Florida
Homeschooling in Florida
The summaries below describe three different approaches, or alternative ways, the state of Florida offers homeschooling families to meet state compulsory education requirements. Additional and more extensive help can be found within our e-book: Florida Homeschooling Legal Workbook: Your Guide to Coompliance - Facts & Forms, prepared by HomeSchoolLegal.com.
Approach 1 |
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| Approach: | Establish a homeschool |
| Restrictions: | Teacher certification not required |
| Reporting: | File notice of intent with the local superintendent within 30 days of beginning the home education program including the name(s) of students, birthdate(s), address and parent’s signature |
| Recordkeeping: | Maintain a portfolio of records and materials which should be preserved for two years and which shall be available for inspection by the superintendent upon 15 days written notice. Submit a letter of termination to the school district superintendent upon completion of the home education program or enrollment in school or moving from the district within 30 days of such event. |
| Requirements: | Subjects not specified |
| Testing: | Testing is required. Provide an annual evaluation consisting of one of the following: (1) evaluation by a Florida certified teacher, (2) taking a nationally-normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher, (3) taking a state student assessment test approved by the school district, (4) be evaluated by a licensed psychologist, or (5) be evaluated by any other measurement which is mutually agreed upon by parent and superintendent. |
| Compulsory Attendance: | Applies to children who turn 6 by February 1, but who have not turned 16 by that time. |
| Source of Law: | Florida Statutes Annotated, Title XLVIII, chapters 1000-1013 |
| NOTE: | This is not intended to be legal advice and is offered only as an educational service for visitors to www.Home-School-Inc.com and www.HomeSchoolLegal.com. It is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Requirements may change at any time, and interpretations of the law and regulations can differ. Consult a legal services provider and a local homeschooling support group for more specific information. |
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Approach 2 |
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| Approach: | Operate (or qualify) as part of a private school corporation, consisting of a legally incorporated group of homeschool families |
| Restrictions: | Teacher certification not required |
| Reporting: | None specified |
| Recordkeeping: | None specified |
| Requirements: | None |
| Testing: | Not required |
| Compulsory Attendance: | Applies to children who turn 6 by February 1st but have not turned 16 by that time. |
| Source of Law: | Florida Statutes Annotated, Title XLVIII, chapters 1000-1013 |
| NOTE: | This is not intended to be legal advice and is offered only as an educational service for visitors to www.Home-School-Inc.com and www.HomeSchoolLegal.com. It is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Requirements may change at any time, and interpretations of the law and regulations can differ. Consult a legal services provider and a local homeschooling support group for more specific information. |
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Approach 3 |
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| Approach: | Engage a private tutor |
| Restrictions: | Tutor must have a Florida teaching certificate to teach the subjects and grades in which instruction is given. |
| Reporting: | Keep reports of enrollment and attendance which shall be open for inspection. |
| Recordkeeping: | See above |
| Requirements: | Subjects not specified. Attend for 180 days per year. |
| Testing: | Not required |
| Compulsory Attendance: | Applies to children who turn 6 by February 1st but have not turned 16 by that time. |
| Source of Law: | Florida Statutes Annotated, Title XLVIII, chapters 1000-1013 |
| NOTE: | This is not intended to be legal advice and is offered only as an educational service for visitors to www.Home-School-Inc.com and www.HomeSchoolLegal.com. It is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Requirements may change at any time, and interpretations of the law and regulations can differ. Consult a legal services provider and a local homeschooling support group for more specific information. |
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