New Jersey vs Pennsylvania: Homeschool Laws Compared

Pennsylvania is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while New Jersey requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 7 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, compulsory school ages, and public school sports access.

Rules compared

9

Differences

7

Same in both

2

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from New Jersey to Pennsylvania

Once you are a Pennsylvania resident you homeschool under Pennsylvania's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. File a notice of intent with the local school district once you are a Pennsylvania resident. New Jersey did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
2. Start logging from your first day: Pennsylvania counts 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) over 180 days a year, and New Jersey set no minimum.
3. Pennsylvania names 11 required subjects (english, math, science, geography, history, civics, safety, health, physical education, music, art). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
4. Pennsylvania requires professional evaluation, annually. New Jersey had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: Pennsylvania requires one and New Jersey did not.
6. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in Pennsylvania against 6-16 in New Jersey, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
7. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Pennsylvania the answer is yes; in New Jersey it was district decides.

Moving from Pennsylvania to New Jersey

Once you are a New Jersey resident you homeschool under New Jersey's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. There is no notice to file in New Jersey. Before you leave, send Pennsylvania's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
2. New Jersey sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
3. New Jersey names no required subjects. Pennsylvania's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
4. New Jersey requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Pennsylvania's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. New Jersey does not require a portfolio. Bring Pennsylvania's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.
6. Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in New Jersey against 6-18 in Pennsylvania, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
7. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In New Jersey the answer is district decides; in Pennsylvania it was yes.

What stays the same

New Jersey and Pennsylvania match on progress reports and ESA funding. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither New Jersey nor Pennsylvania takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Delaware vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• Florida vs New Jersey 5 rules differ
• Florida vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Maryland vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• New Jersey vs New York 5 rules differ
• New Jersey vs North Carolina 4 rules differ
• New York vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• Ohio vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Pennsylvania vs West Virginia 7 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table
• States That Require a Homeschool Portfolio All 6 states in one table