HOMESCHOOL & PRIVATE TUTOR PROGRAMS
Homeschool Education Program
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, home education programs (also known as homeschooling) are programs where the education of the student is directed by the parent or guardian or such person having legal custody of the child or children.
Restrictions include:
1. The supervisor of the home education program must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Examples include a diploma awarded by a home education supervisor after October 31, 2014 or a diploma awarded by an approved diploma-granting organization (Act 196 of 2014); or a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma awarded by passing a high school equivalency test or completing 30 college level credits from a United States accredited postsecondary institution (22 Pa. Code §4.72).
2. All adults living in the home and persons having legal custody of a child or children must not have been convicted of the criminal offenses itemized in 24 P.S. §1-111 (e) within five years immediately preceding the date of the affidavit.
Homeschool Education Program Questions
Questions on homeschooling in the Upper Dauphin Area School District can be made to Lauren Stoner at stonerl@udasd.org or 717-362-6556.
The compulsory school attendance age begins at age six (6) by September 1 of the current school year and goes until age eighteen (18)
Homeschool students have the right to participate in UDASD extracurricular activities. See our Extracurricular Participation by Home Education Students board policy for more information.
Homeschool Program Resources
UDASD Home Education Program Policy
PA Department of Education Homeschool & Private Tutor Guide
Homeschool Paperwork Timeline
July 1st
“Official” beginning of the school year. First year homeschoolers may file an affidavit anytime after this date and before the beginning of the home education program. You do not need to complete school on this date.
Each year, homeschool families must provide the school district with the following paperwork:
- Completed and Notarized Affidavit
- Educational Objectives for each student
- Example: Subject: English: Student will utilize the local library by
reading an assortment of books both fiction and nonfiction and
other types of literature. Student will continue to develop and
improve spelling, grammar, reading, and writing skills.
- Example: Subject: English: Student will utilize the local library by
- Evidence that the child(ren) has been immunized
- Evidence that the child(ren) has received medical services required for students of the child(ren)’s age or grade level
August 1st
Final deadline to file affidavits for a homeschool program.
Fall
Although it is no longer required to turn in portfolios to the school district, portfolios are still required to be kept for homeschool evaluators. Begin collecting materials for a student portfolio. Please include a log and samples of your students work. Please note, the portfolio must include the results of the statewide tests or other authorized tests in grades 3, 5, and 8.
Spring
- If applicable, have students in grades 3, 5, and 8 tested, return the test materials, and wait for results.
- Find an evaluator and have them evaluate your student
July 30th
“Official” end of school year. Last day to submit an annual written evaluation of the student’s educational progress to the school district superintendent.
Private Tutor Program
According to Pennsylvania Department of Education, private tutoring is an option for satisfying compulsory school attendance requirements for families interested in hiring a private tutor (PA certified teacher) rather than having parent-directed education for their children. A parent or guardian may act as a private tutor for their own children if they are a PA-certified teacher. Background checks and other regulations apply. List of required background checks and clearances.
Although not specifically required by law, we recommend that a parent send a written notification that they intend to private tutor their student. Please list the name of the private tutor and a phone number should the district need to verify that the tutor is a PA-certified teacher.
The private tutor is to report to the school district of the student’s residence the list of the names and residences of all children between six (6) and eighteen (18) years of age that they are tutoring, report as soon as they cease to tutor these students, and notify the district of any such child who has been absent three (3) days, or their equivalent, during the term of compulsory attendance, without lawful excuse (24 P.S. § 13-1332). Tutoring must be to a single family at a time, not a quasi-school where students from different families gather for instruction. Private tutors provide the majority of the instruction to their students for which they receive a fee or other consideration for their instructional services (24 P.S. § 13-1327(a)).
Instead of an affidavit or evaluation, the parent of a privately tutored student must provide a written assurance to the superintendent that the instructional requirements listed in the regulation has been met (Pa. Code § 11.31 (b)(2)). This must be provided even in the case where the parent is the private tutor.
