A Pakistani immigrant family in Pennsylvania who are grateful for the freedom to homeschool are all set to start a new year of education, thanks to HSLDA.

The family has been homeschooling for three years in a school district near Pittsburgh since their oldest child turned 6—the starting age for compulsory school attendance in the Keystone State.

“Even before the children were born, we thought about it,” the father said. (Name withheld to protect the family’s privacy.)

Their enthusiasm for the educational method made it even more of a shock when public school officials told the family they had submitted the wrong paperwork and were not cleared to homeschool this fall.

The accusation left the father perplexed, because he was certain he’d followed the law. So he contacted HSLDA.

Resistance to Change

HSLDA Senior Counsel Will Estrada reviewed the family’s situation and quickly recognized the problem: school officials were continuing to refuse to comply with a recent change to the law.

To accommodate residents isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania passed a law in 2020 expanding the use of unsworn declarations (signed under penalty of perjury) in lieu of notarized affidavits. Families can now submit an unsworn declaration to signal their intent to homeschool, instead of a notarized affidavit.

Estrada explained that a school district’s rejection of an unsworn declaration is important, although it may not seem like it at first glance.

“Using an unsworn declaration allows parents to avoid a trip to a notary and saves them a few dollars, which can be a big deal for families during the busy lead-up to a new school year,” he said.

“This is about the rule of law,” added Estrada. “We’re simply enforcing what the General Assembly enacted. It’s not up to school districts to decide they don’t like it.”

Taking a Stand

Just as they had the previous school year, the family sent an unsworn declaration to the local public school superintendent’s office in May, notifying them of their intent to homeschool. But the school rejected the declaration.

 “We require a notarized affidavit,” school officials said.

The father said he easily could have resubmitted the document school officials said they needed, but he felt a broader principle was at stake. He takes care to follow the law, and he believes officials should adhere to the rules as well.

“It’s good to stand for what’s right,” he affirmed.

Estrada wrote to school officials on behalf of the family, explaining how a recent court decision confirmed the wide application of the 2020 Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act. The family soon heard from school officials that objections to their homeschool declaration had been rescinded.

The father said he is relieved that his family can now focus on the reasons why they homeschool—to share experiences, foster emotional health, and practice their Muslim beliefs.

“HSLDA defends the right to homeschool for all families,” said President Jim Mason. “It’s part of our commitment to serving others, based on our core values of freedom, family, and Christlikeness.”

Living Heritage

The father added that homeschooling allows him and his wife to provide a more natural learning environment for their four children, which includes trying to reduce the distractions that can be caused by excessive use of technology.

“Just sitting together as a family, talking, and traveling can be an education,” he said.

The family emigrated from Pakistan 13 years ago and finds homeschooling affords them the time to appreciate their cultural heritage.

“Culture is something you can’t give,” the father said. “You have to live it.” That leads to another reason he so enjoys homeschooling—the opportunities it provides for him and his wife to let their children know they are loved.

“Just having time to hug my children is a big thing,” he said.

All this makes the effort to comply with Pennsylvania’s homeschool regulations worth it, he added, with a certain caveat. “You shouldn’t have to prove to anyone in the government that you are doing what’s right.”

Still, if officials raise unexpected obstacles again, he’s confident he can prove his case, and he knows he can contact HSLDA.