Home Schooling – Act 169 Procedures

1. Parents or guardian (supervisor)*

• a. Must file an affidavit with the superintendent of the child’s district of residence by August 1st. The affidavit must contain:
  • i. The name of the supervisor, the name and age of each child in the program, and the address and phone number of the program site.
  • ii. An outline of proposed educational objectives, by subject area, for subjects required by law. These must be taught in English.
  • iii. Evidence of the child’s immunization and evidence that the child has received health services.
  • iv. Assurance that the education program meets the requirements of Act 169.
  • v. Certification that the supervisor and all adults living in the home and other custodial adults have not been convicted of criminal offenses listed in the law within the last five years.
• b. Must maintain portfolios of the student’s work, and students in grades 3, 5, and 8 must take standardized achievement tests in at least reading and mathematics.
• c. Must have the student’s educational program evaluated annually by a licensed clinical or school psychologist, Pennsylvania-certified teacher or non-public teacher or administrator with two year’s experience, who shall certify whether or not an appropriate education is occurring. The evaluation is based on a review of the student’s portfolio and an interview with the child.
• d. May request the school district or intermediate unit of residence to provide services that address the specific needs of the exceptional student. These services must be agreeable to both the supervisor and the school district or local Intermediate Unit (Berks IU) and must take place in the public schools or a private school licensed to provide such programs and services.

*The term “supervisor” means a parent or guardian, natural or custodial, who is responsible for the education of the child. This person must hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.

2. School District

• a. Must, upon parental request, provide copies of planned courses, textbooks, and curriculum materials for use in home education programs.
• b. May ask the supervisor to provide the portfolio and evaluation within 30 days, if the school superintendent believes an appropriate education is not taking place at any time during the year.
• c. When the superintendent believes appropriate education is not taking place, the school board must appoint a hearing officer to review that superintendent’s decision. The hearing officer may be a qualified and impartial person who is not an employee of the district.

A child determined to be a student with special needs will require additional documentation to be eligible to be homeschooled. Contact the Student Supports and Services office for the requirements.

Home School Request for Participation in Curricular and Co-curricular Programs

Per Wilson School District Policy 137.1, Home School students may participate in classes or programs. Parents are asked to complete the form and return this to the Student Supports and Services office. Please complete a separate form for each course annually. Students entering a Wilson program for the first time will need to register their children through Child Accounting in the district administration building located at 2601 Grandview Blvd. West Lawn, PA 19609. Availability for Home School Student participation in a course of instruction depends upon adequate class size, subject to the discretion of the building principal.

Home School Request Form

Sample Home School Affidavit (PA) – Elementary

Sample Home School Affidavit (PA) – Secondary

PDE Guide – Home Education and Private Tutoring

For more information about Home Education, please review the Wilson School Board of Directors Policy #137 – (Home Education) and #137.1 – (Participation of Home School Students in District Programs), available on our Board Policy page HERE.