Please note- Due to amendments to the PA Public School Code and effective for the 2020-2021 school year, the PA compulsory school age will be 6 years old to 18 years old (unless the student has graduated and holds a certificate of graduation from an accredited/approved high school or program).

HOME EDUCATION

In 1988, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Act 169 (Senate Bill 154), amending the Pennsylvania School Code. It amended section 1327, Compulsory School Attendance, to define a properly qualified private tutor and to allow a parent, guardian, or person having legal custody of a child to home school their children as an option for complying with compulsory school attendance. It added section 1327.1, Home Education Program, to specify the rights and responsibilities of the parents and the school district where the family resides.

 Act 67 of 2005 (Senate Bill 361) amended section 1327.1 to allow children enrolled in a home education program to participate in any activity that is subject to the provisions of section 511, School Athletics, Publications, and Organizations, given certain criteria are met for these extracurricular activities.

 In 2014, Act 196 (House Bill 1013) was passed, amending section 1327.1 in regard to a number of provisions. Among others, these changes included paths to a high school diploma with all the rights and privileges afforded by the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency and that the evaluation of a home education program by a qualified evaluator is the required proof that an appropriate education has taken place, whether from a mid-year request by the superintendent or the evidence due at the end of the school year.

 The current version of sections 1327 and 1327.1 are available online and discussed in the Home Education and Private Tutoring Guide.

 This Home Education and Private Tutoring webpage contains information relevant to parents and guardians, evaluators, private tutors, school districts, businesses and institutions of higher learning. Although some topics are targeted specifically to one of these audiences, all topics contain information that may be relevant to others.

The PDE website on Home Education has additional information and resources and can be found here- PDE Home Education.  On the PDE site I recommend reviewing the document titled Home Education and Private Tutoring Guide.

 

For more information on Home Education you may contact Sarina Sierra or Mr. Sean Burns.