Pennsylvania homeschool laws can sound very intimidating, trust me, I know. I spent about 2 maybe even 3 years wrestling with the idea of removing my children from public school and schooling them at home. If you’ve been contemplating it also, listen up! Its not that hard. The written laws and PA Code’s DO sound difficult and I can’t say that its a simple easy process for every family in every part of the state. I know for certain that some public school districts have given homeschooling families undue stress and complications. Why? One of 2 reasons in my opinion. Either they themselves are not aware of the laws by taking the time to actually read them, or, it’s simply bully tactics trying to over-reach and get away with it. And some do get away with illegal demands because some parents feel scared to say “no” to the over-reaching administrators.

If you are new to the state or you are new to homeschooling (as I am though I feel like a veteran with how much I have read) I implore you to know the law inside out and backwards. Print yourself off a copy and file it. Keep in mind that recent changes in the PA school code MAY affect homeschooling families, however, no changes have been made in the PA homeschool law since 2014 (per this writing). Keep an eye on my Resources link in my navigation menu as I add more links  with information, printable forms, curriculum sources, and other organizations. Please read the law which you can find here, PAHomeschoolLaw . You should also familiarize yourself with the PA public school code. Here is one part, keep in mind this is for PUBLIC school students. Here is another code to be aware of, the health/immunization code. When in doubt I highly recommend visiting the Homeschool Legal Defense advocacy lawyer group and perhaps buy a membership, but you can find information for free.

So once you have a handle on the law, and what is required of you, the parent supervisor, its simply a matter of filing the required notarized documents before the start of your home education program and by years end you will need to have had a PA certified teacher evaluate your child’s body of work in a small portfolio. They simply type up a letter for you to mail to your school district telling them appropriate education has taken place. Its an annoyance for sure and can be an expense. At a later date I may go into more detail about the required documentation but there is so much to cover on that topic that I would rather refer you, for now, to another website where you can find a lot of detailed information and even forms to fill out (however I did not use hers). AskPauline.com

Today I would like to share with you my beginning road to homeschooling. When my husband and I got married and finally settled into our small home in a small secluded area, children were not in his near future so we didn’t give much thought to school. The rural area in which we live has very limited school options. There are the district public schools and a couple of private Christian/Catholic schools that generally are not close, or not someplace I would choose. Scattered about, here and there, charter schools have opened and closed and again, not close to the area. When we had a child of school age, off to the local public school he went. Our district has not been without problems and most schools face staffing issues, budget issues and decreased enrollment. Several elementary schools closed as a result and our public school has downsized.

Never having attended public school myself (Christian school graduate), except for kindergarten and first grade, it was never my idea of a good choice to use the public school, it just felt like the only choice. By the time my son was exiting the elementary school and moving into intermediate (4th grade) and my daughter’s 2nd grade year, I was looking for other options. His 4th grade year came and went, 5th grade and my daughter now in 3rd, than last year was his last year at intermediate with middle school on the horizon and it was my daughter’s first year at the intermediate school. Two years ago is when I really hunkered down and got serious about homeschooling options. Did I want to traditional homeschool, cyber school or combo of both? I did a ton of reading, requested info from schools and curriculum providers and totally overwhelmed myself. I honestly did not want to send them back to the public school for the 2016/2017 school year. I had a handle on the law but was overwhelmed with curriculum choices, but even still, I wanted to keep them home. However, that’s when the opinionators and haters came out; the day I discussed with family and friends the idea of homeschooling. I should not have let that stop me if I truly felt led to do it, and that tug was enormous.

Unfortunately I did let them convince me that homeschooling was not a good choice and I felt defeated. My husband was one of the ones not on board and that could have been a problem down the road. Back to the drawing board. In the meantime, my children and myself had to endure another year of public school shenanigans and indoctrination. I was not happy with a lot of things going on in the school. In all the years my children attended I had never gone to an administrator to complain (though I should have). That changed with one of my son’s 6th grade teachers. I let a lot of things go, but it got to the point that it was too much to ignore. When a teacher continually degrades, mocks, and name-calls his students, its time to speak up and so I did. The communication between me and the principal was minimal and she assured me that the problem would be remedied. Was it? It didn’t appear so by the time my son finished out the school year. Was it directed at my son? No it was not. The principal even spoke to my son and commended me on what a role model and respectable young man he is. My children were not trouble makers and I venture to guess teachers and staff would not know them by name or myself because we are quiet people. It was not for my children’s sake that I spoke up, it was for all the students who would endure that verbal abuse in his classroom. Teachers should encourage students and not call them “idiots” in my opinion.

That, among so many other issues, was truly the last straw for me. I knew it could only get worse in middle school. I’ve heard stories. That entire school year I was doing my homework to prepare myself for the negative comments about homeschooling. I was ready. I had a plan and both my kids knew it and were ready also to leave the public school. I felt good. I started buying curriculum. I was added to homeschool groups in my area thanks to a friend who had been homeschooling for 2 years where I could see what sorts of field trips and social outings they were doing. It turns out there is a pretty large community of homeschoolers in my area and many cyber school children. Summer break came and it was time to file my paperwork. I already had it ready to go just needed it notarized; quick and easy, cost me $5. Debating on if I should mail or drop off, I decided to drop it off at the district office myself. Problem #1 – I was told I had to officially withdraw my children and since my son was entering middle school I would have to go there, and than to intermediate for my daughter (they are not close to each other).

Middle school had absolutely no record of my son and so it turned out I had to withdraw them both from intermediate school. Well, I was going there anyway! They knew I was coming so I just had to wait for her to punch things into the computer, print it, sign it, got a copy of the paper and off I went. Was that a required step? Not really, however, this ensures I have no issue with truancy. Summer flew by I was getting ready for the new school year. Problem #2 – My husband slams me with doubts about their education and decides he doesn’t want to go this route. Now, I had tried for over a year to get him involved in the process and he seemed uninterested, so I persevered. He gave me no indication in a year’s time that he didn’t want me to traditionally homeschool. (which means, I keep all records and don’t use any distant learning school) I was floored and once again defeated. I needed the Lord’s help because I was crushed! I had been praying about homeschool for a long time and was in a good place and then felt like the rug was pulled from under me.

Only with the Lord’s strength did I not let my husbands doubt derail me. Instead I hit the internet again and found all the information I had read in the past 2 years and began begging my husband, again, to read it and make an informed decision and not one out of fear. His fears are common ones and for me, nothing I ever feared. What about college, what about a career, what about earning ‘enough’ money? None of those things were frankly priority to me because God is in control of our future and he provides for His children who have faith and trust. I won’t get into any personal details at this time, but let’s say my husbands idea didn’t match mine and that is where the challenge was. The naysayers had their comments too about socializing and academics, but this time I didn’t let them sway me. Do I worry about socializing? If there is anything I would worry about, it would be that, but only because I’d like my children to have friends. We attend Sunday school and church services every week on top of them both being involved in a boys only club and girls only club (similar to scouts), youth group, social clubs and spending time with other friends and family as well as encounters on trips.

So August 28, my daughter’s 10th birthday, we began our homeschool, officially. We did half a day of academics followed by several hours at the closest science center that my children enjoy. Since then we’ve stuck to a schedule, altering only after the first 4 weeks to add in field trips, social groups, and doctor’s appointments. On days we need to change our schedule, we start earlier and get most if not all, of our work done. Here we are at 10 weeks and I would not change it for anything. I am sorry I didn’t do it sooner. It was truly the best decision for my children. I love the Christian curriculum choices and that they are no longer being indoctrinated by the public school and learning things I would rather they not learn or learn how the schools teach it. My kids were both on honor roll during their intermediate years at public school and as we completed what would be 1 quarter of school, my children have faired the same if not better grade wise. Grades however was never a factor in my decision.

Both of my children have expressed how much more they feel they are learning now than all the years in public school. My daughter is actually loving history as she learns about the history of the United States. Both of my children felt they learned nothing in the public school’s “social studies” class. My son is progressing very well in an 8th grade pre-algebra course though he is technically in 7th grade. I love that you can customize lessons and courses to your child. He likes how the curriculum is teaching him rather than the confusing ways the public school did. At a later date I will review some of the curriculum choices I made. I am jumping the gun but already thinking about what I want to use next year. One course I will mention and HIGHLY recommend if you want to learn about the history of art from a Christian perspective and have some interesting projects to do (though I have done extra work and added in where the book was missing things) is Veritas Press, History of Art. You need the workbook, one for each child, and lesson cards. You can find youtube videos (not by Veritas Press) that you expand on the movements and get more detail. They say the course is for 2nd to 12th grade but I can tell you that any child below 4th or 5th grade is going to need a lot of parent assistance in reading.  This is one (of a couple) course that I teach my kids together on.

That’s it for today. Not too much information, just a little background. I will try to write more again real soon. You can check out my ‘About‘ page for more about me.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand” – Isaiah 41:10