Homeschooling in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania has one of the largest homeschool communities in the country. Its home education program asks for more than most states — an affidavit, a portfolio, and a yearly evaluation — but the payoff is a well-documented, widely respected education. And the hardest part, actually teaching every subject, is exactly what Get Classically Educated takes off your plate. Live, expert-led classical classes carry the load, so your child gets a rigorous education and your family keeps its time — on just four hours a week.
Explore GCE: Elementary · Middle School · High School · Homeschooling by State
Is Homeschooling Legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Most families use the Act 169 home education program. Here’s what Pennsylvania asks of you:
- File a notarized affidavit. Before you begin, and annually by August 1, submit a notarized affidavit (or unsworn declaration) to your district superintendent, along with your educational objectives and proof of immunization.
- Teach the required subjects and provide 180 days (or the required hours) of instruction.
- Keep a portfolio. Maintain a log of materials, samples of work, and standardized test results in grades 3, 5, and 8.
- Get an annual evaluation. A qualified evaluator — a certified teacher or licensed psychologist — reviews the portfolio and certifies an appropriate education, which you submit to the district by June 30.
- Meet the supervisor qualification. The supervising parent must hold a high school diploma.
What Pennsylvania Requires You to Teach
Pennsylvania’s required subjects include English (reading, writing, and spelling), mathematics, science, geography, U.S. and Pennsylvania history, and civics, along with health, physical education, music, and art. Here’s where Get Classically Educated fits: we cover English, reading, writing, spelling, literature, history, civics, and science deeply — the classical core — through great books, essays, logic, and rhetoric. The subjects we leave to you are mathematics and the practical and enrichment areas (health, PE, music, and art). Because our program runs only about four hours of live class a week, you’ll have plenty of room to add them — and our structured lessons make excellent portfolio evidence for your annual evaluation.
How to Start Homeschooling in Pennsylvania
- If your child is in public school, withdraw them before you begin.
- File your notarized affidavit with your district superintendent before starting (and annually by August 1).
- Choose your curriculum, teach your 180 days, and keep your portfolio through the year.
- Arrange standardized testing in grades 3, 5, and 8, then have a qualified evaluator review the portfolio and submit the evaluation by June 30.
We take the heaviest part — the actual teaching — off your plate.
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Get My Free Sample Week →Why Pennsylvania Families Choose Get Classically Educated
Pennsylvania gives you the freedom to homeschool. We give you a way to do it well without losing your life to it. That promise has a name: 4 Hours to Freedom. Your child attends about four hours of live, expert-led class each week and does no more than four hours of independent work a day — leaving real time for family, faith, activities, and rest.
What sets the program apart:
- Live, expert-led classes. Real teachers, real discussion — not videos your child watches alone.
- A true classical education. The trivium — grammar, logic, and rhetoric — taught through great books, writing, and Socratic discussion, so your child learns to think, not just memorize.
- Science, research, and experiments built in. The base program trades rote math drills for hands-on science and real research skills.
- Grades 3 through 12, one continuous journey. A coherent, rigorous path from the elementary years to graduation.
- One flat tuition. $1,200 per year for the full-year base program — no per-course surprises.
Pennsylvania Homeschool FAQ
Do I have to notify the state of Pennsylvania to homeschool?
Yes — file a notarized affidavit with your district superintendent before you begin and annually by August 1.
Does my child have to take standardized tests?
Yes — standardized testing is required in grades 3, 5, and 8, and the results go in your portfolio. A qualified evaluator also reviews the portfolio each year.
Pennsylvania requires math — does GCE include math?
The GCE base program does not include math; it focuses on classical subjects plus science and research. You pair it with any math curriculum you like. With only about four hours of class a week, you’ll have time to add it easily.
Do I need a college degree to homeschool in Pennsylvania?
No — the supervising parent needs a high school diploma.
What grades do you serve?
Grades 3 through 12 — one continuous classical education from the elementary years through high school graduation.
Ready to Homeschool in Pennsylvania — Without the Overwhelm?
Book a free, no-pressure call. We’ll answer your questions, walk you through how it works for your child’s grade, and help you decide if it’s the right fit.
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