Every PA homeschool affidavit must include educational objectives by subject for each child. This is the section that makes new homeschool parents stare at a blank document for three hours. The trick: objectives are a plan, not a contract. Write them broad enough to live with, specific enough that a stranger can tell what you intend to teach.
What Act 169 actually says
24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(c)(2) requires "an outline of proposed education objectives by subject area." That is the entire legal standard — no required format, no minimum length, no template.
The required subjects
Your objectives must cover every required subject for your child's level.
Elementary (K–6): English (spelling, reading, writing), arithmetic, science, geography, history of the U.S. and Pennsylvania, civics, safety education (including fire safety), health and physiology, music, art, physical education.
Secondary (7–12): All of the above plus algebra, geometry, world history, biology, chemistry or physics, and a second language strand at the supervisor's discretion.
The Goldilocks rule
Objectives should be:
- Not too vague. "Learn math" is not an objective. A superintendent reading it cannot tell what your child will actually study.
- Not too rigid. "Complete Saxon Math 5/4 lessons 1 through 120 in chapter order" locks you in. If you change curriculum in November, you're rewriting the affidavit.
- Just right. "Develop fluency with multi-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and an introduction to fractions, using a mastery-based curriculum and real-life applications."
A template that always works
For each subject, write 2–3 sentences using this pattern:
[Subject]: The student will [develop / strengthen / explore] [broad skill area] through [methods or resources]. Specific topics include [3–5 examples]. Progress will be demonstrated through [work samples / projects / reading log / discussion].Example for 4th-grade Science:
Science: The student will explore the life sciences, earth sciences, and physical sciences through living books, hands-on experiments, and nature study. Specific topics include the human body, the water cycle, simple machines, and Pennsylvania ecosystems. Progress will be demonstrated through written observations, lab sketches, and a year-end project portfolio.
Worked examples by subject
English / Language Arts
The student will strengthen reading fluency and comprehension, develop clear written expression, and build vocabulary and spelling through daily reading aloud, independent reading, written responses, and structured spelling practice. Topics include narrative and informational reading, paragraph and short-essay writing, grammar fundamentals, and weekly spelling.
Arithmetic / Math
The student will develop computational fluency, problem-solving skills, and conceptual understanding appropriate to grade level. Topics include place value, the four operations, fractions, measurement, and introductory geometry, taught through a mastery-based curriculum supplemented with games and real-life application.
Geography
The student will build a working understanding of physical and political geography of the United States, Pennsylvania, and selected world regions, through map work, atlas study, and read-alouds.
History of the United States and Pennsylvania
The student will explore key periods of U.S. and Pennsylvania history through living books, primary source excerpts, and field trips to local historical sites. Topics include early Pennsylvania settlement, the founding era, westward expansion, and 20th-century America.
Safety education (including fire safety)
The student will learn and practice home and community safety, including fire safety, first aid basics, internet safety, and traffic and water safety, through age-appropriate instruction and family drills.
Health and physiology
The student will study the human body systems, nutrition, hygiene, and emotional well-being, using texts, videos, and family discussions.
Music & Art
The student will be exposed to a range of musical styles and visual art traditions through listening, viewing, and regular hands-on practice. Topics include composer and artist studies, basic music theory, drawing fundamentals, and mixed-media projects.
Physical education
The student will engage in regular physical activity through a combination of outdoor play, family hikes, organized sports, and seasonal recreation, totaling no fewer than three sessions per week.
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Common mistakes to avoid
- Naming a specific curriculum you might drop. Use "a mastery-based math program" instead of "Saxon Math 5/4."
- Quoting state academic standards verbatim. You're writing a home education plan, not adopting Common Core.
- Forgetting a required subject. Fire safety is the most-missed one. Include it.
- Writing the same objectives for siblings of different ages. Customize at least the topic examples for each child's grade level.
Do objectives have to be met exactly?
No. Objectives describe what you plan to teach. If your year unfolds differently — a deep dive on Pennsylvania history instead of westward expansion, for example — your portfolio simply reflects what actually happened. Evaluators look for evidence of appropriate education, not exact alignment with the August affidavit.
For the full affidavit walk-through, see our PA homeschool affidavit guide.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm specifics with your district and the current text of Act 169.