Pennsylvania Homeschool Record Keeping: Affidavits, Portfolios, and Evaluations

File before you begin and again each year

The Pennsylvania Department of Education says the home-education supervisor must have a high-school diploma or equivalent and submit a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration to the district superintendent before the program begins and annually thereafter by August 1. The filing also includes proposed objectives by subject and the health or exemption documentation described by state law.

Build the portfolio while the year is happening

The portfolio must include a log made as instruction occurs that identifies reading materials by title, plus samples of the student’s writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials. Pennsylvania’s current Department of Education guide says the log must demonstrate either 180 days of instruction, 900 hours at the elementary level, or 990 hours at the secondary level. Families documenting days do not have to list the number of hours for each day.

Add test results in grades 3, 5, and 8

For students in grades 3, 5, and 8, the portfolio must include results from the PSSA or another Pennsylvania-approved nationally normed standardized achievement test. Keep the complete report with the school-year portfolio.

Submit the annual evaluation by June 30

A qualified evaluator reviews the portfolio and interviews the student, then prepares a written evaluation stating whether an appropriate education occurred. The supervisor submits that evaluation to the district superintendent by June 30 for a full-year program.

A practical Pennsylvania family file

Annual affidavit or unsworn declaration and district confirmation
Proposed education objectives and required health documentation
Contemporaneous reading and instructional-time log
Representative writings, worksheets, workbooks, and creative work
Approved test results for grades 3, 5, and 8
Annual evaluator report
Course, credit, grade, transcript, and outside-provider records for high school

Source date and scope

This summary was checked against Pennsylvania Department of Education guidance on September 18, 2026. It is educational information, not legal advice. Review the current state guide and your district’s filing instructions before a deadline.

Common questions

What must be in a Pennsylvania homeschool portfolio?

At minimum, PDE guidance describes a contemporaneous log identifying reading materials by title, representative student work, proof of the required days or hours, and approved test results in grades 3, 5, and 8. The evaluator uses the portfolio as part of the annual review.

What gets submitted to the Pennsylvania school district each year?

The annual affidavit or unsworn declaration is filed by August 1, and the qualified evaluator’s written report is submitted by June 30 for a full-year program. Keep the complete portfolio unless the district lawfully requests material under the applicable process.