Ohio vs Pennsylvania: Homeschool Laws Compared

Pennsylvania is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while Ohio requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, and ESA funding.

Rules compared

9

Differences

5

Same in both

4

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 Ohio to Pennsylvania

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

1. Start logging from your first day: Pennsylvania counts 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) over 180 days a year, and Ohio set no minimum.
2. Pennsylvania's required list adds english, geography, civics, safety, health, physical education, music, and art and drops language arts, government, and social studies compared with Ohio's. Match Pennsylvania's wording in your records.
3. Pennsylvania requires professional evaluation, annually. Ohio had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
4. Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: Pennsylvania requires one and Ohio did not.
5. Pennsylvania has no ESA program. Ohio's EdChoice Scholarship (and EdChoice Expansion) is for Ohio residents, so budget without it.

Moving from Pennsylvania to Ohio

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

1. Ohio 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.
2. Ohio's required list adds language arts, government, and social studies and drops english, geography, civics, safety, health, physical education, music, and art compared with Pennsylvania's. Match Ohio's wording in your records.
3. Ohio requires no testing or evaluation. Keep Pennsylvania's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
4. Ohio does not require a portfolio. Bring Pennsylvania's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.
5. Ohio runs EdChoice Scholarship (and EdChoice Expansion). Check whether your family qualifies; Pennsylvania had no comparable program.

What stays the same

Ohio and Pennsylvania match on notice of intent, progress reports, compulsory school ages, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Ohio 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 Ohio 4 rules differ
• Florida vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Indiana vs Ohio 5 rules differ
• Kentucky vs Ohio 4 rules differ
• Maryland vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Michigan vs Ohio 4 rules differ
• New Jersey vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• New York vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• Ohio vs West Virginia 4 rules differ
• Pennsylvania vs West Virginia 7 rules differ
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• 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