Homeschooling

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 from July 1 – June 30. It must be submitted no later than September 1^st of a child’s (of compulsory attendance age) first year of homeschool education, August 1^st 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:

• Affidavit - Elementary Sample (grades K-6) (Word)
• Affidavit - Secondary Sample (grades 7-12) (Word)
• Elementary Unsworn Declaration (Word)
• Secondary Unsworn Declaration (Word)

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 Registration Portal for EACH home-educated student (see below for instructions to create a Sapphire Registration 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 student. (click HERE for the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s requirements)

• Proof of Dental Examination

– OR –

• Physical Exemption Form

If the student is identified as a Chapter 14 student and has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), 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.

Please click the link below to access the online Sapphire Registration Portal.

• When you access the page, click the "Create New Account" link.
• Then click the "Create" button under "New Student Homeschooling Registration Form" to begin the homeschool registration process.

Please note, if you have previously created an account on the Registration Portal, you may use that same login information to reaccess the Registration Portal. If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot Password?" to reset your password and access your Registration Portal account.

Again, the Sapphire Registration Portal is NOT the same as a Community Web Portal account, where you will upload your end-of-year and future documentation. This portal is only used for registration.

Sapphire Registration Portal

• Policy No. 137 – Home Education Programs (General Requirements)
  • Administrative Regulation No. 137
     
• Policy No. 137.1 – Extracurricular Activity and Interscholastic Athletic Participation by Home Education Students
  •  Administrative Regulation No. 137.1
     
• Policy No. 137.2 – Participation in Cocurricular Activities and Academic Courses by Home Education Students
  • Administrative Regulation 137.2
     
• Policy No. 137.3 – Participation in Career and Technical Education Programs by Home Education Students
  • Administrative Regulation 137.3

Documenting the Program

During the school year, the supervisor maintains a portfolio of records and materials, demonstrating an appropriate education. Appropriate education is “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.”  The portfolio documents whether an appropriate education has occurred for a home-educated student. 

Closing Out the Year

At the conclusion of each educational year, the home education supervisor must submit a written evaluation of the home education program to the Superintendent of Schools in the student’s district of residence no later than June 30^th 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 based on an interview with the student and a 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 Community Portal for EACH home-educated student (see below for instructions to create a Sapphire Community Portal Account. This is NOT the same as the Registration Portal).

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 maintained on file for each child and upload important documents required annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for home-educated students. 
 

Create Your Sapphire Community Portal Account

You will be taken to the login screen when you click the link above. Under the purple login button, click the link "Apply for a Sapphire Community Portal Account." Instructions are linked in the blue box under the login section if you need additional assistance.