In a home education program, the child is taught by his or her parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian. The person teaching the child is called the “supervisor” and is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to provide the following to Delaware Valley School District annually.

Affidavit - Before beginning the home education program, the supervisor of the child’s program must file a sworn statement, known as an “affidavit,” with the superintendent of the school district of residence. The affidavit must be filed by August 1st every year. For new home education programs, the affidavit must be filed prior to starting the new program.

The affidavit must contain the supervisor’s name, the name and age of each participating child, and the address and phone number of the home education program site. A downloadable DVSD affidavit is available in the column on the right.

The affidavit must also state that the required subjects will be taught and must contain an outline of proposed educational objectives. Sample grade level objectives can be found in the column on the right. ** If the student has a disability and the school district has identified the child as in need of special education or has a current IEP, the proposed home education program’s objectives must be approved by a PA certified special education teacher with a current certificate or a licensed clinical or certified school psychologist.

The affidavit must be accompanied by Pennsylvania state required proof of medical. The supervisor must supply evidence that the child has had the legally required immunizations or a medical/religious/moral exemption statement. The supervisor must also provide evidence that the child has received the required health and medical services (such as annual vision and hearing tests).

Evaluation Letter - There must also be an annual written evaluation of the child’s progress submitted to the district by June 30th every year to conclude that grade level’s home education program. The evaluation letter is written by a private evaluator who has been previously approved by DVSD.  The evaluator will write the annual letter after reviewing the material in the child’s portfolio. Portfolio requirements are as follows:

• Log of instruction time - the home education program must provide at least 180 days of instruction, or 900 hours of instruction at the elementary level and 990 hours at the secondary level.
• At the elementary level, the child must be taught English (including spelling, reading and writing); arithmetic; science; geography; history of the United States and Pennsylvania; civics; safety education (including fire prevention); health; physical education; music; and art.
• At the secondary level, the child must receive English (including language, literature, speech and composition); science; geography; social studies (including civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania); mathematics (including algebra and geometry); art; music; physical education; health; and safety education.
• A log showing the reading materials used, and samples of any writings, worksheets, etc. At grade levels 3, 5, and 8, students must be given standardized tests in reading/language arts and mathematics by someone other than the parent. PDE has identified a list of acceptable standardized tests. The Home Education Program BEC lists the tests that are acceptable. The results of these tests must be kept in the child’s portfolio.

To get started with the home education process at DVSD or if you have any questions, please contact the Office of Home Education at 570-296-1827 or homeschool@dvsd.org

For a complete guide to home education in Pennsylvania, please click on the PA Department of Education website below.