GUIDE TO PA HOMESCHOOL LAW - Pennsylvania Homeschoolers
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GUIDE TO PA HOMESCHOOL LAW
BY HOWARD AND SUSAN RICHMAN
July 26, 2020, Edition
EMAIL: phaa.office@gmail.com
PHONE: 724-783-6512
WEBSITE: www.phaa.org
Guide to PA Homeschoolers Diploma (Online Edition) by Howard B. Richman and Susan P. Richman. Copyright by
Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency (PHAA). Portions of this guide may be copied, but the copies may
not be sold except with permission of PHAA. The picture on the cover was drawn by Molly RichmanHow the Law Came to Be Table of Contents
“The President of the Senate said, ‘Sen. Loeper moves that 1. Filing Your Affidavit............................................. 3
the Senate will concur on the amendments placed by the 1.1 Who Must File...................................................... 3
House in Senate Bill 154. On the motion ... the Clerk will 1.2 How to File............................................................3
call the roll.’ Affidavit form .......................................................... 5-6
Clerk: Afflerbach. 2. Resources for Writing Objectives .......................7
Sen. Afflerbach: Aye. 2.1 Susan Richman’s Objectives............................... 7
President: Are there negative votes? Are there negative 2.2 Barb Snider’s Objectives ......................................8
votes on the motion to concur with the House amendments? 2.3 Another Set of Objectives .....................................8
The clerk will now proceed with the roll call. ... The vote of 2.4 Our High School English Goals.............................9
concurrence is ayes 49, nays 0, the majority having voted in 2.5 Distance Courses, Co-ops, Private Teachers........ 9
the affirmative. The amendments are concurred with and 2.6 PA Department of Education.................................9
the House shall certify. 3. Extra Requirement for Handicapped Children..10
Gallery [seats up in a balcony which look down on the 3.1 Sample Approval Letter ......................................10
senate floor]: One second pause, and then applause. It
took us a second to realize what had just happened. 4. Keeping a Portfolio ............................................11
Sen. Loeper: We have with us a group of Parent 4.1 Daily Log ............................................................12
Educators of Pennsylvania, parent educators from all 4.2 Portfolio Album ...................................................13
across Pennsylvania. We have sixty plus in the gallery, and 4.3 Sharing Your Portfolio ........................................16
we’d like to welcome you to the gallery, and we’re glad you 5. Testing ................................................................17
enjoyed your legislative success. 5.1 Testing Options ..................................................17
At this point the homeschoolers who were filling the 5.2 Sources for Private Testing ................................17
gallery stood up and applauded. The senators, several at 5.3 PSSA Testing .....................................................17
first, and then all of them, stood facing the gallery, and 5.4 Be Sure to Test Early .........................................17
applauded us. 6. Evaluations
A few minutes later Don Wolf, a reporter, told Bob 6.1 Qualifications of Evaluators ................................18
Finley, ‘I have covered the capitol for a long time, but I 6.2 Choosing an Evaluator .......................................18
have never before seen the senators give a standing ovation 6.3 Evaluation Procedures .......................................19
to the gallery!’” 6.4 Evaluator’s Roles ...............................................19
-From “Story of a Bill”, by Howard Richman 6.5 The Written Evaluation .......................................19
Sample contract between parent & evaluator...........21
And so our homeschooling law finally passed in the
Senate in October 1988, after four and a half strenuous 7. Graduation ..........................................................22
years of lobbying-- years begun with the premature hopes 7.1 Getting a Diploma.............................................. 22
that our legislative effort would be quick and simple. 7.2 Parent-Issued Diploma ...................................... 22
Before the law passed, Pennsylvania prosecuted more 7.3 Organization Diploma ....................................... 22
homeschoolers than any other state. School district 7.4 PHAA Diploma ................................................. 22
superintendents decided whether or not to allow 8. Taking Part in Extracurriculars .........................23
homeschooling in their school districts, and many did not. 8.1 Public School Sports and Activities.................... 23
After 1988, prosecution of homeschoolers almost 8.2 Homeschool Extra-Curriculars .......................... 23
completely stopped. Homeschoolers set their own 9. Legal Procedures ...............................................24
objectives, kept portfolios, and arranged for end of year 9.1 What You Do When You Move........................... 24
evaluations of their programs, often by former-teachers who 9.2 The June 30 Deadline ....................................... 24
were also homeschooling parents. Superintendents could 9.3 Mid-Year Evaluation Requests .......................... 24
challenge the evaluators’ determinations, but rarely did. 9.4 Due Process Hearings & Appeals .................... 24
In November 2005, Senate Bill 361 gave homeschoolers 9.5 Child Dependency Prosecutions ...................... 25
access to public school sports and other extra-curricular
activities on the same basis as public school sttudents. 10. Health Services Requirements........................26
In October 2014, House Bill 1013 removed the power of 10.1 Checkups at School..........................................26
the school superintendents to challenge the evaluators’ 10.2 Doing It Yourself ...............................................26
determinations and recognized diplomas awarded by 10.3 Religious Exemption ........................................26
parents, while continuing to recognize the diplomas 11. Using Requirements to Gain Perspective.......27
awarded by homeschool diploma organizations.
The homeschool law has changed over time, but it has
remained a law in which parents can homeschool so long as
a teacher or former teacher agrees that they are giving their
children an appropriate education.
21. Filing Your Affidavit
A notarized affidavit of the parent or compulsory attendance age. In family Bible, other states official
guardian or other person having legal Pennsylvania, this means that you do not immunization documents,
custody of the child or children, filed prior have to file for children who are under 6 International Health Certificate,
to the commencement of the home unless that child has already attended immigration records, physician
education program and annually thereafter school in first grade or above, or you have record, school health records, and
on August 1 with the superintendent of the filed for the child in the past. (Kindergarten other similar documents or
school district of residence and which sets does not count as school attendance.) history.
forth: the name of the supervisor of the 1.2 How to File For example, the Private Physician’s
home education program who shall be 1. Notarize Affidavit. Fill out the Report form included at the end of Chapter
responsible for the provision of instruction; affidavit form and get it notarized. You can 8 could be attached.
the name and age of each child who shall photocopy and fill out the two page Some parents whose children have
participate in the home education affidavit form included on the next pages. already been in school will attach a note:
program; the address and telephone 2. Recommended but not Required. “Immunization records were presented to
number of the home education program Include the children’s grade level on the the XYZ School District when the child
site; that such subjects as required by law part of the form that requires the child’s attended Kindergarten at ABC Elementary
are offered in the English language, name and age if you are indeed sure of School.” People who have already filed
including an outline of proposed education their grade level. Some districts may one home education affidavit with the
objectives by subject area; evidence that appreciate at least a brief note from the school district will sometimes attach a
the child has been immunized in parent noting that an 8 year old who is filed note: “Immunization records were
accordance with the provisions of section as a third grader has already completed 2nd presented with the initial home education
1303(a) and has received the health and grade work at home. affidavit filed in 1997.”
medical services required for students of 3. Objectives. Make a list of If you do not believe in
the child’s age or grade level in Article objectives for each child by subject area. immunizations, just simply attach a
XIV; and that the home education program Be sure to include at least one objective for statement in writing signed by you, the
shall comply with the provisions of this each required subject. Your list of parent or guardian, saying that you object
section and that the notarized affidavit objectives may not be rejected by the to such immunization. Title 28 section
shall be satisfactory evidence thereof.... school district so long as you list at least 23.84 of the Pennsylvania Code specifies
The affidavit shall contain a certification one objective for each required subject. this religious exemption:
to be signed by the supervisor that the Attach the list with a staple or a paper clip Children need not be immunized
supervisor, all adults living in the home to the notarized affidavit. See Chapter 2 for if the parent, guardian, or
and persons having legal custody of a child help with writing your objectives. emancipated child objects in
or children in a home education program 4. Immunizations. Each time you file writing to the immunization on
have not been convicted of the criminal an affidavit, you must attach evidence that religious grounds or on the basis
offenses enumerated in subsection (e) of your child has been immunized against: of a strong moral 3 or ethical
section 111 within five years immediately
• chickenpox (2 doses) conviction similar to a religious
preceding the date of the affidavit. — Act
• diphtheria, tetanus & pertussis (4 doses) belief.
169 of 1988
• hepatitis B (3 doses) If your child is deemed to have a medical
The day after you file your affidavit • measles, mumps and rubella (2 doses) problem which may contraindicate
you can begin homeschooling legally in • polio (4 doses) immunization, get a physician to write a
Pennsylvania. You can file your first note saying that immunization might be
Also, additional vaccines are required for detrimental to the health of your child, and
affidavit at any time, but after that you
entry into 7th grade: attach that note to your affidavit.
must file a new affidavit each year by
August 1. There is an affidavit that you can • tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis 5. Medical Checkups. You have
print out and use on pages 5 and 6 of this • meningococcal vaccine sworn in your affidavit that a
guide. Also, the Pennsylvania Department Also for entry into 12th grade, students Comprehensive Health Record is being
of Education has two sample affidavits on need another dose of meningococcal kept for your child. This means that either
their website: vaccine. (A dose received at 16 years of you or a school nurse has a file folder
• One is for students in grades 1-6 age or older will count as the 12th grade where the health records (for the
• The other is for students in grades 7-12 dose.) requirements described in Chapter 8) are
Most people send their affidavits to the [Note: if your child has had chicken kept.
local superintendent by certified mail. The pox, you do not have to vaccinate for In addition, many school
return receipt from the post office proves chicken pox if you include a statement that superintendents interpret the language of
that the superintendent received the your child has already had the disease.] the law to mean that you need to attach
affidavit. Other people take the affidavit to Title 28 section 23.82 of the evidence to your affidavit that you have
the school district and get a receipt in Pennsylvania Code describes a number of been complying with the health and
person from the school superintendent’s alternative ways to present immunization medical services requirements. This may
secretary. records: one day be tested in court. In order to avoid
a problem we recommend that you attach
1.1 Who Must File Any written document showing to your affidavit receipts from dentists or
You do not need to file an affidavit for the date of immunization — that doctors, filled-in copies of the medical or
any child who has not yet reached the is, baby book, Health Passport, dental forms included in Chapter 8, or even
3a note saying that you have scheduled an This means that they do not have to give child be permitted to participate in the
appointment with a doctor, dentist, or you paper, workbooks, or other school district’s or local intermediate unit’s
school nurse. The PA Department of consumable materials which you would not special education program. If you and the
Education has confirmed that districts do return. Very few districts will have any school district or intermediate unit can
have the right to see this sort of evidence, extra teacher guide materials to lend, as work it out, your child can participate at a
although HSLDA contests this. they only purchase enough for their own public school or a private school licensed
6. Optional. Attach a written request teachers. to provide special education services.
that the school district lend you text books, 7. Handicapped Children. Parents 9. Send by Certified Mail. Mail the
planned courses, and/or other materials. whose children have been classified as affidavit to the school district by certified
Then, call the school district and set up an handicapped (special education other than mail return receipt requested. You probably
appointment where you could pick up those gifted) must include a letter with their won’t hear anything back from the school
materials. The school districts must lend affidavit from a special education teacher district. Your receipt from the post office is
you materials if you request them. Since or a psychologist. See details in Chapter 3. evidence that they received it.
the school districts are lending you If you want your handicapped child to 10. Keep a Copy. Make a photocopy
materials, not giving them to you, you must participate in a school’s special education of everything to keep for your records.
return them when you are done with them. program, attach a written request that your
4AFFIDAVIT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF A HOME EDUCATION PROGRAM
The compulsory education section of the Pennsylvania school code states:
It is the policy of the Commonwealth to preserve the primary right of the parent or parents, or
person or persons in loco parentis to a child, to choose the education and training for such child.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA)
) SS:
COUNTY OF _____________________)
Before me the undersigned notary public, this day personally appeared
_______________________________, being first duly sworn on oath, deposes and says:
I attest that I am a parent or guardian or other person having legal custody of the child or children
listed below, that I am responsible for the provision of instruction in his/her/their home education
program in which the following courses are offered in the English language for a minimum of one
hundred eighty (180) days of instruction or a minimum of nine hundred (900) hours of instruction at
the elementary school level or nine hundred ninety (990) hours of instruction at the secondary
school level, and that the home education program is otherwise in compliance with the provisions
of the Public School Code:
At the ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL the following courses shall be taught: English, to include
spelling, reading, and writing; arithmetic; science; geography; history of the United States and
Pennsylvania; civics; safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers
and prevention of fires; health and physiology; physical education; music; and art.
At the SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL the following courses shall be taught: English, to include
language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics,
world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; mathematics, to include general
mathematics, algebra, and geometry; art; music; physical education; health; and safety education,
including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires. Other courses
may be included at the discretion of the supervisor.
I also attest that each child in the home education program has received the health and medical
services required by Article XIV of the Public School Code and that a comprehensive health record
is being maintained for each child. I also attest that I have a high school diploma or its equivalent,
and that all adults living in the home and persons having legal custody of a child or children in the
home education program have not been convicted, within five years immediately preceding the
date of the affidavit, of the criminal offenses enumerated in subsection (E) of section 111 of the
school code. These offenses relate to criminal homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, unlawful
restraint, rape, statutory rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, indecent
exposure, concealing a death of child born out of wedlock, endangering welfare of children, dealing
in infant children, corruption of minors, and sexual abuse of children. They also include felony
offenses relating to prostitution and related offenses, and felony offenses relating to obscene and
other sexual materials.Attached is:
1. An outline of proposed education objectives by subject area.
2. Evidence that each child has been immunized or has a religious or medical exemption from
immunizations.
3. Evidence of supervisor’s graduation from High School or College or attainment of a General
Equivalency Diploma (GED).
4. If a child in the home education program has been identified pursuant to the provisions of the
education of the handicapped act as needing special education services, excluding those students
identified as gifted or talented, then also attached is written notification of approval from a
Pennsylvania-certified special education teacher, or a licensed clinical psychologist, or a certified
school psychologist that this program addresses the specific needs of the student.
Name of Supervisor of Home Education Program _______________________________________
Address of Home Education Program Site ____________________________________________
City _______________________ State _______ Zip ___________ County __________________
Phone Number of Home Education Program Site ______________________________________
Name and Age of Each Child who shall Participate in the Program:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Signature ______________________________________
Subscribed and sworn before me this day _________________________date
NOTARIZATION:
________________________________
Notary Public
File with Superintendent
School District of Residence
prior to commencement of the
Home Education Program and
annually thereafter on August 1st.2. Resources for Writing Objectives
[The affidavit includes] an outline of history he wanted to concentrate on. Social Studies this year, developing his
proposed education objectives by subject Christian was fascinated by automobiles research skills and question-raising
area. . . . The required outline of proposed and machines, especially the Stanley abilities. Jesse will continue to read and
education objectives shall not be utilized Steamer. So the written objective was, listen to biographies, historical fiction,, and
by the superintendent in determining if the “Christian will increase his knowledge of history/ geography books and magazines
home education program is out of American history, particularly the period relating to chosen Social Studies themes.
compliance with this section and section during which the Stanley Steamer was Jesse will help to choose the area of
1327. — Act 169 of 1988 popular.” This objective allowed the focused study. He will help plan projects
family to plan activities like reading books relating to the area chosen, with a goal
When you file your notarized affidavit, about the Stanley brothers and about being to share his project at a spring
you must attach a list of objectives that you Theodore Roosevelt and to take advantage History and Science Fair for
plan to meet over the year. Your list must of events like a TV biography of Theodore Homeschoolers. It is our educational
be arranged by subject area. Your affidavit Roosevelt and a local museum fair that just philosophy that these themes should not be
cannot be rejected because of perceived happened to include a 1915 Stanley discreet “packages” of knowledge,
inadequacies as long as you have covered Steamer. completed and then forgotten, but instead
every subject. In other words, you are not Some parents do not list specific texts should be readily related one to another,
seeking approval of your particular or source materials with their objectives— seeing the common links throughout
program, but rather letting officials know that will come after the fact in your history, the overlap of one area with
that you do indeed have plans and portfolio. Objectives can be written in a another.
directions. Many parents would want to broad and general enough way to PHYSICAL EDUCATION
include goal statements about their encompass many possible materials. —Jesse will continue to take part in
religious beliefs as they affect particular The remainder of this section includes regular daily physical activity aimed at
subject areas, and this is certainly fine, lists of objectives that you might want to developing aerobic health, adequate
although not required. The local adapt when you put together your own muscular strength, and flexibility. Our
superintendent cannot try in any way to objectives. Don’t feel that you have to emphasis is on introducing Jesse to lifelong
make you exclude religious education. reinvent the educational wheel here; feel healthful activities that people of many
The sample affidavit included at the free to borrow when appropriate. ages can take part in.
end of Chapter 1 lists the required subject 2.1 Susan Richman’s Objectives MUSIC
areas for elementary students (grades 1 If you write your objectives in a broad —Jesse will continue to sing with our
through 6) and secondary students (grades enough way, they will give you the family regularly, especially focusing on the
7 through 12). It is clear from the practice flexibility to jump wholeheartedly into music of our folk heritage. Whenever
of secondary schools that not all subjects unplanned projects during the year. Here possible, songs and music from a time
are expected every year. For example, are a sampling of some of the more flexible period studied in Social Studies will be
algebra is usually taught one year while objectives that Susan included in her list of listened to and learned, again striving for
geometry is taught another. Since only objectives for our son Jesse in various unity and interdisciplinary work. Jesse will
three years of mathematics is required for years: continue to improve his voice quality and
graduation from a home education MATH ability to sing with good intonation and
program, it is clear that mathematics only —Jesse will use problem solving pitch. A special emphasis will be on
need be taught for three of the four high mathematics skills in daily life applications continuing to learn to sing rounds in a large
school years. Elementary schools usually — when building, estimating distance, group setting, with possible performance
teach each required subject every year, using money, counting and classifying, possibilities.
except for PA History which is customarily map reading, solving “found” word 2.2 Barb Snider’s Objectives
taught in the 4th grade. Parents who use a problems in newspaper articles, using Here are the sixth grade educational
correspondence school curriculum with calculator when helping at our sales table objectives written and submitted by
elementary school students will often have at conferences, etc. homeschooler Barb Snider with her
to supplement the “scope and sequence” ENGLISH affidavit for her daughter Rebecca.
with objectives for art, music, physical —Jesse will focus on an author of
education, Pennsylvania history, fire safety, choice and read several works by that ENGLISH, to include spelling reading
or other areas which are required by author, comparing how the works are and writing
Pennsylvania law, but not provided in the similar or different, how the author —Literature based sustained silent
curriculum. changed his approach or developed a reading program—at least 45 minutes
Some parents get objectives directly consistent style. daily.
from the materials that they plan to use. GEOGRAPHY —Read aloud to preschoolers.
They take chapter titles, and turn them into —Jesse will continue to utilize map —Reading from a variety of fiction,
objectives and study topics. reading when we are on family trips, nonfiction, history, mythology, folk tales,
Some parents negotiate the written demonstrating use of scale, highway codes, biography, mystery, poetry, plays.
objectives with their children so that the direction, and understanding of how land —Improve spelling skills through the
objectives become goals that the children formations dictate where roadways can be use of a spelling list and correction of
will work toward. For example, when Tom located. spelling errors made.
and Madalene Murphy wanted to study SOCIAL STUDIES —Improve reference and study skills.
American history with their son Christian, —Jesse will be involved in choosing a —Learn about the resources and uses of
they asked him what parts of American series of independent study topics in the the library.
7—Improve grammar skills using reading materials on World, United States, team sports including the rules to play by,
Learning Grammar Through Writing. and Pennsylvania history and maps of the good sportsmanship, and skills necessary to
—Sustained silent writing program— World, United States, and Pennsylvania. participate in the sports.
journals, letters, poems, essays, reports, —Continue to develop her interest in —Continue to develop her ability with
etc. Pennsylvania and United States history various individual activities such as bike
—Learn to correct her own writing through field trips. riding, running, gymnastics, jumping, etc.
using Learning Grammar Through Writing. —Continue to develop her map and MUSIC
—Improve grammar skills through globe use skills, especially of the United —Continue with Suzuki piano lessons.
textbooks, tapes and games. States, Pennsylvania, the Far East, Franklin —Continue to become acquainted with
ARITHMETIC County and local cities and towns. music history.
—Improve her ability to manipulate —Further develop her interest in —Increase her music appreciation by
whole numbers through addition. history and acquaint her with those of listening to classical, baroque, opera, folk,
—Improve her ability to use decimals import in history. She will read a variety of and hymn music.
and fractions. biographies, histories and historical fiction. —Increase her appreciation of music by
—Improve her ability to solve word —To stimulate her thinking abilities, attending concerts and visiting musicians.
problems. we will use discussion, research and —Develop her singing ability through
—Improve her ability to understand reading to compare and contrast different choir participation.
and use mathematical relationships. historical figures, their times, cultures and ART
—Improve her ability to solve money circumstances to come to a better —Improve her knowledge of art history
problems. understanding of their place and impact on by reading histories of the arts, biographies
—Improve her measurement skills and history. of artists, placement of trends in art on the
her ability to solve problems involving —Learn to use specific history, civics time line mentioned in the section on
measurements. and geography texts as needed. history, and discussions with parents and
—Improve her graph reading ability. —Using field trips, she will be other resource persons.
—Develop her ability to understand encouraged to appreciate and understand —Improve her ability to use various art
and use scale measurements. the people and geography of our country. mediums such as pen and ink, pencil,
—Continue to use math in practical SAFETY EDUCATION (including watercolor, acrylics, etc.
applications such as the kitchen, the regular and continuous instruction in the —Learn to appreciate and critique art
garden, the grocery store, traveling, etc. dangers and prevention of fires) by picture studies, field trips to art
SCIENCE —Become knowledgeable about museums, reading and participating in
—To increase her knowledge of the bicycle safety. discussions with parents and other resource
scientific process. —Become acquainted with and persons.
—To encourage science knowledgeable about emergency and first —Discover and learn crafts of her
experimentation and child directed aid procedures. choosing to include bookbinding and
learning. —Become more knowledgeable about others.
—To turn everyday experiences into stranger safety. —Discover the effect of culture on art
science lessons (such as dissecting a —Practice escape routes from our and the effect of art on culture through the
nonpoisonous snake that found its way into home in the event of fire. study of art pieces and reading.
a local greenhouse). —Learn about fire prevention. —Develop a facility with calligraphy.
—To encourage reading about science —Become more knowledgeable about 2.3 Another Set of Objectives
and scientists in a wide field of interest. procedures in the event of a fire in the Here are the second grade educational
—To encourage a love and respect for home, on her person, on a friend. objectives written and submitted by
nature and an understanding of natural —Become more knowledgeable about another homeschooling family for their
processes. street and traffic safety. son.
—To increase knowledge of nature HEALTH AND PHYSIOLOGY SPELLING
through the use of guide books and —Increase her knowledge of the human —Begin to write words by their
resource persons. body and its systems. phonetic compositions, word families, and
—To learn the use of science textbooks —Improve her understanding of common spelling patterns.
and other resources when needed. personal hygiene, what it is, why it is —Begin to write sight words from
GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, CIVICS necessary. memory.
—To develop a concept of history as a —Improve her understanding of dental READING
continuum, through the use of a time line hygiene, what it is and why it is necessary. —Read easy readers.
notebook used from year to year, learning —Learn about health maintenance. —Listen to fine literature on a variety
about world history, United States history, —Increase her knowledge of good of topics.
and Pennsylvania history. nutrition and other areas affecting good —Discuss author’s voice, style
—To develop an appreciation of health. differences among different authors, tone,
Pennsylvania’s heritage through the PHYSICAL EDUCATION plot structure, characterization, use of
understanding of Pennsylvania history and —Continue to encourage gross and fine language, and our reactions and responses
geography. This will necessarily include motor skill development. to the piece of literature.
the use of books, magazines, maps, local —Begin to develop an interest in, and —Beginning use of reference materials.
resource persons, the library, travel, and facility with activities that will serve to and listen to quality informational readings.
other resources as we discover them. provide opportunities to be physically and Begin learning to use digital skills to gather
—Continue to develop her interest in aerobically fit through her adult life. information.
all kinds of history through the use of —Become acquainted with various WRITING
8—Refine manuscript writing. (circulatory, digestive, respiratory and 2.5 Distance Courses, Co-op Classes,
—Capitalization and punctuation. nervous). Private Teachers
—Compose letters and stories. —Proper balance of activities.
Many homeschool students are taking
—Keep a journal. —Prominent names in health care.
distance courses in some subject areas,
ARITHMETIC —Olympics.
often via the Internet, and objectives for
—Addition and subtraction facts. —Dangers of alcohol abuse.
these courses are usually provided by the
—Place value through hundreds. —Sexuality and reproductive systems.
distance program. For exanmple, many
—Introduction to multiplication. PHYSICAL EDUCATION
high school homeschoolers in Pennsylvania
—Telling time. —Active, outdoor play including
take part in some of the Advanced
—Use of calendar. games, riding bicycle, soccer.
Placement (AP) Online Test Preparation
—Count by twos, fives and tens. —Develop lifetime sport of golf.
classes that are offered from Pennsylvania
—Handling of money (coins). —Swimming regularly in summer.
Homeschoolers-- the class description
—One-step problem solving. —Hiking, indoor hockey and other
found on our website could be used in
—Introduction to metric measurement. active pastimes.
writing your objectives for the course, and
—Identifying and creating geometric MUSIC
the teacher may also provide further
shapes. —Listening to various styles of music.
learning objectives to families if asked.
—Logic. —Using music for play and creative
SCIENCE personal expression. Likewise, if your child is taking a class
—Small animals of North America. —Experiment with harmonica playing. through a homeschool co-op program that
—How plants grow and get food. —Singing alone and in groups. meets weekly, the teacher could help
—Pollination. —Familiarity with US folk songs. provide you with class objectives. If you
—Basic food groups and nutrition. —Study the use of musical instruments have an outside private teacher or tutor for
—Dinosaurs and origins. in church and in concerts. a particular course, that person could help
—Native plants of Pennsylvania and —Learn songs of worship. with objectives for that subject.
their uses. ART 2.6 PA Department of Education
—Prominent names in science. —Use of various media for creative Over the years, the State Board of
—Bees. visual expression including plasticine, Education and the Pennsylvania
GEOGRAPHY various paints, magic markers, pencils, Department of Education have developed
—Map making of the neighborhood. cloth, wood, oil pastels, mosaics, glue, various sets of academic standards which
—Communities in other lands. crayons. are available on the Pennsylvania
—Personal, live observations of city, —Attend art lessons at local museum. Department of Education website.
country, beach, mountains. —Observe and discuss prominent art The State Board of Education
HISTORY works exhibited at the local museum. developed Academic Standards for arts and
—Civil War. —Picture book observations. humanities, career education, civics,
—Valley Forge during the American —Art of historic cultures (Egyptian, economics, English, consumer science,
Revolution. American Indian). environment, geography, history, reading
—Bio’s of prominent individuals. —Clean up and respect of materials. and writing in social studies, math,
—Bible. 2.4 Our High School English Goals science,, health, safety and physical
—American Indians. We (PHAA) have requirements for a education. Interestingly enough, at every
—Pioneers. high school English course which go grade level it is strongly recommended that
—Pilgrims to the New World. beyond the requirements of the home students read at least 25 books, just what is
—Ancient Egypt. education law. Those pursuing our diploma required for the PHAA diploma program!
CIVICS option may want to include these Within the PA Dept of Ed website, you
—Follow current events on a national requirements in their listed objectives: can also access the Assessment Anchors
and state level. —Read 25 books or a literature that have been developed to guide the
—Holidays and festivals. anthology and 15 books. PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School
—Patriotism. —Read at least 3 classics. Assessment) testing program. These are
—What people do (jobs). —Write at least 4 compositions. currently available for mathematics,
—Prayer for self, others, government —Write a composition that is at least reading, and science. These have objectives
leaders. 2500 words long (approx. 10 pages). as well as sample test items related to those
—Apply the Golden Rule. —Keep rough drafts of compositions objectives. Especially useful for those
SAFETY ED. AND FIRE SAFETY which show that punctuation, usage, and/or families opting to take part in the PSSA
—Kitchen safety and fire instruction. grammatical errors were corrected in the testing program.
—Fireplace safety and fire instruction. process of writing these compositions or For the high school level, some families
—Safety during physically active play work through over 1/4 of a language or may be interested in using goals set by the
and in sports. grammar textbook or log at least 45 daily Standards Aligned System curriculum.
—Crossing streets. entries of work in language or grammar These include curriculum for for arts and
HEALTH AND PHYSIOLOGY study. humanities, driver and safety education,
—Dental care. —Give at least one speech during the economic education, English, environment,
—Personal care and use of health care year to a group outside of the immediate health, physical education, math, science,
workers. family. social studies, technology education, and
foreign languages.
—Major systems of the body
93. Extra Requirement for Handicapped Children
Any student who has been identified program. We have an updated list of increase coordination and body awareness.
pursuant to the provisions of the Education friendly special education teachers and In addition, remedial activities that are
of the Handicapped Act (Public Law 91- psychologists which we publish as part of timed to include treasure hunts, puzzle
230 U.S.C. # 1401 et. seq.) as needing our list of qualified evaluators in each issue races, cooking projects, etc., can be
special education services, excluding those of Pennsylvania Homeschoolers. As you implemented to increase X’s ability to
students identified as gifted and/or can see, a lot of time and thought can go attend and respond efficiently to general
talented, shall be in compliance with the into writing an evaluation such as this. directions and assignments.
requirements of compulsory attendance by Parents should realize that they will need to Great emphasis will be placed on
participating in a home education fairly compensate Special Education enhancing X’s ability to communicate
program, as defined in Section 1327.1, teachers or psychologists who offer this verbally more appropriately and without
when the program addresses the specific service to them. undue hesitation or pressured speech. He
needs of the exceptional student and is 3.1 Sample Approval Letter will be encouraged to engage in extended
approved by a teacher with a valid Here is a sample approval letter which forms of verbal communication, e.g., free
certificate from the Commonwealth to combines two letters written by a former verbal interaction, role playing, round
teach special education or a licensed special education teacher. She met with the robin stories and recalling experiences.
clinical or certified school psychologist, homeschooling mother twice before she These will be tape recorded and played
and written notification of such approval is wrote the letter, which was filed with the back to demonstrate to the child his
submitted with the notarized affidavit affidavit. The first time she examined the progress in developing more fluency of
required under Section 1327.1 (b). The books and materials that the family was speech.
supervisor of a home education program using and had a chance to talk with the Mrs. Y’s program will encourage the
may request that the school district or child informally over snacks. The second child to read for pleasure and thereby gain
intermediate district of residence provide time, she privately discussed the family’s confidence in using this skill as a primary
services that address the specific needs of educational objectives with the mother learning tool. As an incentive, X has his
the exceptional student in the home while their children played. own library cards at both the XYZ library
education program. When the provision of and the ABC Library, and visits the
services is agreed to by both the supervisor Dear Dr. Z: libraries frequently to borrow books and
and the school district or intermediate unit, I have been asked by Mrs. Y to review attend various events. In addition, Mrs. Y
all services shall be provided in the public her home schooling program for her son X. will continue to work on word attack skills
schools or in a private school licensed to The following is a list of my credentials and phonics as well as comprehension
provide such programs and services. — and my background in special education: skills, e.g., cause-and-effect relationships,
Act 169 of 1988 BS in elementary/special education from folklore to discuss abstraction and logical
Nothing in this section shall be XYZ University; MS in special education and illogical happenings.
construed to affect Federal or State law from XYZ University; Certified in special The program will meet the child’s
relating to special education for students education in the state of Pennsylvania; needs for positive social interaction by
with disabilities in home education Taught four years for ABC Intermediate continuing his involvement in a church-
programs. -- Act 196 of 2014. Unit; Taught one year for DEF related youth activity, as well as by
Parents whose children have been Intermediate Unit. attending Sunday School. The professional
officially labeled as handicapped (mentally Having reviewed the home schooling involvement with youth on the part of the
retarded, learning disabled, socially and program of Mrs. Y for her son X, it is my child’s stepfather, a clergyman, occasions
emotionally disturbed, visually impaired, opinion that the program is appropriate and additional outings that provide loving
hearing impaired, physically handicapped, meets the child’s needs. acceptance by his peers. He will also meet
or speech and language impaired) must get Mrs. Y will use textbooks and other regularly with other home education
a Pennsylvania certified special education materials that are on X’s instructional level students for special activities and field
teacher or a certified school psychologist or rather than his frustration level. When trips.
a licensed clinical psychologist to approve employing texts with more advanced Mrs. Y is aware of the need to work
their home education program and should vocabulary, she can take time to explain as with X in problem areas, such as
attach the written approval to the notarized necessary, thus enabling X to study distractibility, auditory memory,
affidavit. Generally, only children who materials more appropriate for his age categorization, and perseverance. The
have been in school get labeled as level. tutoring situation is ideal for allowing an
handicapped. You would know if your Because of his limited attention span overlap of school work and home life in
child had been labeled because you would and language processing difficulties, X can addressing these problems on an ongoing
have been asked to sign a form agreeing to learn more readily during short periods of basis.
the label so that your child could receive time having small amounts of material It is my opinion that the home
special education services. presented with immediate feedback and education program for X will result in good
If you want your child to participate in frequent reinforcement. Mrs. Y has progress both academically and in building
special education classes in a public or structured her daily teaching schedule self-esteem.
private school, then the new law specifies accordingly and, if necessary, can interrupt I have requested a copy of my teaching
that you can make that arrangement. a lesson to intersperse with short periods of certificate with a name change from the
The main problem for parents of physical activities. Bureau of Teacher Certification in
handicapped children will be to find a During these times, she can include Harrisburg and will send you a copy as
special education teacher or licensed gross and fine motor activities, e.g. soon as I receive it.
psychologist who will approve their charades, obstacle courses, Twister, to Sincerely yours,
104. Keeping a Portfolio
In order to demonstrate that for all of their home-educated children. major news story, or when the kids spend
appropriate education is occurring, the Others keep separate daily logs for each an hour or more playing a geography game
supervisor of the home education program child. Many home-educated children keep on Saturday, or take part in our monthly
shall provide and maintain on file the their own daily logs-- and we definitely square dance, they get can easily enter it on
following documentation for each student recommend this. Whichever way you their logs-- but we personally just count a
enrolled in the home education program: choose, make sure that you list by title the 7-day week as 5 days of credit (makes it
(1) A portfolio of records and reading materials used, and show that you much easier to count up, and we’re not in a
materials. The portfolio shall consist of a are teaching for the proper amount of time: race to finish our 180!). You might also
log, made contemporaneously with the 1. Elementary Level (grades 1-6) want to include a one page, yearlong
instruction, which designates by title the — 180 days or 900 hours per year. calendar in the front of your log or
reading materials used, samples of any 2. Secondary Level (grades 7-12) portfolio album that has your days of
writings, work sheets, workbooks or — 180 days or 990 hours per year. instruction circled — this would be a very
creative materials used or developed by the You have a choice about whether to quick way to show both your evaluator and
student. — Act 169 of 1988 document hours or days in your log. Most your superintendent that you put in your
parents find days easier, though some find 180 days.
In order to prove that you are educating it simple to jot down hours at the end of We have certainly heard some
your child you must keep a portfolio of his each day, especially with older students. grumbling from some homeschoolers
or her work. At the end of the year you will You do not need to only consider official worried about how much time keeping a
have this portfolio reviewed by a private “book work” as your homeschool time, but log will take. Some people worry that they
teacher or psychologist who will write an can certainly consider all in-depth are expected to follow their child around,
evaluation of your child’s progress. Then discussions, project times, field trips, spiral notebook in hand, and write down
you will take or mail the portfolio and sporting events, educational videos, and every word uttered, every learning
written evaluation to your school outside classes that your child might discovery or question raised. Obviously
superintendent no later than June 30. He participate in. more than a simple check mark that
will return it to you after photocopying You don’t have to teach every subject indicates “attendance” is required, but daily
what he wants to keep for his records. every day. If you don’t show much summary notes can certainly be brief
Your portfolio must show that you are documentation of the required subjects in jottings, not fully developed essays! If it
giving your child an “appropriate your log, you should balance it by takes you longer to keep your log than to
education,” which means that your child is documenting them fairly completely in actually work with your children, then
receiving instruction in the required your portfolio album. In general we figure you’re doing something wrong.
subjects for the required time and is recommend that those who keep very Experiment around until you find a way
demonstrating sustained progress in the scanty logs should keep very complete that seems complete enough without being
overall program. portfolio albums, and those who keep very an undo burden. When students are in
We recommend that you keep your scanty portfolio albums should keep charge of filling out their own logs, it’s of
portfolio in two parts — a daily log and a detailed logs. course important for parents to remember
portfolio album. Another thing to remember is that you to remind them about this task-- and have a
4.1 Daily Log are not held to the public school calendar. way that is easy to update
11 if a few days or a
According to the Office of Chief Many homeschoolers have important week have gone by without noting
Counsel at the PA Department of activities going on during the summer anything. Whatever form you use, it should
Education, your daily log “must identify months, and you can feel free to document get a bit faster with experience.
specific dates of instruction and the those days also, perhaps gaining extra What format can your log take? Some
materials used on each date, because the “vacation” days in December. We also keep people use teacher’s planning books which
log by definition is a ‘day to day’ record.” track of important things that we do on the feature a grid with subjects or time-slots
Some parents keep a single daily log weekends — when we read and discuss a across the top and days of the week downthe side. We sell The Home Schoolers’ completed a huge, and very attractive
Journal, one such planning book, which poster giving information on all U.S.
many people have found to be helpful and Presidents.]
flexible, and many appreciate the features His Get 8 more Presidents done P
such as the booklist chart, field trip Do questions on 22 ___
summary pages, and more. Other people Do test ___
use spiral notebooks, Daytimers, or big Fre Listen to tape P
block calendars. Still others use Review Unit II P
individually developed photocopied forms Read the first story in Le Treseur
which they will later bind together into a
notebook or place in their portfolio album. Lit Study Biography of Joyce P
There are many online computer options Test on Joyce ___
now available also. Read “Rocking Horse Winner” __
A number of families use a checkoff Geom Finish 7 P
system for their daily logs. The parents or Read 8 P
children write down the planned Chem Reread 11 ___
assignments ahead of time on the Do Problems ___
assignment sheet or in the notebook or
On the facing page, Emily has kept her Math work in your portfolio doesn’t
planning book, and then the children check
journal. She writes: have to come from text books--it can
off the assignments as soon as they are
Yesterday I got (from the library) a include samples such as this Math
completed. If a planned assignment is not
Reading (unabridged) of Josephine Tey’s Olympiad contest problem set, from
accomplished, it is simply not checked off.
The Daughter of Time. It’s a novel about our daughter Hannah.
This system not only helps the families
the debunking of the Richard III murdering
plan their homeschooling day, but it also
the princes in the Tower so I’m going to
helps the children know what they need to 2. Molly Richman (age 14) prepared
find out what the Encyclopedia Britannica
accomplish. one log form (shown above) that she
says about Richard III and Henry VII.
A number of families have involved used every week. She prepared a chart (on
EB [Encyclopedia Britannica] says
their children in the keeping of their own the computer, so she can modify the chart
there was a rumor that the kids were killed
daily logs. Here are three examples: later) which encompasses a wide range of
in 1453. Must get a biography of Richard
1. Emily Murphy (age 16) kept her III. educational activities--because the object
daily log in a “Daytimer” book. Each isn’t to list what she will complete every
morning Emily wrote her goals for the day single day, but to list almost every activity
on the left hand page and then, throughout that she might possibly complete. (This
the day, she checked them off as she saves writing-time later!) Whenever she
finished each item. On the facing page she does something worthy of listing, she
recorded anything extra that was highlights both what she did and the day of
interesting. Following are her entries for a the week that she did it on. A sample
particular day in March, 1989. On the left chart:
hand page under the Daytimer’s heading,
“TO BE DONE TODAY,” Emily has 3. Tara Culp (age 10) kept her own
written the following objectives by subject log in a teacher’s planning book. Monday
areas (history, French, literature, geometry, through Friday are the headings down the
and chemistry). Seven of the thirteen left side of the page while the seven
objectives were checked off on this different subject areas are written across
particular day: [Note: the Presidents were the top of the page. Since there are more
done as part of a big project where Emily subjects than subject areas, several subjects
Hannah drew this lovely
Your portfolio’s cover is its
colored-pencil lady, slid her into
introduction. Here’s how some
homeschoolers decorated theirs! a sheet protector, and taped her
Other possibilities-- decorate onto this portfolio cover with
your cover with fabric, clear tape!
wallpaper, computer art,
photographs, fancy lettering...
the sky’s the limit.
The note on Elisa’s cover
(shown on the right) says: “All
of the writing, gluing, cutting,
typing, word processing, and
arranging were done by me. All
that is in this portfolio... is an
example of the work that I did
this year, and it is all to the This cover shows two of Jesse's
glory of God. loves: Nature and geography
Elisa Martinez
12Summary Page Ideas...
Here's a, well, summary of various summary page ideas. Think of it as a smorgasbord of possibilities!
Many evaluators like to see brief summaries of how each subject was studied, written at the end of the
year by the student or parent. (So these tell what really happened, not what was supposed to happen as the
objectives show! Let’s face it, there’s usually a difference.) This is Molly’s art and music summary for
tenth grade, which she used partly to list the ways that she earned high school credit for PHAA.
A list of all the field trips and outside activities that
our children take part in is very useful. Such lists show
that children are finding out about the world through
firsthand experiences and that they are learning from
many others beyond mom and dad. Find an easy
digital format, too!
Some homeschoolers write up
quick summaries for each of the
field trips which they participate
in. Even breif captions to field trip
brochures show that the student
was attentive and alert. This one is
from Jesse's 6th grade portfolio.
A very common and very helpful
type of summary page is a list of
books read by or to the student.
When the final list is tied up on
computer, it's also easy to just give
the evaluator a copy for her files.
This booklist is from Kevin Gray
after his first year at the high
school level, where he more than
met the PHAA requirement of
reading 2 books and at least three
classics.
Here's a summary page of folk and fairly
tales from Jenny Rimmer's portfolio. She
and her mother read all of these stories this
year. The page shows a map of the world
with the names of the fairy tales listed with
arrows pointing to their country of origin.
This page shows that their wide reading of
folk tales was tied in with their study of
geography.
13You can also read
