The state says. •180 days a year.Or count hours:•900 for kindergarten to grade 6.•990 for grades 7 to 12.

You do. •Write down the days or hours you teach each child.•Keep going until you reach the total you chose.

The state says. •There are two ways to teach at home.1.A home education program.2.A tutor certified by the state.•Your child can also go to a church school or an accredited day or boarding school.

You do. •Pick one option.•Follow its rules.•This roadmap shows option 1, the home education program.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. Your child must be in school from age 6 to age 18.

You do. •File your signed form by your child's 6th birthday.•If that birthday is after September 1, your district may let you wait until the next school year.•If your child is already in public kindergarten, file now.

The state says. •Yes. Send a signed form, called an "affidavit," to the head of the school district where you live.1.Send it before you start teaching.2.Send a new one by August 1 every year after.Sign it one of two ways:•In front of a notary. A notary is an official who watches you sign.•Or as an "unsworn declaration."

You do. •Attach three things to the form.1.Your learning goals for each subject.2.Proof of shots, or a shot exemption. It can be medical, religious, or a strong moral or ethical belief.3.Proof of the health checks for your child's age, or a religious exemption from those checks.•Then keep a copy.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. •The parent in charge of teaching needs a high school diploma or its equal.•Options 2 to 4 have their own rules instead.•Those are the tutor and satellite school routes.

You do. Sign the line on the form about your diploma. It says you have a high school diploma or its equal.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. Yes. In elementary grades, you must teach:•English (spelling, reading, writing).•Math.•Science.•Geography.•U.S. and Pennsylvania history.•Civics.•Safety including fire prevention.•Health and how the body works.•Physical education.•Music.•Art.Secondary grades add:•Algebra.•Geometry.•World history.•English language, literature, speech and writing.

You do. •

The state says. •Yes, for the home education program.•Keep a portfolio each year. That is a folder of your child's work.Put in:•A teaching log.•Work samples.•In grades 3, 5 and 8, add math and reading or language arts test scores.•A qualified evaluator looks it over each year.

You do. 1.Build the portfolio all year.2.Hire an evaluator.3.Get the evaluator's written sign-off to the head of your school district by June 30.

Where. Step 3 of Do the steps

The state says. •Yes. Proof of shots goes with the form you file with your district.•Or you attach an exemption. That is a paper that excuses the shots.•It can be medical or religious.•Or it can be a strong moral or ethical belief, like a religious one.

You do. •Attach your child's shot records or an exemption letter to the form.•Do it before you file.

Where. Immunizations