Annual Evaluation (Pennsylvania)

Pennsylvania law (24 PS § 13-1327.1) requires an annual evaluation of each homeschooled child's educational progress. This evaluation must be completed by June 30 each year.

Who can evaluate?

You must choose a qualified evaluator. Pennsylvania accepts:

• A licensed clinical or school psychologist
• A Pennsylvania-certified teacher (the teacher does not need to be currently employed by a school district)
• A nonpublic school teacher or administrator
• Your local school district superintendent (or designee)

The evaluator cannot be the child's parent or guardian.

What the evaluator reviews

The evaluator will review:

• A portfolio of your child's work, including writing samples, worksheets, and projects
• A log of reading materials used throughout the year
• Your attendance records (minimum 180 days or 900 hours for elementary, 990 for secondary)
• Any standardized test results if applicable (tests are required in grades 3, 5, and 8)

What the evaluator provides

After the review, the evaluator must provide a written certification that:

• An appropriate education is occurring
• The child's education is in accordance with the filed affidavit and educational objectives

Steps to complete

1. Choose an evaluator early in the year so you can schedule in advance.
2. Maintain your portfolio throughout the year — don't wait until the last minute.
3. Schedule the evaluation before June 30.
4. Receive the written certification from the evaluator.
5. Submit the certification to your local school district superintendent by June 30.
6. Keep a copy for your records.

Tips

• Many homeschool co-ops maintain lists of evaluators familiar with homeschooling
• Some evaluators fill up quickly near the deadline — book early
• The evaluation is meant to be supportive, not adversarial
• You can use Homeschool Fox's portfolio report to organize your child's work for the evaluator