Consulting & Evaluations

School House Lane offers one-on-one consulting and annual evaluations to support homeschooling families in Pennsylvania. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or re-thinking your approach, our consulting service provides personalized guidance from an experienced, open-minded educator.

Homeschool Consulting

School House Lane consulting exists first and foremost to support you as a homeschooling parent—not to judge your choices or prescribe how homeschooling “should” look. I recognize and respect the wide range of approaches, goals, and reasons families homeschool, and I know firsthand how taking on this responsibility can feel both exhilarating and overwhelming.

Whether you’re just beginning or refining your approach, virtual consultations offer a space to explore questions, talk through concerns, and see learning through a fresh, grounded lens. Whether you’re seeking validation for a less structured, child-led path or hoping to create a more intentional and organized plan, we can discuss an approach that fits your child’s needs and your family’s lifestyle.

Our time can be systematic and practical—reviewing curriculum options and daily routines—or open-ended and reflective, focusing on your educational philosophy, challenges, or broader next steps. The consultation is shaped by what will be most valuable to you at this moment in your journey.

I’ve been all over the map—literally and figuratively. I’ve taught in public schools, sent my own children to public schools, embraced seasons of unschooling and seasons of more structured homeschooling, taken breaks to learn through travel (worldschooling!), guided my children through milestones in and out of classrooms, and taught both arts and academics to many students, including those with special needs. I’ve been there. And I can meet you where you are.

~Melissa Church

You got this!

Consultation Scheduling and Cost

  • To schedule, use the contact button below.
  • Before we meet, I’ll send you a Google Form to gather information about your homeschooling background and the type of support you’re seeking. I review this carefully so our time together is focused and meaningful, and many parents find that completing the form helps clarify their questions and needs.
  • Costs:
    • First-time consultations $95 for 40-60 minutes
    • Returning families $95 for 40-60 minutes or $65 for 20-35 minutes.
    • Packages designed for families who want consistent support and more flexible, ongoing guidance.
      • Parent Touchpoints $255: Three 60-minute sessions – Pre-year planning, mid-year check-in, and end-year debrief.
      • Monthly Full-Family Package: $680 for up to eight 60-minute sessions per year that can be used for parent consultations, whole-family conversations, or individual student support.

PA Homeschool Evaluations

Pennsylvania law requires homeschooled students to receive an annual evaluation conducted by a qualified evaluator. As a certified teacher with over 26 years of experience across grade levels—including Special Education—I’m qualified to evaluate students in grades 1–12. My virtual evaluations are thorough, supportive, and designed to highlight your child’s growth while ensuring all state requirements are met. Each evaluation includes a portfolio review and completion of the required end-of-year paperwork, which parents submit to their district by June 30.

Families often describe SHL evaluations as encouraging rather than stressful. My goal is to help you see your child’s progress while giving you peace of mind about compliance.

Most of the evaluation meeting is a relaxed, friendly conversation between your child and me—centered on the things they’ve enjoyed learning throughout the year.

Your child’s portfolio can take many forms and should reflect your family’s chosen way of expressing learning through paper or digital media.

The portfolio must include:

*Proof of standardized testing for students in grades 3, 5, and 8 only

*Samples of your child’s learning

*A reading log or list of resources used

*Attendance record showing at least 180 days

Evaluation Scheduling & Cost

  • If your child is enrolled in any SHL programs, the evaluation takes place during program time and the paperwork is emailed to you in June. SHL families simply submit the paperwork to their district by June 30—no additional steps.
  • Evaluations are conducted in June via Zoom and spots are limited! The families I consult with and siblings of current SHL program students are scheduled first.
  • To ensure your spot, please join the School House Lane mailing list, and watch for the February and March newsletters with sign-up details.
  • Costs
    • $45/child for a 20 minute evaluation meeting + required paperwork. Discounts for families with more than 3 students being evaluated in one meeting.
    • $60/child for a narrative evaluation summary based on my observations during the meeting and review of the portfolio. Families like to have this report for their records, to share with extended family, or to use for a future school application.  *You do not need this for the state of PA. 
    • $25 for Special Ed. Objectives Approval Form. For students who previously had an IEP in public school. This form is required, along with your objectives and affidavit, when registering as a homeschooler for the next year. Many families complete this with me during their portfolio evaluation so that all beginning-of-year paperwork is ready to submit by August 1.
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