Withdrawing From Public School to Homeschool in Pennsylvania (Mid-Year)

Most PA homeschool guidance assumes a tidy August start. But families decide to homeschool in October, January, and April too — usually because something at school stopped working. The law accounts for this: you can withdraw a child any day of the year and begin home education immediately, as long as you file the affidavit within five days.

The 5-day rule

Under 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(b), the notarized affidavit must be filed "prior to the commencement of the home education program and annually thereafter on August 1." For mid-year starts, "prior to" is interpreted in practice as within five days of withdrawing the child from school. Some districts cite this five-day window in their own homeschool packets.

Translation: the day you tell the school you're done is the day the clock starts. Have the affidavit ready before you make the call.

Step-by-step withdrawal

Step 1 — Prepare the affidavit first (don't skip this)

Draft the affidavit and your objectives before you notify the school. Get it ready to notarize. If anything delays the school side (lost paperwork, a vacationing administrator), your affidavit clock keeps ticking.

Use Pennsole's affidavit builder or any Act 169-compliant template. See our affidavit guide and objectives guide for templates.

Step 2 — Write a formal withdrawal letter

Email and physically deliver (or mail certified) a short letter to the principal and the district registrar. A working template:

[Date]

[Principal Name]
[School Name]
[Address]

Re: Withdrawal of [Child's Full Name], Grade [X]

Dear [Principal Name],

Effective [withdrawal date], I am withdrawing my child [Full Name],
date of birth [DOB], from [School Name] to begin a home education
program under Pennsylvania Act 169 (24 P.S. § 13-1327.1).

A notarized affidavit will be filed with the [District Name]
superintendent within five days, as required.

Please update [Child's Name]'s enrollment status accordingly and
confirm receipt of this notice in writing.

Sincerely,
[Parent Full Name]
[Address] · [Phone] · [Email]

Step 3 — Notarize the affidavit

Bring the unsigned affidavit, ID, and your objectives to a notary. Banks, UPS Stores, and many libraries notarize for free or for a few dollars.

Step 4 — File the affidavit with the superintendent

Mail certified (return receipt) or hand-deliver to the district office. Keep a copy and the green receipt card. Some districts accept email — call the homeschool coordinator to confirm.

Step 5 — Request the student's records

You are entitled to your child's cumulative file, including grades, attendance, IEP / 504 if applicable, and standardized test results. Ask for them in writing. These records help your evaluator understand where your child is starting and can support your portfolio.

What counts for the 180 days?

Days your child was enrolled in public school do count toward the 180-day requirement for that school year, even though you weren't supervising those days. You only need to count home education days from the withdrawal forward. A mid-November withdrawal means roughly 130 home education days to close out the year — easily achievable.

Charter, cyber, and private school withdrawals

The process is the same for charter and cyber charter schools — they are public schools under PA law. For private schools, follow the school's own disenrollment procedure first, then file the affidavit with your district of residence (not the private school's district).

What if your child has an IEP or 504?

You can still withdraw to homeschool. The IEP does not legally follow your child into home education, though you can request that the district continue evaluations or limited services. See our IEPs and 504s for PA homeschoolers guide for what stays available and what doesn't.

Building momentum in the first 30 days

1. Take a deload week. Read, cook, walk, visit the library. The decompression matters more than rushing into curriculum.
2. Start a simple log. Days in session, books read, one sentence of narrative. See our daily logs guide.
3. Pick a math and a reading spine. Everything else can wait two weeks.
4. Plan the portfolio early. A mid-year start often produces a thinner first portfolio — that's fine. See the portfolio checklist.
5. Book an evaluator by April 1. Mid-year families sometimes wait too long. Don't.

Common worries (and the honest answers)

• "Will the district push back?" Most don't. Act 169 is settled law and districts process mid-year withdrawals routinely.
• "Will my child fall behind?" The opposite usually happens — most mid-year withdrawals come because a child is already struggling, and one-on-one attention closes gaps quickly.
• "What if I change my mind?" You can re-enroll any time. Bring your portfolio and the district will place your child appropriately.

You don't have to wait for August. If today is the right day, today is the right day.

General guidance, not legal advice. Always confirm specifics with your district and the current text of Act 169.