Pennsylvania Homeschool Law
Pennsylvania compulsory school attendance age
Effective with the 2020-2021 school year, a child must comply with compulsory attendance requirements from age 6 to age 18. Specifically, a child who has attained the age of 6 on or before September 1 must enroll and attend school or begin a home education program that year. If a child turns 6 years old after September 1, the parent can wait until the next school year. No home education program can commence until the affidavit and other required documentation are filed with the local school district. (Click here to see confirmation of this information on the bottom of page 1 of “Omnibus School Code of 2019 – Act 16 of 2019 Frequently Asked Questions,” issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.)
Students who graduate from high school are exempt from compulsory attendance.
Compulsory School Attendance §§ 24 P.S. 13-1326 – 1354
Home School Legal Defense Association
Updated July 2020
Affidavits & Objectives
- Affidavit Template for 1 child from PA Homeschool Support click here
- Affidavit Template for 2+ children from PA Homeschool Support click here
- Sample Affidavit from Mason Dixon Homeschoolers Association click here
- Sample Objectives from PHEA click here
- Sample Objectives from PHEN click here
- Sample Objectives from CHAP click here
Additional information regarding the PA Homeschool law from HSLDA.
Section 1327.1. Home Education Program
This is the current home education law which reflects the original text from December 21, 1988, and the changes made October 31, 2014.
Act 196
Gov. Robert Casey signed this law into effect December 21, 1988.
Act 196
Gov. Tom Corbett signed this law into effect October 31, 2014.
HB 1619
Governor Tom Wolf signed this law into effect June 28, 2019.