Qualifications and Steps to Becoming a Homeschool Evaluator in Pennsylvania

If you would like to become an evaluator, there are a number of ways to do that listed in the PA Home Education law:

1. Licensed clinical psychologist
2. School psychologist
3. Pennsylvania certified teacher with two years grading experience at the level they evaluate (K-6 and/or 7-12)

(i)  A teacher or administrator who evaluates a portfolio at the elementary level (grades kindergarten through six) shall have at least two years of experience in grading any of the following subjects: English, to include spelling, reading and writing; arithmetic; science; geography; history of the United States and Pennsylvania; and civics.

(ii)  A teacher or administrator who evaluates a portfolio at the secondary level (grades seven through twelve) shall have at least two years of experience in grading any of the following subjects: English, to include language, literature, speech, reading and composition; science, to include biology, chemistry and physics; geography; social studies, to include economics, civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; foreign language; and mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra, trigonometry, calculus and geometry.

(iii)  As used in this clause, the term “grading” shall mean evaluation of classwork, homework, quizzes, classwork-based tests and prepared tests related to classwork subject matter.

4. Nonpublic school teacher or administrator with two years PA teaching experience within the last 10 years at the level they evaluate (K-6 and/or 7-12)
5. Persons with other qualifications, with the prior consent of the superintendent of the district of residence

At the request of the supervisor, persons with other qualifications may conduct the evaluation with the prior consent of the district of residence superintendent. In no event shall the evaluator be the supervisor or their spouse.

24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(e)

Sample Letter Requesting Person with Other Qualifications:
https://homeschoolpennsylvania.org/index.php/documentation/sample-letter-requesting-person-with-other-qualifications/

A Pennsylvania certified teacher can evaluate with inactive certification. The law specifically exempts evaluators and private tutors from having to maintain an active status for Act 48 Continuing Professional Development. This means an evaluator does not have to maintain Act 48 hours.

24 P.S. Education § 12-1205.1

(e) The requirements of this section and section 1205.2  do not apply to a professional educator not employed by a school entity who serves as an evaluator of a home education program authorized under section 1327.1(e)(2) or who provides private tutoring services as part of a home education program under section 1327.1.

It is the supervisor’s responsibility to verify your credentials as an evaluator, not the school district’s.

The evaluator’s responsibilities:

1. To evaluate the portfolio, including test scores in grades three, five and eight.
2. To interview the child.
3. To decide, based on the review of the portfolio and the interview with the child whether an “appropriate education” is occurring.

“Appropriate education” shall mean a program consisting of instruction in the required subjects for the time required in this act and in which the student demonstrates sustained progress in the overall program. 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(a)

4. To write an evaluation letter/form and give it to the supervisor of the home education program.

Some other things to keep in mind:

The supervisor or the spouse of the supervisor of the home education program is not allowed to be the evaluator for their home education program, regardless of any qualifications (24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(e)(2)). You may want to consider filing under the Private Tutor option.

Experience in teaching your own children can count for the required two years of grading experience.

Elementary is grades K-6 and secondary is grades 7-12 according to the home education law.

Evaluators are basically responsible for certifying that the family is following the law.

Helpful Facebook Group:

Becoming a PA Homeschool Evaluator  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1544765669128156/

Sample Evaluation Form:

https://homeschoolpennsylvania.org/index.php/documentation/sample-evaluation-form/