Pennsylvania Homeschool Immunization and Health Records: What the Affidavit Requires

When families first read through Pennsylvania's homeschool affidavit requirements, the immunization and health records section tends to generate the most questions. What counts as sufficient evidence of immunization? What if you do not vaccinate? What health screenings are actually required, and for which grades? And what is the criminal background check section asking for — does the district actually run a background check on you?

Each of these questions has a clear answer under 24 PA C.S. §13-1327.1. This post covers all three: immunization documentation, required health screenings, and the criminal background certification, so you know exactly what to include in this section of your affidavit before you file.

Immunization Evidence: What Counts and What Exemptions Apply

Pennsylvania's home education statute requires that the affidavit include "evidence of the child's current immunized status." This does not mean you must submit your child's complete vaccination history — it means you must provide documentation of current immunizations or a valid medical, religious, or philosophical exemption.

If your child is vaccinated, a copy of the child's immunization record from your pediatrician satisfies this requirement. The document should list the vaccines administered and dates. It does not need to be certified or notarized — a photocopy or printed record from your child's patient portal is sufficient. File a copy with the affidavit; keep the original.

Medical exemption. A child who cannot receive vaccinations due to a medical condition may qualify for a medical exemption. This requires a signed statement from a licensed physician certifying that immunization is medically contraindicated for this child.

Religious exemption. Pennsylvania recognizes a religious exemption for families whose religious beliefs conflict with vaccination. The parent must provide a written, signed statement explaining the religious basis for the exemption. No specific religious affiliation is required — the exemption is available to any family with a sincere religious objection.

Philosophical exemption. This is where Pennsylvania differs significantly from most states. Pennsylvania recognizes a philosophical or strong moral or ethical conviction exemption. This is one of the broadest philosophical exemption standards in the country. The parent submits a written statement affirming that they hold a strong philosophical or moral conviction against immunization. No medical or religious basis is required. This exemption is widely used by families who have made an informed choice not to vaccinate for reasons other than religion.

The philosophical exemption means that vaccination status is essentially a parental choice in Pennsylvania, with a simple documentation step to record that choice in the affidavit. Families using this exemption should write a brief, sincere statement — a paragraph is sufficient — and include it with the affidavit.

Required Health Screenings: Physical Exams and Dental Exams by Grade

Pennsylvania law requires specific physical and dental examinations at designated grade levels. These are not annual requirements — they apply at defined intervals across your child's school career.

Physical examinations are required at:

• Entry into a home education program (initial enrollment, regardless of grade)
• Sixth grade
• Eleventh grade

Dental examinations are required at:

• Entry into a home education program
• Third grade
• Seventh grade

"Entry" means when a child first begins a home education program, whether that is kindergarten or a mid-year withdrawal from public school in fifth grade. If a child joins as a first-time homeschooler in any grade, an entry physical and dental exam are required at that time.

The filing requires evidence that the applicable screenings have been completed. Use the child's medical and dental records or another permitted form of evidence to document that requirement; do not treat a pending exam as completed evidence.

For families who are withdrawing a child from public school, the school may have already conducted some of these screenings. If the district has records of a 6th-grade physical or 3rd-grade dental exam on file, you can request copies to include with your affidavit.

A practical note on timing. The required health and medical evidence accompanies the initial and annual filing. If documentation is missing, obtain the required examination or other permitted evidence before submitting the complete affidavit rather than treating a pending exam as a substitute for the filing requirement.

The Criminal Background Check Section: What It Is (and What It Is Not)

The criminal background check component of the Pennsylvania homeschool affidavit is one of the most misunderstood requirements in the state's home education law. Many parents read "criminal background check" and assume the district is going to run a formal background check on them. That is not what the statute requires.

What the affidavit actually requires is a self-certification: a statement, signed under penalty of perjury or notarized, certifying that no adult living in the home, or person having legal custody of the child, has been convicted of any of the offenses listed under Section 111(e) of the School Code within the five years immediately preceding the affidavit.

You are not submitting a background check report. You are not directing the district to conduct one. You are making a sworn statement about the adult members of your household.

The offenses listed in §111(e) are primarily serious crimes: criminal homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, indecent exposure, incest, prostitution, obscene and other sexual materials offenses involving minors, corruption of minors, sexual abuse of children, and related offenses. The category also includes certain drug offenses.

For the overwhelming majority of homeschooling families, this certification is simply a truthful statement that takes one sentence to write. Include it as a numbered item or paragraph within the affidavit itself — something like:

"I certify that no adult residing in this household, and no person having legal custody of the child, has been convicted of any offense listed under Section 111(e) of the School Code within the five years immediately preceding the affidavit."

That statement, included in an affidavit signed under oath (or under the unsworn declaration language), satisfies the statutory requirement. No additional documentation is filed with the district.

Putting the Health and Background Sections Together

When you assemble your affidavit, the health and background sections typically take this form:

The immunization section includes either a copy of the child's immunization record or a written exemption statement (medical, religious, or philosophical). Attach the documentation as an exhibit to the affidavit.

The health screenings section includes permitted evidence that the required physical and dental examinations or other required health services have been completed, such as medical records or a physician's letter. Applicable exemption statements are another permitted form of evidence; retain copies for your files.

The criminal background certification is a statement within the affidavit itself, not a separate document.

This section of the affidavit is less about paperwork volume and more about covering each statutory element cleanly. A well-structured affidavit addresses immunization status, health screening completion, and the criminal background certification in three clear, brief sections — typically two to four sentences each.

When to File

For families withdrawing a child from public or private school and starting a home education program, the affidavit — including all health and background documentation — must be filed before instruction begins. Do not wait until August 1. That deadline applies to continuing families renewing their existing programs. New programs require immediate filing.

If gathering all the health documentation takes a few days after you have decided to withdraw, that is fine — but file the complete affidavit as soon as the documentation is in hand, and begin instruction only after filing.

Assembling the immunization evidence, health screening records, and criminal background certification correctly is one of the more detail-oriented parts of the Pennsylvania affidavit process — but none of it is difficult once you know exactly what each section requires. If you want affidavit templates that lay out each required element with appropriate language already in place, the Pennsylvania Legal Withdrawal Blueprint provides templates for both new and continuing families, including guidance on the health documentation and background certification sections.

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