Pennsylvania Homeschool Law: Affidavit, Portfolio & Testing

Pennsylvania home education is governed by 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1. Pennsylvania has some of the most detailed compliance requirements of any state in the country. Every year, families must satisfy three separate obligations:

  • Annual Home Education Affidavit filed by August 1
    Filed with the district superintendent. Must include a list of subjects to be taught and an outline of texts and materials.
  • Annual portfolio review by a licensed Pennsylvania teacher
    The evaluator reviews the portfolio and submits a written evaluation to the superintendent. The portfolio must include samples from all required subject areas listed in §1327.1.
  • Standardized testing in grades 3, 5, and 8
    A nationally normed test must be administered in these grades. Results are submitted to the district superintendent. No minimum score is required by state law, results are used only for documentation.

Secondary students (grades 9–12) must log 900 hours of instruction per year in addition to the 180-day requirement. Pennsylvania law specifies required subject areas for secondary students, including English, mathematics, science, social studies, arts and humanities, health and PE, and others listed in §1327.1.

August 1 deadline: The affidavit must be filed before the school year begins. Unlike some states, Pennsylvania’s law does not provide a grace period, file on time and retain written acknowledgment from the superintendent.

Pennsylvania College-Prep Credit Benchmark (21 Credits)

Pennsylvania sets no state-mandated credit total for homeschool diplomas, but most Pennsylvania college-bound families use the 21-credit college-prep benchmark that mirrors the Keystone Diploma framework used by Pennsylvania public schools. Penn State, Temple, Pitt, and other PA universities expect to see a transcript built around this structure.

Subject Area Notes Credits
Language ArtsLiterature, composition, grammar4.0
Mathematics3.0
ScienceIncludes lab sciences3.0
Social StudiesWorld History, US History, Civics/Gov’t, Economics3.0
Arts / Humanities2.0
Health / Physical Education2.0
ElectivesIncludes World Language4.0
TotalCollege-prep benchmark21.0
PA law requires specific subjects: Pennsylvania’s home education statute (§1327.1) lists required secondary subject areas. Your affidavit must identify these subjects, and your portfolio must include work samples in each. Use your transcript to document that all required areas are covered.

Building the PA Portfolio & Meeting the Testing Requirement

Pennsylvania’s portfolio requirement is more detailed than most states. The annual portfolio submitted for licensed teacher review must include samples in all required subject areas. Here is what to include:

  • Work samples from each required subject area
    Essays, problem sets, lab reports, reading responses, art projects, one or more samples per subject
  • Log of reading materials
    Books, articles, and other reading completed during the year
  • Standardized test results in grades 3, 5, and 8
    Track which grade your student is in; results must be submitted to the district superintendent
  • Licensed teacher written evaluation
    The evaluator must be a Pennsylvania-certified teacher; retain a copy of the signed evaluation
No score minimum for testing: Pennsylvania law does not set a passing threshold for the grades 3/5/8 standardized test. The purpose is documentation, not performance gating. However, use these tests as a diagnostic tool and start preparing for the SAT or ACT from 9th grade onward for college admissions.

Common Pennsylvania Homeschool Transcript Mistakes

  • 1
    Missing the August 1 affidavit deadline
    Pennsylvania’s affidavit must be filed before instruction begins. Missing it creates a compliance gap that can surface when a college or employer requests verification of your student’s homeschool status. File on time, every year.
  • 2
    Not scheduling the licensed teacher portfolio review in advance
    Pennsylvania’s portfolio review must be conducted by a state-certified teacher, not just any educator. Contact your evaluator early in the spring, well before the deadline, so the review and written evaluation can be completed and submitted on time.
  • 3
    Missing a grades 3, 5, or 8 testing year
    Families sometimes track grade years informally and lose track of which years require state testing. Know your student’s current grade level and mark the testing years on your calendar at the start of each homeschool year. Missing a required test year must be corrected.
  • 4
    Portfolio missing required subject areas
    Pennsylvania law (§1327.1) lists specific required subject areas for secondary students. If the portfolio submitted for review is missing samples from any required area, the evaluator cannot certify adequate progress. Use a checklist to confirm every required subject is represented.
  • 5
    Confusing 180 days with 900 hours for secondary students
    Pennsylvania requires both 180 days AND 900 hours of instruction for secondary students. A family that meets 180 days but falls short on hours is not in full compliance. Track hours separately from days, especially during shorter school sessions.

Build a Pennsylvania-Ready Transcript in DiplomaPath

DiplomaPath tracks Pennsylvania’s 21-credit college-prep benchmark, calculates weighted GPA, and exports a professional PDF transcript. Keep your annual affidavit dates, portfolio records, and test results organized in one place, ready when your district or a college asks.

Try the Free Demo → View Pricing