Pennsylvania has one of the more structured homeschool statutes in the country, with specific notification, recordkeeping, evaluation, and (at the high school level) graduation requirements. The statute also expressly recognizes the diploma issued by the home education program supervisor.
Legal framework
Home education is governed by 24 P.S. §13-1327.1. The Pennsylvania Department of Education's Home Education page publishes the current requirements and forms.
Notification & registration
The supervisor of the home education program (a parent or guardian) files an annual notarized affidavit with the resident school district superintendent before the start of the program and by August 1 each subsequent year, along with required educational objectives and immunization records.
Recordkeeping
Pennsylvania requires a portfolio of records (log of materials used, samples of work, results of standardized tests in grades 3, 5, and 8) and an annual evaluation by a qualified evaluator certifying that an appropriate education has occurred. The evaluator's written certification is filed with the district.
Graduation requirements
At the high school level, the statute requires the home education program to include instruction in specified subject areas (English, mathematics, science, social studies, arts and humanities, and others) and the student must complete a minimum number of credit hours specified in the statute. The supervisor determines when those requirements have been met.
Who issues the diploma
Pennsylvania's statute expressly authorizes the supervisor of the home education program to issue a diploma upon completion. The diploma is recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be the equivalent of a high school diploma issued by a public school.
College & military recognition
PA state-system universities, community colleges, and private colleges admit home education graduates routinely. The diploma issued under §13-1327.1 is treated as a high school diploma for state purposes. Homeschool graduates qualify for Tier 1 military enlistment under current DoD policy.
Official source
For current statutory text, forms, and procedural updates, the authoritative source is the Pennsylvania Department of Education - Home Education. Homeschool laws change, so confirm specific requirements directly with the state before relying on them.