Compulsory School Age in Pennsylvania
(and in the Philadelphia School District)

What age child must report to the school district?

In PA, homeschooled children who are within a certain age range fall under the compulsory school attendance law. While a homeschooled child is of compulsory school age, the parent must either file annually with the local school district according to the PA Home Education Law (the most widely-used option), or use one of the Alternatives to the Home Ed. Law. 

Starting with the 2020-2021 school year, students ages 6-18 are of compulsory school age. The changes are outlined in this statement of FAQs from the PDE.

A child who will turn 6 on or before September 1 must begin a home education program (or use one of the alernatives) that school year. A child who turns 6 after September 1 must begin a home education program (or alternative) no later than the start of the following school year. (Note that if you wish, as the "accounting year" for home education programs runs from July 1 to June 30, you can file your affidavit (and thus begin counting your 180 days or 900/990 hours) as early as July 1 for the school year that starts the following September.)

To be clear: If your child will not yet be 6 by September 1, your child is under the compulsory school age and you do not need to report to the school district in any way. You don’t have to file an affidavit, keep a log, submit a portfolio, or have an end-of-year evaluation, even if you are actively educating your child at home. 

You generally need to continue to file home education paperwork until the child "holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited, licensed, registered or approved high school" or the child reaches their 18th birthday.

A home education student under age 18, who has graduated with parent and evaluator approval, is no longer of compulsory school age. The student must attain the required number of credits, and the home school supervisor must submit the 12th year or final evaluation to the local school district, signaling the completion of all requirements necessary for graduation.

There are limited other exceptions to compulsory attendance requirements for students under the age of 18. Those exceptions can be found in 24 P.S. §13-1330.

If your child ages out of the compulsory school requirement by turning 18 during the school year, you must submit the end-of-year paperwork to cover at least the part of the schol year until their birthday, to ensure that there is no question as to whether the student has fulfilled compulsory education requirements.

Child 18 or older:

You do not have to file an affidavit for a child who is 18 or older at the start of the school year, though you may if you wish. If you do not file, your child will no longer legally be considered a home educated student. They will have basically the same legal status as a student who leaves school before graduation. This may or may not be an issue, depending on your situation.

Think it through to see if there is anything your child is doing (think eligibility) or getting (think benefits) that may be affected. Because everyone's situation is different, it's wise to go through a mental checklist of things that might be affected if the state no longer considers your child a student. Health insurance? Car insurance? Benefits of various kinds? Child support? Custody issues? Extra-curricular program eligibility? Sports eligibility? Trust fund? (Of course, even if student status is required for something-or-other, you may be able to document it another way - but ask first, to avoid nasty expensive/disruptive surprises later.) If you are using a PA Diploma Program , check their guidelines to avoid problems. There may be other considerations - everyone's situation is different.

Where do these compulsory attendance rules come from?

If you are interested in the complex law behind this, you’ll want to read 24 PS 13-1304 Admission of beginners, 24 PS 13-1326 Definitions, and 24 PS 13-1327 Compulsory school attendance; and the code, 022 Pa. Code § 11.13. Compulsory school age. You could also contact the PDE Homeschooling Liaison for verification & clarification, especially if you have unique circumstances. 

Details of Changes for the 2020-2021 School Year:

Starting with the 2020-2021 school year, students ages 6-18 are of compulsory school age. The changes are outlined in this statement of FAQs from the PDE. Select quotes from this statement are below:

Act 16 of 2019, Section 1326 (Definition of Compulsory School Age), amended the Public School Code to redefine the definition of compulsory school age as “the period of a child’s life from the time the child’s parents elect to have the child enter school and which shall be no later than 6 years of age until the child reaches 18 years of age. The term does not include a child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited, licensed, registered or approved high school.” 24 P.S. §13-1326.

The term “compulsory attendance” refers to the mandate that all children of compulsory school age having a legal residence in Pennsylvania must attend a day school in which the subjects and activities prescribed by the standards of the State Board of Education are taught in the English language, except in certain situations found in sections 1327, 1327.1, and 1330 of the School Code. More information on those exceptions can be found ... within the Department of Education’s (Department) Compulsory School Attendance, Unlawful Absences, and School Attendance Improvement Conferences Basic Education Circular (BEC).

Q: What is the effect of the change made to the definition of “compulsory school age”? A: The change has the effect of lowering the age a student is required to comply with compulsory attendance requirements from age 8 to age 6 and raising the age a student must comply with those same requirements from age 17 to age 18.

Q: When does the change to compulsory school age go into effect? A: The change to compulsory school age takes effect beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.

Q: Does the definition of compulsory school age apply to students who are in a home school program? A: Yes, the definition of compulsory school age applies to all children, including those who are privately tutored and home schooled.

Q: When must a 6-year-old enroll and attend school? A: A child who has attained the age of 6 on or before September 1 must enroll and attend school or begin a home school program that school year. A child who turns 6 after September 1 must be enrolled in school or begin a home school program no later than the start of the following school year. 2

Q: Would a home school supervisor that has students ages 6 and 7 be required to submit an affidavit and all other required documentation as well as an annual report under this new legislation? A: Effective the 2020-21 school year, a home school supervisor with students who attained the age of 6 on or before September 1 and who are age 7 must submit an affidavit and all other required documentation by August 1, 2020 to be in compliance with Section 1327.1 of the School Code and compulsory school age requirements. The home school supervisor also is required to submit an annual evaluation report for these students on or before June 30, 2021.

Q: In what grade shall a child be placed, if the child has attained the age of 6 on or before September 1 and is enrolling in a school for the first time? A: Each school district or school [or homeschool supervisor] will determine the appropriate placement for the child.

Q: Are there any changes to the regulations regarding the enrollment of students at ages 4 or 5? A: No. There are no changes to the applicable statutes or regulations as they relate to the enrollment of students at age 4 or 5.

Q: If a student has met the high school graduation requirements at the school in which they are enrolled, is the student required to remain in school until age 18? A: No. When a student has received a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited, licensed, registered or approved high school, the child is no longer of compulsory school age.

Q: Will a home school student aged 17 or younger be able to graduate with parent and evaluator approval? A: Yes, if the student has attained the required number of credits and the home school supervisor submits the 12th year or final evaluation to the local school district, signaling the completion of all requirements necessary for graduation. If a student has been issued a home school diploma, the student is no longer of compulsory school age.

Q: Under what circumstances may a student withdraw from school before age 18? A: There are limited exceptions to compulsory attendance requirements for students under the age of 18. Those exceptions can be found in 24 P.S. §13-1330.

Q: Would a district need a parent’s permission to withdraw a student before the age of 18? A: A student may not withdraw before the age of 18, even with a parent signature, unless the student meets one of the exceptions to compulsory attendance found in 24 P.S. §13-1330.