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Withdrawing from public school

How to Withdraw From School in Pennsylvania

Pulling your child out of public school in Pennsylvania to homeschool is usually a short, one-time process. Here are the steps, the letter you send, and how to time it so the district doesn't flag your child as truant.

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How withdrawal works in Pennsylvania

File a notarized affidavit (or unsworn declaration) with your district superintendent, listing your educational objectives by subject; the affidavit is due August 1 each year and within a reasonable time when you start mid-year. Notify your child's current school in writing so attendance reflects the change. Keep a copy of the affidavit and your evaluator's annual certification (due June 30).

Step by step

  1. 1

    Confirm your child is currently enrolled

    This guide is for moving a currently enrolled student to homeschooling. If your child has never attended public school in Pennsylvania (a kindergartner you're starting at home, for example), there's usually nothing to withdraw from. A quick call to the school confirms their status.

  2. 2

    Send a written withdrawal letter to the school

    Moving a child from public school to homeschool in Pennsylvania starts with a written withdrawal to the current school and a notice of intent to the local district. Together they put the new arrangement on record. Homeschool Fox can draft the withdrawal letter for you. It fills in the student, district, and date fields automatically.

    Download the free Pennsylvania withdrawal letter
  3. 3

    File your notice of intent

    Yes, Pennsylvania requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify your local school district.

  4. 4

    Keep dated copies for your records

    Save a copy of the withdrawal letter and anything you file, noting the date you sent it. If the district ever asks about attendance, dated proof that you withdrew on time is what closes the question.

  5. 5

    Set up your homeschool

    With the withdrawal handled, the rest is starting your homeschool: planning subjects, setting an hours or days target, and keeping records. Your next stop is the how-to-start guide for Pennsylvania.

    Read the Pennsylvania how-to-start guide

Free Pennsylvania printables

Two ready-to-use PDFs for Pennsylvania homeschoolers. No account needed.

Pennsylvania hour log Printable daily log, prefilled with the state's hour and day target. Withdrawal letter template A fillable letter to withdraw from public school, with Pennsylvania guidance.

Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.

What Homeschool Fox tracks for Pennsylvania

Everything Pennsylvania expects you to keep, in one place — no spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.

  • Hours toward your 900-hour goal
  • Required subjects & core hours
  • Daily activity logs
  • Attendance records
  • Notes & portfolio records
  • Printable PDF reports
  • High school transcripts
  • State-specific progress tracking
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More Pennsylvania guides

Withdrawn? Start your Pennsylvania homeschool

Set up your Pennsylvania dashboard, log your first activity, and watch your hours and records build automatically.

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