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Home Education Overview

Welcome to the Homeschool Hub!

At Manheim Central, we understand that homeschooling is a unique journey filled with both exciting opportunities and distinct challenges. Our mission is to support homeschool families with a curated selection of resources, tools, and guidance to make your homeschooling experience as enriching and smooth as possible.

General Requirements:

  • Compulsory Attendance: The compulsory school age in requires all students to attend school no later than age 6 and until age 18 or graduation, whichever occurs sooner.
  • Qualifications: The person supervising the home education must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Instructional Requirements:

  • Subjects: The curriculum must include subjects like English, math, science, geography, history of the United States and Pennsylvania, civics, safety education, health and physical education, music, and art. At the secondary level, there are additional requirements for graduation.
  • Instructional Days/Hours:
    • Elementary level requires 180 days or 900 hours of instruction per year.
    • Secondary level requires 180 days or 990 hours per year

 Deadlines and Documentation:

  • Affidavit: Before beginning homeschooling, and by August 1st each year thereafter, parents must submit a notarized affidavit OR an unsworn declaration to the superintendent of the school district where the family resides. This affidavit should include:
    • Names and ages of children to be homeschooled.
    • A list of subjects to be studied.
    • Evidence of the parent's educational qualifications.
    • Assurance that the home education program complies with the state's requirements

*We do have a notary on staff that provides free notary services for Affidavits. You must schedule an appointment in advance for this service.*

  • Objectives: An outline of the educational goals for the year must be included in the affidavit and is due each year by August 1st.
  • Evaluation: Parents must submit an evaluation of their child's progress by June 30th each year. This can be:
    • A standardized test from a list provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or
    • A written narrative by a qualified evaluator (a certified teacher, a licensed clinical or school psychologist, or a nonpublic school teacher with at least two years of experience).
  • Portfolio: Parents must maintain a portfolio of the student's work, which includes samples, reading logs, and other educational records. This portfolio is reviewed during the evaluation only and is not needed by the School District.
  • Immunizations/Physicals/Dental Exams: Immunizations/Physicals/Dental Exams OR an exemption form must be submitted by August 1st.

Resources for Homeschoolers:

Contact Us:

We’re here to help! Whether you have questions or need a form, feel free to reach out to us at any time.

Get in Touch:

281 White Oak Rd
Manheim, PA 17545