Legal statusHomeschooling is legal in Pennsylvania, but families must follow yearly filing, portfolio, and evaluation rules unless they use another legal option such as private tutoring or a different private school arrangement.Compulsory age range6-18Notification requiredYes. Families homeschooling under the home education statute generally file a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration each year.Who you notifyThe superintendent of the local school district of residence.Notification deadlineBy August 1 each year, or before starting a home education program midyear.Required subjectsEnglish, including spelling, reading, and writing, Arithmetic and mathematics, Science, Geography, History of the United States and Pennsylvania, Civics, Safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in fire safety, Health and physiology, Physical education, Music, Art, Literature, Foreign language in the elementary gradesHours or days required180 days each year, or 900 hours at the elementary level and 990 hours at the secondary level.Record keepingKeep a portfolio for each student with a log made at the time of instruction, reading materials used, and samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials. Families also typically keep copies of the affidavit and annual evaluation, and the affidavit process references immunization and health records or lawful exemptions.Testing and evaluationYes. An annual written evaluation is generally required every year, and standardized testing is required in certain grades.Testing frequencyAnnual evaluation every year; standardized testing in grades 3, 5, and 8.Teacher qualificationsThe homeschooling supervisor must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.Curriculum freedomModerate. Parents choose curriculum, but they must cover required subjects, meet day or hour minimums, and maintain a portfolio and annual evaluation.Umbrella school optionYes. Pennsylvania families may use alternatives such as private school or private tutor arrangements instead of the standard home education statute, depending on their situation.Virtual school optionYes, but public cyber charter and other virtual public school options are separate from independent homeschooling.Special educationIf a student has been identified as needing special education services, the home education program may need additional approval or oversight tied to the child’s needs.High school diplomaPennsylvania homeschoolers can earn a parent- or supervisor-issued homeschool diploma under state law if graduation requirements are met.College admissionPennsylvania colleges commonly accept homeschool applicants with transcripts, diplomas, course records, and test scores when requested.Sports accessYes. Pennsylvania homeschool students may be able to participate in public school extracurricular activities, including sports, if they meet local district eligibility rules.Dual enrollmentDual enrollment options may be available, but access varies by college and local program rules.NotesFirst-pass draft generated from HSLDA and Pennsylvania sources. The broken statute URL was replaced with the official Pennsylvania General Assembly code page anchored to Section 1327.2 for home education, but it should still be rechecked during final QA before publication.