legal advice. We help you organize and document; you decide what to file.

What Pennsylvania asks

Regulation level

High regulation

Law type

Notify-only (no district approval required once paperwork filed; 22 Pa. Code § 11.31a)

What you notify / file

Notify: Local school district superintendent; Notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration; Before starting (first time); by Aug 1 annually thereafter.

Testing / evaluation

Portfolio review by qualified evaluator (written certification); standardized testing in grades 3, 5, 8 as a portfolio component

Instruction hours

900 hrs (elem) or 990 hrs (sec); alternatively 180 days

Required subjects

Elem (K–6): English (spelling/reading/writing), arithmetic, science, geography, US & PA history, civics, safety/fire prevention, health/physiology, PE, music, art. Sec (7–12): English (language/lit/speech/composition), math (general/algebra/geometry), science, geography, social studies (civics, US/PA/world history), safety, health, PE, music, art

Last verified: 2026-06-30

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