Homeschool reimbursement and benefits in Pennsylvania

3 statewide programs in Pennsylvania offer education services or help with specific costs. Eligibility and deadlines differ; check the program for your child's age and enrollment route.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Pennsylvania home-education curriculum materials loan

Pennsylvania requires your resident district to lend age- and grade-appropriate planned courses, textbooks, and other curriculum materials when you request them for a lawful home-education program. You can request materials for 2026-27 from the district now; the benefit is a loan, not a stipend.

Eligibility and program rules

1. Use your resident district

   The supervisor requests materials from the district where the child lives.

2. Maintain legal home education

   File the required affidavit or declaration before starting and by August 1 in later years.

3. Match age and grade

   The district’s loan obligation covers materials appropriate to the child’s age and grade.

4. What if the district refuses?

   Ask the superintendent to address the statutory loan duty. PDE’s home-education office publishes guidance and a contact email for questions.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before starting, or by August 1 annually

   File home-education paperwork

   Establish or continue the home-education program with your superintendent.

2. When planning 2026-27 lessons

   Request materials

   List the age-appropriate district texts and planned courses you need.

3. When collecting materials

   Confirm loan arrangements

   Ask which items are available and how the district handles returns.

4. By June 30, 2027

   Submit your evaluation

   Continue meeting home-education reporting requirements.

What it pays for

Covered

• District planned courses
• District textbooks
• Other appropriate district curriculum materials

Not covered

• Cash stipends
• A parent-controlled purchasing account

Who to contact

Send the materials request to your superintendent; PDE explains the district’s loan obligation.

Read district loan duties

Pennsylvania home-education part-time academic courses

Pennsylvania lets home-educated students request resident-district academic courses covering at least one quarter of a full-time school day under district procedures. You can ask about 2026-27 or spring 2027 courses now, but prerequisites and available seats decide enrollment; families do not receive cash.

Eligibility and program rules

1. Live in the district

   The access applies to a child in a home-education program in the resident district.

2. Meet course requirements

   Meet the district’s eligibility criteria and prerequisites or their equivalents.

3. Follow district rules

   Comply with the course’s attendance, grading, and other applicable rules; seats are subject to local priorities.

4. Is a particular course guaranteed?

   No. Districts may prioritize courses with limited seats.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before the desired 2026-27 term

   Request the district policy

   Ask for the home-education academic-course application and deadlines.

2. Before enrollment

   Show prerequisites

   Provide equivalent homeschool coursework and ask which seats are available.

3. During the course

   Attend and complete work

   Follow course rules; the district provides grades to the home-education supervisor.

4. By June 30, 2027

   Keep home-education compliance

   Submit your annual home-education evaluation while using part-time district courses.

What it pays for

Covered

• Resident public-school academic courses
• Eligible cocurricular course participation

Not covered

• Parent cash payments
• Guaranteed seats in every requested course

Who to contact

Ask for the board’s academic-course policy and term application procedure.

Read the state course-access requirement

Pennsylvania home-education career and technical education

Pennsylvania home-educated students can attend occupational career and technical education while you teach their academics at home, and may use existing district buses when space is available. Apply through your resident district and career and technical center for 2026-27; admission prerequisites and seats control access.

Eligibility and program rules

1. Meet equivalent prerequisites

   The same admission and participation criteria apply as for district students.

2. Choose the occupational route

   A half-day occupational CTC can preserve home education. A full-day comprehensive CTC requires district enrollment.

3. Follow both sets of rules

   Comply with district and CTC policies and continue home-education documentation.

4. Is there money for us?

   No. This is access to instruction and conditional transportation.

5. Do we still submit homeschool reports?

   Yes. Continue the annual affidavit or declaration and the evaluator’s report if you retain home-education status.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before the 2026-27 course start

   Request admission

   Contact the resident district and CTC about applications and seat priorities.

2. Before enrolling

   Confirm program type

   Check that it is occupational rather than comprehensive if you plan to keep homeschooling.

3. Before the first class

   Arrange transport

   Ask about buses already running with available space; there is no promise of a new route.

4. By June 30, 2027

   Submit the evaluation

   Keep the annual homeschool evaluator’s report current.

What it pays for

Covered

• Occupational CTE instruction
• Existing district transportation when available

Not covered

• Guaranteed seats
• Full-day comprehensive CTC while retaining homeschool status
• Parent cash payments

Who to contact

Ask your district and CTC about admission and buses; PDE answers questions about the statewide home-education rules.

RA-home-education@pa.gov Read homeschool CTE answers

Local help in Pennsylvania

The local programs we have checked across the state cover college and dual credit, transportation, library resources, other services, testing and assessments, school services, recreation, and museums and arts. Each local program sets its own rules for who qualifies. Search your ZIP code to see the ones that serve your address.

Search your ZIP code

The state's homeschool rules

You must file a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration with the superintendent before starting and by August 1 in subsequent years. Include educational objectives and required health and immunization documentation or exemptions. Certify that the supervisor, adults living in the home, and persons with legal custody have no conviction for the listed statutory offenses in the preceding five years.

• Subjects: Teach in English the subjects required for elementary or secondary home education, including English, math, science, geography, history/civics, health, PE, art, music, and ongoing fire-safety instruction. Provide 180 days or 900 elementary/990 secondary hours annually.
• Testing: Include reading and math test results in the portfolio in grades 3, 5, and 8. Obtain an annual evaluation and submit the evaluator’s certification to the superintendent by June 30. The supervisor, parent or guardian may not administer an alternative approved standardized test.
• Records: Keep a portfolio with a reading-materials log, work samples, required test results, and the annual evaluation. Document the required instructional days or hours.
• Teachers: The supervisor must be the parent, guardian, or legal custodian with a high-school diploma or equivalent. The supervisor, adults living in the home, and persons with legal custody must meet the statutory five-year criminal-conviction condition.

Read the Pennsylvania homeschooling guide