When to begin Kindergarten:

This is not an issue for homeschoolers, but you do have to name a grade at some point.  If you look for info,each school district has their own dates for K registration, so you can see if you can find the dates for local districts.

Spring Grove's date that I know of as of 2012, was Sept 1 and the child had to be five by that date.  I know York City is different.  Actually it is only a established parameter for schools and as a home schooler, YOU can decide when to begin K or other education.

The law in PA is age 8 for reporting, and so most kids are in grade 3 at that age, BUT, I have seen all sorts of variation.  I know kids that are in fourth grade for their first evaluation.  I know kids that were in second grade.  I know parents that did not start "counting school (either k or 1 ) until after age 8 and for their first age 8 evaluation, the child was in first grade,
so it is really up to you.

Most parents like to keep the "grade" of their homeschoolers sort of in line with the majority, mostly for outside and church activities, as many Sunday School classes for kids are arranged by grade.  So, I am sure this does not answer your specific question, but you can call her grade K at any time that YOU think is appropriate.  Some parents start their kids early and others like to wait and have an older grade K student.  

The Sept dates do seem to cause the most confusion, so your question is valid.

http://www.greatschools.org/students/academic-skills/150-kindergarten-ready-or-not.gs  is a link that explains this confusion;  Your child may be deemed ready in one state or type of school but not in another. In most states, a child must reach the age of 5 for public school, but the birth date can range from June 1 to December 31.

PA school accept students from age 4 to 6 for K and it varies by district.   http://ecs.force.com/mbdata/mbquestU?SID=a0i70000004J3cq&rep=Kq02&Q=Q3195

Source: TopMastersInEducation.com

I am still active in the Home School community Many of the Alumni Moms get together as well. I have been doing evaluations for nine years  years now, so I am keeping current with popular curriculum and new curriculum. Things sure have changed though since when my kids were in home school (1988-2009). Many more lessons on the computer, Apologia has grown and Teaching Textbooks are very popular. Many, many things for free on-line now. Check out the free classes from Yale, called Open Yale Courses: http://oyc.yale.edu/

"Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn."

now I just need more time to share my years of experience with you.  Still doing evaluations and am working with two moms who are new to evaluations, so we all  are here to assist you!

still in the thick of things even tho I am no longer a homeschooling teacher.

I am still active in the York Home School Association. Many of the Alumni Moms get together as well. I have been doing evaluations for six/seven years now, so I am keeping current with popular curriculum and new curriculum. Things sure have changed though since when my kids were in home school (1988-2009). Many more lessons on the computer, Apologia has grown and Teaching Textbooks are very popular. Many, many things for free on-line now. Check out the free classes from Yale, called Open Yale Courses: http://oyc.yale.edu/

"Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn."

now I just need more time!

link to the Simple Dollar, read this and think homeschool

10 More Essential Skills You Didn’t Learn in College

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2010/10/14/10-more-essential-skills-you-didnt-learn-in-college/



This is a good article about things not learned in college (or traditional
school). One more reason to homeschool/these things are taught in home
school since they are life and we are 24/7 with our kids. Homeschool is
more like what you really need for LIFE, so make sure these are included,
which maybe more important than academics.

check out my friend's web site

http://www.iHomeEducate.com

what about High School courses?

This is directly from the school code. It was chapter 5 as referred to in Act 169.
4.23. High school education.
(a) Instruction in the high school program must focus on the development of abilities needed to succeed in work and advanced education through planned instruction.
(b) Curriculum and instruction in the high school must be standards-based and provide all students opportunities to develop the skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and problem-solving and information literacy.
(c) Planned instruction aligned with academic standards in the following areas shall be provided to every student in the high school program. Planned instruction may be provided as a separate course or as an instructional unit within a course or other interdisciplinary instructional activity:
(1) Language arts, integrating reading, writing, listening, speaking, literature and grammar.
(2) Mathematics, including problem-solving, mathematical reasoning, algebra, geometry and concepts of calculus.
(3) Science and technology, including participation in hands-on experiments and at least one laboratory science chosen from life sciences, earth and space sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences and agricultural sciences.
(4) Social studies (civics and government, economics, geography and history, including the history and cultures of the United States, the Commonwealth and the world).
(5) Environment and ecology, including scientific, social, political and economic aspects of ecology.
(6) The arts, including art, music, dance, theatre and humanities.
(7) Use of applications of microcomputers and software, including word processing, database, spreadsheets and telecommunications; and information skills, including access to traditional and electronic information sources, computer use and research.
(8) Health, safety and physical education, including instruction in concepts and skills which affect personal, family and community health and safety, nutrition, physical fitness, movement concepts, motor skill development, safety in physical activity settings, and the prevention of alcohol, chemical and tobacco abuse.
(9) Family and consumer science, including principles of consumer behavior and basic knowledge of child health, child care and early literacy skill development.
(d) The following planned instruction shall be made available to every student in the high school program:
(1) Vocational-technical education under § § 4.3 and 4.31—4.35 (relating to definitions; and vocational-technical education).
(2) Business education, including courses to assist students in developing business and information technology skills.
(3) World languages under § 4.25 (relating to languages).
(4) Technology education, incorporating technological problem-solving and the impacts of technology on individuals and society.
(e) College-level advanced placement courses may be offered as planned instruction in the high school curriculum.
(f) This section does not preclude the teaching of other planned instruction designed to achieve a school district’s, including a charter school’s, academic standards.
(g) School districts, including a charter school, shall determine the most appropriate way to operate their high school programs to achieve the purposes under subsection (a) and the academic standards in their strategic plans under § 4.13 (relating to strategic plans).