Despite submitting their required paperwork on time, a homeschool family received an in-person visit from a district official demanding to see their high school diplomas for themselves.
Two homeschooling families in Eastern Lancaster County reached a legal settlement with their school district after district officials allegedly violated state law by demanding proof of parental education credentials and threatening truancy charges.
The dispute began in September when homeschool parents Caitlynn Brennan and Joseph Stoltzfus were contacted by an official from the Eastern Lancaster County (ELANCO) School District.
The official left a voicemail stating she would visit their home the next morning to inspect Brennan’s high school diploma, despite the couple having already submitted their required documents ahead of time. The visit took place as promised—with a school social worker in tow.
“It was shocking,” Brennan described. “They never acknowledged my paperwork. It feels like they went from zero to 60 immediately.”
“The PA statute requirements are clear,” Stoltzfus added. “We possess the freedom to determine what we will submit and what we will withhold.
Under Pennsylvania law, homeschooling parents are only required to submit an affidavit or unsworn declaration each school year, attesting under penalty of perjury that they hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. They are not legally required to provide the original document, nor does the law authorize surprise home visits or threats of criminal prosecution for noncompliance.
Nonetheless, ELANCO officials rejected the families’ affidavits and insisted on seeing their diplomas in person. When the parents refused, district officials threatened them with truancy charges, which would amount to a criminal offense.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), a national advocacy group that represents homeschooling families, stepped in to defend the parents. After sending two letters explaining the law and receiving no response, the organization filed a lawsuit on behalf of the families on Sept. 16 in state court. The lawsuit named the district superintendent, assistant superintendent, and school social worker as defendants.
“These families followed the statute exactly as written. The school district must do the same,” said Jim Mason, president of HSLDA. “Pennsylvania’s homeschool law is clear and has not changed. But instead of following the law, ELANCO officials invented their own process and threatened them with prosecution. That is unlawful and must be stopped.”
HSLDA cited Jeffrey v. O’Donnell (1988), a case that helped shape Pennsylvania’s current homeschool law. That decision struck down the state’s previous homeschool framework, replacing it with a revised law that clearly outlines parents’ responsibilities and establishes a uniform process for addressing disputes without home visits or intimidation.
By early November, ELANCO agreed to settle. As part of the agreement, the district pledged to accept sworn affidavits without demanding physical diplomas and to handle future concerns according to the procedures spelled out in state law.
“Homeschooling is not a loophole or an act of defiance. It is a lawful exercise of parental responsibility that helps children thrive and flourish,” wrote Mason. “When officials overstep their lawful boundaries, they don’t just violate homeschoolers’ rights—they undermine the rule of law itself.”
