This is right from the law. You cover this list during the grades 1-6 either each year or at least once during those six years. I seems logical to do the basics like math and language every year, but history can be as required US History or PA History but not every year. Cover those and add other history such as world history, ancient history, etc. Or if you want to take several years to do US History that is good too. YOU are the supervisor of the home ed program.
(1) At the elementary school level, the following courses shall be
taught:
English, to include spelling, reading, and writing;
arithmetic;
science;
geography;
history of the United States and Pennsylvania;
civics;
safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers
and prevention of fires;
health and physiology;
physical education;
music;
and art.
(2) At the secondary school level, the following courses shall be taught:
English, to include language, literature, speech and composition;
science;
geography;
social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania;
mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry;
art;
music;
physical education;
health and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the
dangers and prevention of fires.
Such courses of study may include, at the discretion of the supervisor of the home education program,
economics;
biology;
chemistry;
foreign languages;
trigonometry;
or other
age-appropriate courses as contained in Chapter 5 (Curriculum Requirements) of the State Board of Education.
this is the exact wording in the law.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
every subject, every year?
What classes for what years? Do you have to do every subject, every year?
The law lists the classes for elementary (1-6 grades) and for secondary (7-12) but those need to be done during that time.
Let's take Civics.
If you did civics already, you are done. You do NOT have to do civics every year.
The only thing required every year is fire safety. If you did civics in grades 7-12, the secondary years, you only need to do it once during those years. (and once during 1-6 the elem years)
If you want to do more, you can, but you do not have to. If you have a desire for a political career, more might be better, but certainly not required, especially if going into a "non civics" type field.
Here is a place to look for interesting courses for subjects to cover various areas in civics.
http://www.eagleforumu.org/eagleforumu/
My freidn also says, "The law does not require all courses cited in Section 1327.1 be done annually, only once per elementary years (or once per secondary). There are at least 2 letters from PDE folks (Pearce and Echols-Clark) stating such."
This is a copy of a letter to a mom last year in June 08 from the PA Dept of Ed.
"Dear Ms xxxx,
I am responding to your phone call and e-mail regarding subjects which arerequired by law to be taught in a home education program.
The law, 24 P.S. Sec. 13-1327.1(c)(1) as you have correctly quoted, does not require that every subject must be taught every year, but that all listed subjects must be taught during the elementary level of schooling. Therefore, your suggestion that you may, in your homeschool, concentrate on English and History one year and Math and Science the next, may be acceptable in the eyes of the law. This may be an unusual program, especially in the elementary years, but it is acceptable according to the law.
Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Sarah J. Pearce
Advisor
School Services Unit
Office of Elementary/Secondary Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-783-9287 (voicemail available)
Fax: 717-783-6802
TTY: 717-783-8445
So, even though there is a long list, you are the supervisior and cover that list as you see fit.
The law lists the classes for elementary (1-6 grades) and for secondary (7-12) but those need to be done during that time.
Let's take Civics.
If you did civics already, you are done. You do NOT have to do civics every year.
The only thing required every year is fire safety. If you did civics in grades 7-12, the secondary years, you only need to do it once during those years. (and once during 1-6 the elem years)
If you want to do more, you can, but you do not have to. If you have a desire for a political career, more might be better, but certainly not required, especially if going into a "non civics" type field.
Here is a place to look for interesting courses for subjects to cover various areas in civics.
http://www.eagleforumu.org/eagleforumu/
My freidn also says, "The law does not require all courses cited in Section 1327.1 be done annually, only once per elementary years (or once per secondary). There are at least 2 letters from PDE folks (Pearce and Echols-Clark) stating such."
This is a copy of a letter to a mom last year in June 08 from the PA Dept of Ed.
"Dear Ms xxxx,
I am responding to your phone call and e-mail regarding subjects which arerequired by law to be taught in a home education program.
The law, 24 P.S. Sec. 13-1327.1(c)(1) as you have correctly quoted, does not require that every subject must be taught every year, but that all listed subjects must be taught during the elementary level of schooling. Therefore, your suggestion that you may, in your homeschool, concentrate on English and History one year and Math and Science the next, may be acceptable in the eyes of the law. This may be an unusual program, especially in the elementary years, but it is acceptable according to the law.
Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Sarah J. Pearce
Advisor
School Services Unit
Office of Elementary/Secondary Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-783-9287 (voicemail available)
Fax: 717-783-6802
TTY: 717-783-8445
So, even though there is a long list, you are the supervisior and cover that list as you see fit.
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