Pennsylvania Homeschool Transcript Guide

1 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 qualified evaluator

  The evaluator (a licensed clinical or school psychologist, a PA-certified teacher, or a nonpublic school teacher or administrator, each with two years of relevant grading or teaching experience) reviews the portfolio and submits a written evaluation to the superintendent by June 30. The portfolio itself stays with you; only the written evaluation goes to the district.
• Standardized testing in grades 3, 5, and 8

  A nationally normed test or the PSSA must be administered in these grades. Results stay in the portfolio, they are not submitted to the district superintendent. No minimum score is required by state law, results are used only for documentation.

Attendance is met by choosing one option, not by adding them together: 180 days of instruction, or 990 hours per year for secondary students in grades 7–12 (900 hours for grades K–6). 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.

Comparing Pennsylvania with another state, or planning a move? See our guide to homeschool graduation requirements by state.

2 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.

3 Building the PA Portfolio & Meeting the Testing Requirement

Pennsylvania’s portfolio requirement is more detailed than most states. The annual portfolio your evaluator reviews 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; keep the results in the portfolio, they are not submitted to the district
• Evaluator’s written evaluation

  The evaluator can be a licensed clinical or school psychologist, a PA-certified teacher, or a qualified nonpublic school teacher or administrator; retain a copy of the signed evaluation

4 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 portfolio evaluation in advance

  Pennsylvania’s evaluator must be a licensed clinical or school psychologist, a PA-certified teacher, or a qualified nonpublic school teacher or administrator, not just any educator. Contact your evaluator early in the spring, well before the June 30 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
  Trying to meet 180 days and hours at the same time

  Pennsylvania lets you satisfy attendance with either 180 days of instruction or the hour count for your student’s level (990 hours for grades 7–12, 900 for grades K–6), not both. Pick one method and document it consistently; switching methods mid-year makes the portfolio harder for your evaluator to review.

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