• Home Education Program Information and Templates

    Spring Grove Area School District's Board Policy #137 provides helpful information for parents/guardians interested in a Home Education Program.  For more information on home education and private tutoring, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Home Education and Private Tutoring webpage.

    Beginning the Program

    A home education program is commenced by submitting a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration (document) to the Superintendent’s Office of the student’s home district of residence, by the home education supervisor (parent, guardian, or person having legal custody of the child).  The document covers the school year July 1 – June 30 and must be submitted no later than September 1st of a child’s (of compulsory attendance age) first year of homeschool education, August 1st of each school year a child is continuing in a homeschool program, or at any time during the school year when a child is transitioning from another educational setting into a homeschool program. 

    The following sample affidavit / unsworn declaration documents are available to download to begin or continue your child’s home education program:


    Additional documentation needed for each home-educated student at the time of submitting the affidavit / unsworn declaration includes the following and may be uploaded into the *Sapphire Portal for EACH home-educated student (see below for instructions to create a Sapphire Portal Account):

    • A copy of each home-educated student’s Educational Objectives.
      • The outline of proposed educational objectives is like an “outline” for the coming year.  It is not necessarily the curriculum a supervisor will use, but similar to a “table of contents.”

    • Proof of Physical Examination / Immunizations (to be completed by a physician) as appropriate for each homeschooled students. (click HERE for the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s requirements)

    • Proof of Dental Examination

    – OR –


    If the student is identified as a Chapter 14 student and has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the Special Education Approval by a licensed Psychologist or PA Certified Special Education Teacher is required when submitting the affidavit / unsworn declaration, along with other information.

    Documenting the Program

    During the school year, the supervisor maintains a portfolio of records and materials, demonstrating that an appropriate education is occurring. Appropriate education is defined as “a program consisting of instruction in the required subjects for the time required and in which the student demonstrates sustained progress in the overall program.”  For a home-educated student, the portfolio documents whether an appropriate education has occurred. 

    Closing Out the Year

    At the conclusion of each educational year, a written evaluation of the home education program must be submitted by the home education supervisor to the Superintendent of Schools in the student’s district of residence no later than June 30th for the closing school year.  (For an example and template of an evaluation form, click here.)

    The evaluation by a qualified home education evaluator is to be based on an interview of the student and review of the portfolio.  It must state whether an appropriate education has occurred, be signed by the evaluator, and include the evaluator’s credentials.

    The end-of-year evaluation may be uploaded to the *Sapphire Portal for EACH home-educated student (see below for instructions to create a Sapphire Portal Account).

    *We invite all parents and guardians to register on our student information system.  Creating a user account will allow access to view existing home education documents currently maintained on file for each child, as well as to upload important documents that are required annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for home-educated students. 

    HOW TO APPLY FOR AN ACCOUNT IN THE SAPPHIRE COMMUNITY PORTAL

    If you have any questions regarding a home education program for your child, contact Suzanne Sterner by email at sterners@sgasd.org or by phone at (717) 225-4731, extension 3020.