Affidavits

A written declaration which you sign and swear to before a notary public and submit to your school district before you begin your home education program, and by August 1 after that, for each child between the ages of 8 and 17. Be sure to get a receipt! It should include:

  • the name of the supervisor (CHAP recommends the father)
  • a statement that the supervisor has a high school diploma or its equivalent
  • the name and age (not the birth date) of each child in the home education program
  • the address and telephone number of the home education program site
  • a statement that subjects required by law are offered in the English language
  • a statement that the child has received the health and medical services
  • a statement that no one in the house has been convicted of felonies as outlined in the law

These items should accompany your affidavit:

  • an outline of proposed education objectives by subject area
  • evidence that the child has been immunized
  • CHAP’s Sample Medical Exemption Form: http://files.chaponline.com/medicalexemptionform.pdf
  • If you have a learning disabled student, you must also include a statement from a properly qualified person that the education plan is appropriate to the disability of the child.

Outline of proposed education objectives by subject area:

  • an outline of proposed education objectives by subject area
  • Act 169 says that your objectives “shall not be utilized by the superintendent in determining if the home education program is out of compliance…”
  • 2 or 3 general objectives for each required subject area:

Elementary level:

  • English (including spelling, reading and writing)
  • Arithmetic
  • Science
  • Geography
  • Social Studies (including civics, world history, history of the US and PA)
  • Safety Education (including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers
    and prevention of fires)
  • Health and Physiology
  • Physical Education
  • Music
  • Art

Secondary level:

  • English (including language, literature, speech and composition)
  • Science
  • Geography
  • Social Studies (including civics, world history, history of the US and PA)
  • Mathematics (including general mathematics, algebra and geometry)
  • Health
  • Art
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Safety Education (including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires)

Logs

Sample calendars and logs can be found at www.chapmedia.com/forms.
Act 169 says (section 3(e)(1)): …The portfolio shall consist of a log, made contemporaneously with the
instruction, which designates by title the reading materials used,…

Standardized Testing

If your child is in grade 3, 5 or 8, Act 169 requires that you include in your child’s portfolio in June the results for the mathematics, reading and language arts sections of a standardized achievement test taken this year.
Pennsylvania Department of Education’s list of approved tests: www.hslda.org/hs/state/pa/200906250.asp
To find a test administrator: www.chaponline.com/community/testers.html

Summer:       Explore your options
September:   Ask others
January:        Make a plan
February:      Order tests
April:              Testing
June:              Include a copy of the test results in your child’s portfolio

According to Act 169, a portfolio should contain:

  • a log
  • samples of your child’s work (sample: a small part of anything or one of a number, intended to show the quality, style, or nature of the whole. Random House Dictionary)
  • only in grade three, five and eight: standardized achievement test results

Submit your portfolio and your evaluator’s letter to your school district by June 30. Be sure to get a receipt!

The information on this page was last updated on March 3, 2017