Homeschooling in PA: Top 5 essential resources

Have you hit a dead-end while searching for all the answers you need to begin homeschool? Regulations and resources for homeschooling in PA are difficult to find. That’s why we compiled a list of 5 must-need resources for you to start on your journey.

How to start homeschooling in PA
  1. To be a home educator, you will need to have your high school diploma or GED, as well as no major criminal offenses on your record for the last five years.
  2. You also must submit a notarized affidavit of the required information to the local school superintendent no later than August 1st.
  3. After that, you can choose the best curriculum for each child you have decided to teach at home.
Homeschooling in PA laws

Besides what is required to get started on homeschooling your child, homeschooling in PA has several other laws that must be adhered to. Families who wish to fulfill these requirements must:

  • meet any immunization requirements
  • have each of their homeschooled children be interviewed and evaluated by a state-approved home education evaluator on a yearly basis
  • have each child take a state-approved standardized test in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade
  • meet course requirements that are dependent on grade level
  • agree that courses will be taught in the English language
  • meet minimum graduation requirements, which includes a completed evaluation for the 12th-grade year by an approved evaluator and co-signed diploma by the same evaluator.

If you are interested in reading these laws more in-depth, you can check them out here.

While PA is considered one of the most highly regulated states for homeschooling, it also has the most generous provisions of state support for homeschoolers.

PA offers free access to state-sponsored textbooks and materials, the ability to participate in extracurricular school activities, and the ability to receive a state-recognized highschool diploma.

Homeschooling in PA associations

If you have any questions or need help, seeking out an association should be your main priority. There is one statewide association. The association is called the Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania (CHAP). CHAP is a faith-based organization aimed at helping all families who are interested in teaching their children at home.

They offer several different services. Most notably, CHAP gives families updates in all legal issues relating to homeschool that could impact how you teach your children. Not only that, but they also give you newsletters about homeschool-related event around your state.

There are also several other associations for homeschooling in PA. By doing a simple search on Facebook, you will be able to find a variety of associations that are more localized to you.

Homeschooling in PA groups

You don’t need to go through this alone. When it comes to support groups, there are several of them throughout the state.

Many groups will have a specific focus. Some of these groups will be religion-based, while others may be concentrated on a specific style of homeschooling. This is to better address your needs as an educator.

Most support groups have moved their platform over to Facebook. You can simply search “homeschool groups” and find ones near you or online with the convenience and ease of Facebook’s search system.

If you cannot find a local option near you, you can also opt for a virtual support group. A notable one is Time4Learning.

Homeschooling in PA coops

Since families in PA receive so many benefits from the state for homeschooling their children, there are hundreds of homeschool coops within the state.

These groups can be a great source of both support and advice for parents. They also give children a chance to socialize with others in a safe environment outside of the home.

There are also several benefits besides that. By joining a coop, families can gain access to courses and subjects that they might not be able to teach at home. Along with that, students gain exposure to different teaching styles that helps students prepare for college in the future.

Overall, these homeschool groups can be a crucial asset for your family.

With these requirements and resources in mind, you now have the proper tools to begin your journey into teaching your child at home.

Homeschooling in PA, made by Rose Motes on Sketch.