How Pennsylvania Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. With this freedom comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Pennsylvania’s requirements.

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Homeschooling Options

There are four homeschooling options in Pennsylvania. Families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 1: Homeschooling under the homeschool statute.

As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables us to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide. 

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Pennsylvania’s Requirements at a Glance

Homeschooling Options = Option 1: Homeschooling under the homeschool statute.

State Educational Funds = No

Parent Notifies State = Yes

Academic Calendar Requirement = Yes

Age Requirement = 6-18

Instructor Qualifications = Yes

Required Subjects = Yes

Standardized Assessment = Yes

Immunization Requirement = Yes 

Keep a Portfolio = Yes

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Pennsylvania Families = Yes

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State Educational Funds

No state educational funds are available for Enlightium families at this time.

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Notifying the State

Under option 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Education requires homeschooling families to notify the state by filing a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration with the local superintendent. An unsworn declaration is a true, written statement that does not require a notary.

This must be done before you start homeschooling for the first time and by August 1 of each year after that.

The notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration must include the following information:

1. The name of the parent/supervisor, as well as his or her address and telephone number.
2. The name(s) and age(s) of each student
3. A notice that subjects are taught in English. This is the case for courses at Enlightium, with the exception of world language courses, which may be only partially taught in English.
4. The educational objectives for each course; to find each course’s objectives, find your student’s scope and sequence, click on the link to view more information about each course, and look for “topic discussed”.
5. Evidence of immunization or religious/medical exemption. A religious or medical exception can simply be a written statement that the parent/guardian objects to immunization on religious grounds.
6. A statement that immunizations and health services required by law are up to date. The parent does not submit the actual immunization records with the affidavit. Instead, they keep the records at home and present them if the school district requests verification.
7. Certification that the home education program will comply with 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1.
8. A certification that the supervisor, all adults living within the home, and any persons having legal custody of the children have not been convicted of certain criminal offenses within the past five years.

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Immunization Requirement

Immunization is required in the state of Pennsylvania; therefore, parents are required to keep their children’s immunization records or exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Enlightium may request you provide them to Enlightium for record-keeping; however, the parent/guardian doing the homeschooling is solely responsible for maintaining and presenting these records if requested by the local school district. You may find the Pennsylvania state exemption form here. 

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Age Requirement

Ages five or younger:

Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.

Aged six on or before September 1:

They must attend school during that academic year; this includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they turn 18 years old or graduate.

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Instructor Qualifications

Under option 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Education requires the supervisor (the parent or guardian or such person having legal custody of the child or children who shall be responsible for the provision of instruction) to have a high school diploma or its equivalent in order to operate a home education program. 

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields. 

Students in the Book-Based Program use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use a digital Christian curriculum. Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and elective courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.

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Required Subjects

The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires specific courses for each grade level.

Pre-Kindergarten:

• No specific courses appear to be required.
• Your student’s counselor will help create a course schedule.

Kindergarten - 6th Grade:

• English (including Spelling, Reading, Writing)
• Arithmetic
• Civics, Geography, and History of the U.S. and Pennsylvania
• Health and Physiology
• Physical Education
• Music and Art
• Science
• Safety Education (including instruction on the dangers and prevention of fires); this is covered in the Health Quest course available as an elective for students in grades 4-8

7th - 12th Grade:

• English (including Language, Literature, Speech, and Composition)
• Mathematics (including General Mathematics, Algebra, and Geometry)
• Social Studies (including Civics, History of the U.S. and Pennsylvania, and World History) and Geography
• Health
• Physical Education
• Music and Art
• Science
• Safety Education (which must include regular and continuous instruction on the dangers and prevention of fires); this is covered in the Health Quest course available as an elective for students in grades 4-8

High School Graduation Requirements:

• Four years of English
• Three years of math
• Three years of science
• Three years of social studies
• Two years of art and humanities; this can be covered by art courses and/or personal pathway electives available at Enlighitum Academy

After you enroll/re-enroll and before your student starts courses at Enlightium Academy, your student’s counselor will send you an email with a recommended course schedule consisting of core courses and, if applicable, courses that fulfill Enlightium’s graduation requirements. Your student can also select from Enlightium’s elective courses.

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Standardized Assessment

Under option 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Education requires a standardized test for students in grades 3, 5, and 8. Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing at a given grade level:

• Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment; you can also opt out of an assessment
• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT

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Keep a Portfolio

The following are required for your portfolio:

• A log of your student’s work - This can be fulfilled with progress reports (sent most weeks of the school year by Enlightium’s Progress Department), project forecasts to show the projects your student is completing, and supply lists to show materials read. The log must demonstrate that the home education program provided a minimum of either (1) 180 days of instruction or (2) 900 hours of instruction per year at the elementary level (grades kindergarten to 6), or 990 hours per year at the secondary level (grades 7-12).
• Curriculum samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course. Additionally, your student can take screenshots of assignments.
• Standardized assessment for students in grades 3, 5, and 8 - This includes the Iowa Complete standardized assessment.

If a parent chooses an online program where the program provides grades, evaluations, etc., the parent is still responsible for providing the local superintendent with an annual written evaluation of the home education program completed by a qualified evaluator by June 30.

You may need to provide your state with additional information, so keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy and include:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with weekly progress reports. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
• Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students after quarters 1, 2, and 3, and report cards/transcripts at the end of the school year or summer.
• Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the enrollment/re-enrollment process based on the student’s grade level: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
• Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
• Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, and the Presidential Award.
• Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and involvement in the Student Council.

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Enlightium Parents App with Group for Pennsylvania Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and a desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Pennsylvania to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.

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Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
2. If you have any questions:
   
   1. Chat with a team member
   2. Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
   3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.

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Since 2003, Enlightium Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, hybrid, and partner schools. Our dedicated faculty and staff, in collaboration with parents, deliver high-quality instruction and individualized learning. We focus on developing each student’s academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional well-being.

To find out if Enlightium is the right school for your family, schedule an appointment, call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com. 

We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.

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Sources reviewed in March 2025:

• https://hslda.org/legal
• https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/homeschool
• https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_1.asp
• https://phaa.org/static/forms/lawguide.pdf
• https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/immunizations/school.html
• https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F028%2Fchapter23%2Fs23.84.html
• https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information/view-statute?SESSYR=1949&SESSIND=0&ACTNUM=14&SMTHLWIND=&CHPT=13&SCTN=27&SUBSCTN=1