Pennsylvania Resource Page
Welcome! Homeschooling is an exciting journey and we will be with you every step of the way. These resources will help you navigate the state requirements, access local support groups, and plan for fun educational outings.
Regulatory Information
The link and contact information below will provide you with answers to any legal question you may have about homeschooling in your state.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Phone: Pennsylvania Department of Education School Services Unit - (717) 783-3750
Networking With Calvert Families in Your State!
The Calvert Networking Program allows us to connect families interested in homeschooling with Calvert families in their area currently using our courses. Networking is a great way for families considering the use of Calvert materials to discuss with a family how the program works and to possibly inspect course materials.
To learn more or to help prospective families learn more about Calvert, visit the Family Networking page.
Homeschool Support Groups
Homeschool support groups in your state are an excellent way to gain more assistance and guidance in your homeschooling endeavors. A regional support group fosters a wonderful sense on community among homeschooling families and allows for more opportunities to exchange ideas, plan group outings, and share in the overall experience of homeschooling! While Calvert supports the development of community between homeschool families, this listing does not constitute affiliation between Calvert School and the groups represented above.
Catholic Homeschoolers of Pennsylvania
The original function of this network was connecting families together. An effort, which began with five families in January of 1993, has developed into a growing network of hundreds Catholic families in Pennsylvania. Besides connecting families together in the same area, families who are homeschooling under unusual circumstances can be linked together. Please note that the name list is not shared, sold, bartered, or given out in any other manner for any purpose. Names of those subscribing/member families who have expressly given us consent to do so are the only names which are given to other local subscribing/member families when requested.
Address: 101 S. College St, Myerstown, PA 17067-1212
Phone: (717) 866-5425
Email: info@catholichomeschoolpa.org
Web: http://www.catholichomeschoolpa.org/
Christian Home School Association of Pennsylvania (CHAP)
CHAP, the Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania, exists to support and encourage home educators. It is a distinctly Christian organization with a statement of faith. CHAP seeks to nurture education that is Christian, and supports education that is in harmony with Judeo-Christian principles.
Address: 231 N. Chestnut St, Palmyra, PA 17078
Phone: (717)838-0980
Fax: (717)653-2454
Email: staff@chaponline.com
Web: http://www.chaponline.com/
Pennsylvania Home Education Network (PHEN)
The Pennsylvania Home Education Network is an incorporated, nonprofit, tax exempt, statewide organization of home educating families. PHEN exists to promote freedom and simplicity in home education, to serve all families who educate their children at home regardless of race, religion, creed, sex, national origin, handicap, or educational philosophy, and to inform the general public about home education. Membership is open to all Pennsylvania residents who agree with the organization's inclusive philosophy. The Network is directed by a council of members who volunteer and who make decisions by consensus.
Email: info@phen.org
Web: http://phen.org/
Pennsylvania Home Educators Association (PHEA)
PHEA is an inclusive statewide coalition of home educators whose primary purpose is to provide accurate information and advocate for Pennsylvania home educators.
Address: 401 Lincoln Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15202
Web: http://www.phea.net/
Pittsburgh East Suburban Homeschoolers' Association (PESHA)
The Pittsburgh East Suburban Homeschoolers Association is a non-profit organization of homeschooling families. Founded in 1987, PESHA is now one of the oldest existing homeschooling support group associations in the Southwestern Pennsylvania area. We are a family-oriented, Bible-honoring group, dedicated to providing information, support, Christian fellowship, and networking for the entire family through our evening meetings, field trips, and other events. Our adult programs feature information and teachings on homeschooling-related topics. Our children's programs are suitable for children ages 5-18. They provide fun, educational opportunities which help fulfill homeschooling requirements. We also feature a "Teen Room" where board games and snacks are shared under adult supervision. Membership is $16 per year; to receive a membership registration form, contact us at the email address above.
Email: contact@infopesha.org
Web: http://infopesha.org/
Valley Homeschoolers
Valley Homeschoolers is located in the Upper Perkiomen Valley in SE Pennsylvania. Areas close to us are East Greenville, Quakertown, Emmaus, & Allentown. We all homeschool, but we don't all use the same methods. Some homeschool traditionally, others use the un-schooling approach, & others cyber-school. We are not affiliated with any particular religion, however, most of us are Christians. Most of us have children over the age of 8, but not all. There are many teens in our group, making us a bit different than a lot of other support groups. We've organized homeschool matinees at our local theater whenever an appropriate movie is showing (pretty much monthly). We've hosted a homeschool prom & other dances, in conjunction with The Master's Academy. We meet frequently on Mondays, as well as have ice cream socials & once a month bowling. Our goal is simply to support one another, provide each other, & others, with information about homeschooling, & get our kids together as much as possible. We network with other groups in our area, & we welcome new members. Even if you don't want to join, but are looking for information, please feel free to contact us!
Address: Tamara Kells (include "homeschool" in memo line), P.O. Box 213, Palm, PA 18070
Web: http://www.valleyhomeschoolers.bravehost.com/
York Home School Association, Inc. (YHSA)
YHSA is a Christian support group and it strives through all efforts to bring glory to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as prescribed in the Nicene Creed.
The mission of YHSA is to encourage excellence and integrity in home schooling. YHSA exists to serve the interests of parents educating their children at home under Act 169, the Pennsylvania Home Education Law of 1988; this does not include those enrolling their children in cyber or charter schools, which are part of the government school system in Pennsylvania.
YHSA is a volunteer run ministry. Through the involvement and effort of all of its member families, YHSA can provide encouragement and resources for families, assist new home schoolers, and provide academic and social interaction with other parents and children with similar concerns and educational goals.
Web: http://yhsa.org/
Educational Excursions
Afford your child the best chance to learn by taking field trips to different locations that encourage learning and curiosity. The locations listed below are wonderful tools in reinforcing the ideas taught in the classroom while having fun!
Port Discovery - Baltimore, MD
Ranked by Child Magazine as one of the top ten children's museums in the United States, Port Discovery in Baltimore, MD offers educational, hands-on exhibits and programs for children ages 2-10. Imagine! Play! Learn! Grow!
Address: 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410-727-8120
Fax: 410-727-3042
General Email: info@portdiscovery.org
Web: http://www.portdiscovery.org
The Franklin Institute Science Museum
Homeschool Days at the Franklin Institute: Implementing quality science instruction into your child's curriculum can be challenging. Let The Franklin Institute help! During our workshops, children interact with real scientists, get a behind-the-scenes look at The Franklin Institute's exhibits and equipment, and explore science through hands-on experimentation. All homeschool workshops are based on the National Science Education Standards.
Address: 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215)448-1200
Email: guestservices@fi.edu
Please Touch Museum
At Please Touch Museum, we encourage children to play and grow through the myriad of experiences we offer here. We know that play provides the foundation for basic life skills such as building relationships, cooperation, negotiation and compromise as well as providing opportunities for children to find out who they are and what they enjoy doing. Play offers an emotional outlet, develops the imagination and creativity, and cultivates problem solving skills.
With young children playing daily at Please Touch Museum, we see that is is a process-driven way of creating, exploring and investigating the surrounding environment with adults, other children or by themselves. Play is a fun and imaginative way to become familiar with the world we live in.
Address: 210 N. 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215)963-0667
Philadelphia Zoo
Mission: Advance discovery, understanding and stewardship of the natural world through compelling exhibition and interpretation of living animals and plants.
Homeschool Program: The Philadelphia Zoo now offers special workshops - especially for homeschool students! Enriching, educational and fun, these workshops are a great way for children to learn about wildlife and how the Zoo runs. Workshops are available for individual families and are offered in series.
Address: 3400 West Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215)243-1100
Fax: (215)243-5385
Email: guestrelations@phillyzoo.org
Web: http://phillyzoo.org/
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Address: P.O. Box 7646, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646
Phone: (215)763-8100
Phone #2: (215)684-7500
Fax: (215)236-4465
Dutch Wonderland
The mission of DUTCH WONDERLAND is to provide high quality family experiences, based in the Hershey Tradition, that exceed the expectations of its visitors and guests and which ultimately generate positive stories and create lifelong memories. DUTCH WONDERLAND strives toward this goal by providing safe, clean, friendly environments while maintaining a pricing structure that is fair to the consumer and the company.
Address: 2249 Lincoln Highway Park, Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: 1-866-FUNatDW
Fax: (717) 291-1595
Email: infodw@dutchwonderland.com
Web: http://dutchwonderland.com/
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is known for its dinosaur collection including a Tyrannosaurus Rex. There are also large exhibits on Ancient Egypt, geology, wildlife of Africa and North America and the Arctic.
Address: 440 Forbes Ave, Pittsburg, PA 15213-4007
Phone: (412) 622-3131
Web: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/
ExpERIEnce Children's Museum
ExpERIEnce Children's Museum is home to two floors of science and humanities exhibits. Hands-on experiences educate visitors about weather, recycling, fossils, light and paper making.
Address: 420 French Street, Erie, PA 16507
Phone: (814) 453-3743
Fax: (814) 459-9735
Email: junep@eriechildrensmuseum.org
Web: http://eriechildrensmuseum.org/
Erie Zoo
The Erie Zoo is home to over 400 animals featuring more than 200 species from around the world. The main building of the zoo has recreated natural habitats foe the animals. The Erie Zoo is also the Botanical Gardens of Northwest Pennsylvania highlighting 2500 specimens from 600 species of plants.
Address: 423 W. 38th St, P.O. Box 3268, Erie, PA 16508
Phone: (814) 864-4091
Email: info@eriezoo.org
Web: http://www.eriezoo.org/
Gettysburg National Military Park
The battlefield is now a National Park, traversed by more than 30 miles/48km of roads and tracks, with numerous monuments and memorial stones. Visitors can either find their own way to the main features on the battlefield or take part in a guided tour (2 hours). The course of the battle can be followed in detail on an electric map in the Visitor Center, which also displays a large collection of uniforms and weapons.
Address: 97 Taneytown Rd, Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 334-1124 ext. 431
Fax: (717) 334-1891
Web: http://www.nps.gov/gett
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Founded in 1898, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium displays more than 4,000 animals and 400 birds representing diverse species including sea lions, kangaroos, goats, Siberian Tigers, elephants, giraffes. Kids Kingdom is geared to children where they can learn what it is like to be an animal. There is also a carousel ride and popular aquarium.
Address: One Wild Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: (412) 665-3640
Web: http://www.pittsburghzoo.com/
Are we missing something? Calvert is always excited to hear of groups and establishments that may benefit the educational experience of our homeschool families. Calvert is also open to suggestions on added topics to provide our families with the most useful information possible. Please e-mail mwilmeth@calvertservices.org if you have information or ideas to add to the content of this site, or if you have a criticism or concern regarding the information featured above.
