Homeschool Bill Introduced

On April 7, 2009, Representative Dan Moul (Dist. 91) and 49 other co-sponsors introduced legislation that would significantly improve the homeschool law of Pennsylvania. Designated as House Bill 1217, this bill would make the following changes in the existing home education statute:

• Eliminate the public school superintendent’s review of portfolios;
• Require superintendents to accept an evaluator’s determination that an appropriate education is occurring in the home education program;
• Provide for an administrative procedure to resolve any claim by the superintendent that the parent has failed to comply with any aspect of the homeschool law; and
• Ensure that the home education program may continue during the time of any appeal of an adverse ruling by a hearing examiner.

Pennsylvania’s current homeschool law is one of the most restrictive in the nation, having been enacted in 1988, 21 years ago. HSLDA and the vast majority of homeschooling families in Pennsylvania believe that an update of the law is sorely needed to bring the Commonwealth’s law into the 21st century.