Pennsylvania vs West Virginia: Homeschool Laws Compared

Pennsylvania and West Virginia sit in the same tier: both require notice and a periodic assessment. They still differ on 7 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, compulsory school ages, ESA funding, 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 Pennsylvania to West Virginia

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

1. West Virginia 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. West Virginia's required list adds reading, language, and social studies and drops english, geography, history, civics, safety, health, physical education, music, and art compared with Pennsylvania's. Match West Virginia's wording in your records.
3. The assessment rule changes from professional evaluation, annually in Pennsylvania to parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in West Virginia.
4. West Virginia does not require a portfolio. Bring Pennsylvania's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in West Virginia against 6-18 in Pennsylvania, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. West Virginia runs Hope Scholarship. Check whether your family qualifies; Pennsylvania had no comparable program.
7. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In West Virginia the answer is yes, with conditions; in Pennsylvania it was yes.

Moving from West Virginia 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 West Virginia set no minimum.
2. Pennsylvania's required list adds english, geography, history, civics, safety, health, physical education, music, and art and drops reading, language, and social studies compared with West Virginia's. Match Pennsylvania's wording in your records.
3. The assessment rule changes from parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in West Virginia to professional evaluation, annually in Pennsylvania.
4. Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: Pennsylvania requires one and West Virginia did not.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in Pennsylvania against 6-17 in West Virginia, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Pennsylvania has no ESA program. West Virginia's Hope Scholarship is for West Virginia residents, so budget without it.
7. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Pennsylvania the answer is yes; in West Virginia it was yes, with conditions.

What stays the same

Pennsylvania and West Virginia match on notice of intent and progress reports. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Pennsylvania nor West Virginia 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 Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Kentucky vs West Virginia 6 rules differ
• Maryland vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Maryland vs West Virginia 6 rules differ
• New Jersey vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• New York vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• Ohio vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Ohio vs West Virginia 4 rules differ
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
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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