Home School Evaluation Form – Grade Level – Pt I

The FL certified teacher I chose to do our child’s annual evaluation did not put the grade level on the evaluation sent to the county homeschool office. Is the grade level required to be determined and put on the annual evaluation sent to the county? NO, grade level is NOT required to be determined, NOT even by the county, much less is the homeschool student’s grade level required to be determined by an evaluator, and stated on the annual educational evaluation. Determining the student’s grade level does not really serve any purpose for an annual homeschool evaluation.

One reason grade level is NOT required to be determined, nor stated on the annual evaluation, is that many students progress more than 1 “grade level” in WAY less than 12 months (1 year), and the annual evaluation is just that; an annual evaluation – every 12 months!

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Stating a homeschool student’s grade level on the annual evaluation is NOT required by the Florida Home Education law. The FL State Dept. of Education, Independent Education and Parental Choice (Homeschool) department’s legal advisor told me this directly, and referred me to FL ss. 1002.41 for clarification. He personally told me almost ALL the answers and information seen below in this post.

If a parent wants me to determine their child’s grade level, and include the grade level on the annual evaluation, I will do it, though it is NOT required.

Having said ALL of this, I must say that making sure the county school district personnel are happy is one of our goals. We do not desire to disappoint, nor upset, the County district in any way. If the county personnel insist on filling out forms, and/or including grade levels, subjects studied, etc. AND the parents want to do this, I do it! It is the parent’s choice. It is NOT required by law and the County IS REQUIRED to accept all of the documents we send them if these documents have the information on the document that is required by law. But, getting people upset is never our desire.

The county accepted the annual evaluation that the Florida certified teacher sent which stated that my child has “progressed and is ready to continue instruction at the next level,” and the county sent me a confirmation that the annual evaluation was received, processed, and completed. The county never told us to have this evaluation done again, or change it in any way, but they did tell us to fill out a County evaluation form to include the grade level and subjects studied next year. They also recommended another FL certified teacher to do the evaluation next time, and made it sound like the FL certified teacher we selected this year did something wrong by not filling out the county evaluation form. If this annual evaluation that did NOT include the student’s grade level, and subject areas studied, was accepted by the county, why is the evaluation form with my child’s grade level and subject area required next time? IT IS NOT REQUIRED EVER!

The county accepted the annual evaluation stating that the child has “progressed commensurate to their ability, and is ready to continue instruction at the NEXT level” because that is exactly what IS required to be determined, and is all that is required to be stated on the annual evaluation, by FL Home Education law.

If the parent wants me to do a standardized, national norm referenced test with their child I certainly will do it, though it is NOT required. I do many tests with homeschool students, but most of the time the scores are kept by the parents for student records, not sent to the county for the evaluation.

If the parent wants to send the standardized, national norm referenced test scores to the county homeschool office for the annual evaluation required, I will certainly sign the test results with my FL State Dept. of Education certificate number and expiration date, and even send the test scores to the county personally, though it is NOT required, and this is almost never done by parents. When I do tests with homeschool students I include the portfolio review, which almost all the parents ask me to attach to an email and send to the county homeschool office.

If a parent wants me to fill out a county form for the annual evaluation that is exactly what I do, though it is NOT required. It is completely the parent’s choice and I serve the parents.

Call, or email me and I will be happy to give you the direct contact information for the FL State Dept. of Education, Independent Education and Parental Choice (Homeschool) office. CCTucker7@Gmail.com 786-525-3545 cell

The county expects homeschool parents to follow the laws and comply with the FL home education statutes, and we do follow the Florida state statutes for Home Education. We expect the county to FOLLOW the FL home education laws also!!

Having said ALL of this, I must say that making sure the county school district personnel are happy is one of our goals. We do not desire to disappoint, nor upset, the county district in any way. If the county personnel insist on filling out forms, and/or including grade levels, subjects studied, etc. AND the parents want to do this, I do it! It is the parent’s choice. It is NOT required by law and the county IS REQUIRED to accept all of the documents we send them if these documents have the information on the document that is required by law. But, getting people upset is never our desire.

1002.41 Home education programs.—
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(c) The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the student’s demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with her or his ability. The parent shall select the method of evaluation and shall file a copy of the evaluation annually with the district school superintendent’s office in the county in which the student resides. The annual educational evaluation shall consist of ONE of the following:

1. A teacher selected by the parent shall evaluate the student’s educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the student. Such teacher shall hold a valid regular Florida certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level;
2. The student shall take any nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher;
3. The student shall take a state student assessment test used by the school district and administered by a certified teacher, at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district;
4. The student shall be evaluated by an individual holding a valid, active license pursuant to the provisions of s. 490.003(7) or (8); or
5. The student shall be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the district school superintendent of the district in which the student resides and the student’s parent.
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I do Annual Educational Evaluations & Standardized Testing for homeschool students quickly and economically ($25). I am a Florida State Dept. of Education certified teacher (exp. date: 6/30/2016) & I am a homeschooling parent (14yrs). For True & simple answers about homeschooling in Florida (like-TEST NOT REQUIRED), email me, or call me anytime: CCTucker7@Gmail.com OR call my cell # 786-525-3545 – Charles C. Tucker

Florida State Education statutes:

http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2010/1002.41