craftymama Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 We've just arrived and I can't figure out what school district we're in. How do I find out where to send the paperwork? I know no one here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 Try this link: http://www.revenue.pa.gov/GeneralTaxInformation/Tax%20Types%20and%20Information/Pages/Personal%20Income%20Tax/School%20District%20PIT/School%20District%20Address%20Search.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymama Posted August 7, 2017 Author Share Posted August 7, 2017 Try this link: http://www.revenue.pa.gov/GeneralTaxInformation/Tax%20Types%20and%20Information/Pages/Personal%20Income%20Tax/School%20District%20PIT/School%20District%20Address%20Search.aspx Thank you. Seems easy enough, but it can't find my address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 Did you buy or are you renting? If you bought, you should have the school tax info on your paperwork that you had to pay at settlement. If you don't have that info, can you call the school district that you think you are in and ask them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymama Posted August 7, 2017 Author Share Posted August 7, 2017 I'll look at the paperwork. I literally just got here a few days ago and are in the midst of unpacking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 ladybugs Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 I am in NJ but I am frequently in PA. I just wanted to say welcome! I hope you feel at home in no time! :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterbaby Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 Ask the neighbors? Call the closest school and ask? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 Could you put in a nearby intersection or address, perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 If you're in Adams or York County, send me a pm and I'll have hubby look up your property to let you know. If elsewhere, then check with neighbors and/or call local schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 (edited) I am a homeschool evaluator in PA (you will need one, btw). Once you find your district, their site should have pdfs of the necessary paperwork. If not, use this website to print out the affidavit. Get the affidavit notarized and drop it off, along with your objectives, to the district office. Be sure to get a receipt from them. Standardized testing must be done in 3rd, 5th and 8th grades, so plan on that at sometime during the year. Any other questions, feel free to reach out to me! And welcome! ETA: Oops. Forgot to include link. Edited August 8, 2017 by lisabees 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymama Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 I am in NJ but I am frequently in PA. I just wanted to say welcome! I hope you feel at home in no time! :) Thank you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymama Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 I am a homeschool evaluator in PA (you will need one, btw). Once you find your district, their site should have pdfs of the necessary paperwork. If not, use this website to print out the affidavit. Get the affidavit notarized and drop it off, along with your objectives, to the district office. Be sure to get a receipt from them. Standardized testing must be done in 3rd, 5th and 8th grades, so plan on that at sometime during the year. Any other questions, feel free to reach out to me! And welcome! I found the school district. I have an address. They have nothing on their site about homeschooling. At least the search feature turned up nothing and it wasn't under any of the tabs. I may be reaching out soon. This is so different than anything we've had to do before. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 (edited) We were new to PA this school year. It can be overwhelming at first, esp coming from a less complicated state, but the paperwork is actually fairly straightforward in practice. You don't need anything from the school district's website, except the name of the superintendent and the address. You can write the affidavit and objectives yourself - no requirement to use their forms and many districts don't have one anyway. Carry it in and get a receipt or send it certified mail. Remember you don't need to report students before mandatory school age (8). http://askpauline.com and https://pahomeschoollaw.com are good places to start. Good luck! Edited August 8, 2017 by Andie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 I found the school district. I have an address. They have nothing on their site about homeschooling. At least the search feature turned up nothing and it wasn't under any of the tabs. I may be reaching out soon. This is so different than anything we've had to do before. You're not in Philadelphia or Montgomery or Bucks counties, are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikslo Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Welcome to PA! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Sent you a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 I found the school district. I have an address. They have nothing on their site about homeschooling. At least the search feature turned up nothing and it wasn't under any of the tabs. I may be reaching out soon. This is so different than anything we've had to do before. I'll add my welcome to PA. We never found the paperwork difficult to do - and each year you can cut and paste from the previous year just tweaking as needed. The plus side to PA's regs came for us with college apps. Many folks in admission told us we didn't have to do things like course descriptions because we came from a regulated state. They were right. We didn't. ;) Then too, when it came to application time transcripts, reading lists, and pretty much anything else was right there for me to use. We never had one iota of trouble or annoyance homeschooling here. Our local school district even allows homeschoolers to take the PSAT there - not all do across the US. I hope the same is true for you in your district. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 (edited) I found the school district. I have an address. They have nothing on their site about homeschooling. At least the search feature turned up nothing and it wasn't under any of the tabs. I may be reaching out soon. This is so different than anything we've had to do before. I would be surprised if their website acknowledged homeschooling. Just fill out an affidavit as Lisabees linked above and your objectives and turn them into your district office asap. I would hand deliver and ask for a receipt. My school district automatically gives one. Ask for one, if they don't offer. This is your proof that you are following the law. You should get a letter from the school board saying they "approve" your affidavit and objectives. Approve is not the correct terminology because they aren't giving you permission to homeschool, they are acknowledging your decision to do so. The reason you need to do this asap is because one, you can start counting days/hours for this school year once you have done so. Two, school starts in about three weeks so you don't want your student to be truant. Welcome to Pa! Eta: the affidavit requires your notarized signature. Your local bank will usually do this for free for you. Edited August 8, 2017 by school17777 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Welcome to PA! In general, the school districts don't have accurate information about homeschooling, and would be the last place I'd look for information. Continuing homeschoolers file by Aug 1 annually, but first-time homeschoolers would file when you begin, so you have a bit of time to get your paperwork together. Remember, affidavit only asks for age, not grade of the child. School district receives your paperwork, they do not "approve" anything. You also do not need to provide copies of your diploma or degrees Affidavit https://phea.net/the-pa-home-education-affidavit/ Objectives https://phea.net/pa-home-education-objectives/ In the spring (before June 30) https://phea.net/pa-home-education-portfolios/ https://phea.net/pa-home-education-evaluations/ Grades 3/5/8 https://phea.net/the-pa-home-education-testing-requirements/ The law: https://phea.net/pahomeeducationlaw/ It looks overwhelming, but it's more of an annoyance than a hindrance. Know the law and get information from several sources. Many people make it more complicated than it is... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FawnsFunnyFarm Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Welcome to PA. Our laws look scary but aren't hard to live with. What part of PA are you in? Maybe someone local can help you maneuver your local district. Most districts are cake but others are harder to deal with until you show them you stuff your stuff. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymama Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 You're not in Philadelphia or Montgomery or Bucks counties, are you? Nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymama Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 Welcome to PA. Our laws look scary but aren't hard to live with. What part of PA are you in? Maybe someone local can help you maneuver your local district. Most districts are cake but others are harder to deal with until you show them you stuff your stuff. We're in Luzerne County. I've read the law and don't think it's overly complicated. But then I couldn't even find the school district. Rough start. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftymama Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 Thank you all for your help and support! The plan is to get the paperwork down there on Monday. My car doesn't get here until Friday so we're working off that schedule. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FawnsFunnyFarm Posted August 10, 2017 Share Posted August 10, 2017 There is a pretty large homeschool community in Luzerne County ;) I'm in Montour County, just down river or RT11 or I-80 from you. ;) There are FB groups for the area once you are settled more :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.