Yes. Act 55 of 2022 amended 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1 regarding enrollment and participation in career and technical education programs and states that all school districts must have policies and procedures that allow home school students in the district to participate, on the basis as other students enrolled in the district, in CTE Programs effective the 2023-24 school year.
Act 55 of 2022 amended 24 P.S. § 1327.1(f.3) (1)-(5) to take advantage of these opportunities and the home education student must:
- Meet the same eligibility participation criteria and prerequisites (or the equivalent) that apply to full-time district students; and
- Comply with all policies, rules and regulations or their equivalent of the school district and career and technical education center.
No. Students are not guaranteed a seat. Each school district or Career and Technical Education Center (CTC) may establish policies that prioritize participation in courses or programs with limited seating and enrollment as indicated in 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(f.4).
Home education students may utilize district transportation to or from the career and technical education program during the times buses are otherwise already operating and space is available as indicated in 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(f.3)(3).
Districts will work with their solicitors to determine transportation policies.
No. A comprehensive CTC is a full-day school where both the academics and technical skills are taught. They must enroll into the local sending district.
Yes. An Occupational CTC is a half-day school where only technical skills are taught. The home school student can attend an Occupational CTC to obtain the technical skills and receive the academics of their education from the parent or legal guardian.
The parent must continue to follow all applicable home school laws, which include submitting all required documentation (notarized affidavit/unsworn declaration at the beginning of the program or by August 1st if the student is continuing in a home school program) and submitting a home school evaluator’s report by no later than June 30th at the end of year’s program.
Yes. If the CTE course is offered at the high school, then the student could still remain in a home school program. Again, as noted above, the parent must follow all applicable home school laws requiring documentation of the program.
If the CTE program in the high school is a full-time comprehensive CTE program, then the student would enroll in the district and the home school program would end.
If an LEA has questions on how the homeschool student should be reported related to Child Accounting, please contact Child Accounting staff at ra-CAD@pa.gov.