There are a number of educational options available to Pennsylvania parents.

 

Public Schooling

Public schooling options are free of cost to families, including the neighborhood school district, vocational schools, charter schools and cyber charter schools. Cyber charter schools are free online public schools that provide everything your child needs to complete their education from home. PDE publishes a list of charter and cyber charter schools. 

 

Today, many school districts also offer their own homegrown cyber options that may include both online and classroom experience. Inquire at your district whether this option is available.

 

Private Schooling

There are many private school options, including schools related to religious institutions. These do not include online or correspondence courses, but rather are actual buildings where students attend to obtain their instruction. Although these schools are not all licensed, they are recognized by the Commonwealth and must be registered.

 

Private Tutoring

Parents may hire a private tutor to teach their children. This option is not without its challenges, since there is no clear path to a diploma other than taking the GED tests and applying for a Commonwealth Secondary School diploma. See the Private Tutors section of this Home Education website.

 

Homeschooling

Homeschooling is a right and does not require the approval of the school district as long as the required documentation is submitted (22 Pa. Code § 11.31a). Some restrictions apply (24 P.S. § 13-1327.1 (b)): the supervisor of the home education program must have a high school diploma or its equivalent (such as successfully passing the GED tests and/or received a Commonwealth secondary school diploma; see 22 Pa Code § 4.72). Additionally, all adults living in the home and persons having legal custody of a child or children in a home education program 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. These are listed in the sample affidavits.

 

There are many options for obtaining curriculum for home education programs. See the Curriculum section of this Home Education website.