Good News for Pennsylvania Co-ops: State Agrees Hybrid Homeschool Programs Are Not Childcare

Local Homeschool News: Pennsylvania

Homeschool co-ops and hybrid programs in Pennsylvania got encouraging news this fall. Roots Learning Academy is a hybrid homeschool program north of Pittsburgh. Earlier this year, state inspectors decided it was an unlicensed childcare facility and sent a cease-and-desist letter. Roots appealed with help from the Institute for Justice (Institute for Justice).

Now things may be turning in its favor. According to Pittsburgh’s Public Source, the program’s attorney says the state Department of Human Services has agreed that hybrid programs and co-ops are not childcare facilities. The department would only say it is working directly with Roots on the state’s childcare rules. The attorney plans to seek a settlement and an official order saying that hybrid programs providing education are not childcare under state law (Public Source).

At Roots, students attend one to three days a week for math, reading, and other subjects. Their parents stay in charge of their education and file homeschool paperwork with their local school district. Enrollment has reached 174 students since Roots opened in 2023, and it added a second location this year (Public Source).

Hybrid options are growing across the Pittsburgh region. That is why this case matters to many families who use a co-op or hybrid program as one part of their homeschool. For the basics of the state’s home education law, see our Pennsylvania Homeschool Laws page.

Sources:

• Lajja Mistry, “Homeschool program challenges cease-and-desist order as hybrid options grow around Pittsburgh,” Pittsburgh’s Public Source, October 15, 2026 (updated October 26, 2026)
• Institute for Justice: Pennsylvania Hybrid School (case page)