Requirements For Homeschooling In Florida – 3rd Edition

What are the requirements for homeschooling in Florida?

Yes, you may have read this post already. And NO, this is not just a copy of the previous post. You will see some of that post below with some excellent information on requirements just in case you did not read that other post on requirements, but there is sooooo much that seems to be questioned and so much misinformation out there, especially by “teacher/evaluators.”

I have gotten all this information personally from the FL State Dept. of Education, Independent Education & Parental Choice office legal professionals in Tallassee, FL, first hand. There is NO speculation nor hearsay here, no brilliant deductions by a self proclaimed, genius, professional educator/teacher, and no “logical reasoning” from reading the FL home education laws over and over. Of course I have done all the previous research, though I am not a genius. AND most of all, I have spoken with the legal personnel at the Florida Dept. of Education – FL School Choice office – about all of these questions and issues, and the FL state dept. of education, Independent Education & Parental Choice legal professionals are who I have I gotten the following answers and information from directly.

First, I really think you will enjoy this news article and 5 minute video about a homeschooling family. You may have seen it:

CLICK>> http://www.today.com/news/meet-family-who-sent-six-kids-college-age-12-1C9316706

The following FACTS are not written in any sort of order of particular importance except this first, # 1 item:

1. There are ONLY 3 types of schools in the state of Florida, according to FL education statutes; home education, private and public schools. When you send the Letter of Intent to home school for your child to the county the child is given a FL state student ID # that identifies the child as a home educating school student – home school. It is VERY IMPORTANT to send the Letter of Intent, ESPECIALLY when signing up for an on line program like Florida Virtual School, Connections Academy, K-12, etc., VERY IMPORTANT “game changer!”

2. The “log of educational activities that is made contemporaneously with the instruction and that designates by title any reading materials used” does NOT have to be seen by the evaluator. Think, please; does the log, a LIST of TITLES of books and materials, show progress? And besides the statute goes on to say: the portfolio “shall be made available for inspection by the district school superintendent, or the district school superintendent’s agent,” and that is who the “log” is maintained for and MAY be requested to be viewed by, the county homeschool personnel. YES, the “log” is obviously part of the portfolio, without a doubt, BUT according to the State Dept. of Education personnel the evaluator is to “review samples of the student’s work, samples from the portfolio, and determine if the student is progressing or not. PERIOD!

3. Standardized testing is NOT required to be taken by homeschool students, even if the homeschool student is signed up and participating in Florida Virtual School, Connections Academy or K-12, or any program on line or not. The FL law clearly describes the choices of evaluations for homeschooling students and the standardized tests OR a national norm referenced test are ONLY 2 of the 5 choices. NO test is required for home schooling students. Most parents choose the portfolio review by a FL certified teacher for the annual educational evaluation required for homeschooling students.

I do Annual Educational Evaluations & Standardized Testing for homeschool students quickly and economically. I am a Florida State Department of Education certified teacher & I am a homeschooling parent. For True & simple answers about homeschooling in Florida, email me, or call me anytime: CCTucker7@Gmail.com OR text/call my cell (786)525-3545 – C. Curtis Tucker

4. The Sunshine State Standards DO NOT apply to home school students at all, in any way. Home school students have NO requirements on subject area and/or time limits or requirements in reference to subject area or academic content with in the curriculum the parents choose to have their children follow.

5. The evaluation is due and required to be sent to the county school board home school office representative that the home school student resides in, on, or before the date that the Letter of Intent was confirmed by the home school office. This is simply an annual requirement (every 12 months) Not when a “grade level is completed, etc. FLVS seems to have some different practices on advancing students to the next level, though, by law an annual educational evaluation is only due every 12 months for the homeschooling student.

6. To do the Required Annual Evaluation, the home school student does NOT have to be “finished” with anything in particular, such as the “book,” the “workbook,” curriculum, grade level, course work of any kind, etc. The Annual Evaluation is exactly that, due on, or before that date every 12 months, annually.

7. The student can move along to what ever work/curriculum that the parent desires according to the student’s progress and the parents’ decision. If the student finishes the grade level course work in 6 months the student can move ahead with the next level, NO evaluation, or test is required to move the student along. NO TEST is ever required, for that matter. The evaluation is to be done and sent to the county office every 12 months, annually.

I do Annual Educational Evaluations & Standardized Testing for homeschool students quickly and economically. I am a Florida state dept. of education certified teacher & I am a homeschooling parent. For True & simple answers about homeschooling in Florida, email me, or call me anytime: CCTucker7@Gmail.com OR text/call my cell (786)525-3545 – C. Curtis Tucker

What are the requirements for home schooling in Florida? This is a conversation that I have with many, many parents that are just coming to the state of Florida and/or parents that are determined to get the truth about home education because we are fed up with the garbage in the schools.

There are many reasons that parents are fed up and done with the garbage i the schools, and are determined to get the truth about homeschooling their children. Many of us could speak for an hour or more of the bad situations that we have discovered, and experienced in our children’s classrooms, schools and county board meetings. I am going to skip that conversation in this post.

1. Letter of Intent sent to the county school board.
2. Keep samples of student’s work for 2 years.
3. Keep a Reading/Activity Log of what the student reads/studies.
4. Have an Annual Evaluation done for your child/student.
5. Letter of Termination sent to the county when finished.

That’s the long story short.

First, inform your county school district office that you will be homeschooling your child. This is done with a Letter of Intent.

Get the county homeschooling office contact person’s email address and email the Letter of Intent to them. This letter simply states your child’s name, date of birth and address, and your name, and that you will be homeschooling the named child from this date forward. It is supposed to have your signature.
Write it, or print it on paper and send it registered mail to the county school board. Take it in person and get a receipt. Any or all of the above described methods of sending the Letter of Intent are good.

The Letter of Intent must be sent to the county school board office within 30 days of the homeschool child’s 6th birthday or within 30 of taking them out of school. If you are taking your child out of a school, I recommend sending the Letter of Intent immediately, even before taking them out of the school so there are no issues what-so-ever!

This begins your child’s REAL school career, homeschool. Once again, I recommend informing the school, if your child was in school of course, that your child is now registered in a homeschooling program and will not be returning to school. They may say you must withdraw your child. I do not think that would required at this point in time but I would go to the school and sign withdrawal papers just to avoid problems of any kind. There is no need to discuss anything about it. Just withdraw them.

The following link is to the portion of the Florida state statute that describes simply the requirements of homeschooling in Florida:

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

What subjects you are going to focus on with your child, and what materials you will use (curriculum)is a huge, and can be a “scary” question and decision.You probably already know of these organizations, though just in case, the following are a couple of good websites to browse and even to join their organizations if you like:

http://www.fpea.com/

http://www.hslda.org/

The following have information, no joining, all free info:

https://homeschool-evaluations.com

https://homeschool-evaluations.com/blog

Below I have pasted in the portion of the the statute that states the requirements for home education in FL. I have bolded some key points. At the bottom of this email is a link to all the FL statutes on home education .

If I may help with anything at anytime please let me know. It is my pleasure to be able to help.

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1002.41 Home education programs.—
(1) A “home education program” is defined in s. 1002.01. The parent is not required to hold a valid regular Florida teaching certificate.

(a) The parent shall notify the district school superintendent of the county in which the parent resides of her or his intent to establish and maintain a home education program. The notice shall be in writing, signed by the parent, and shall include the names, addresses, and birthdates of all children who shall be enrolled as students in the home education program. The notice shall be filed in the district school superintendent’s office within 30 days of the establishment of the home education program. A written notice of termination of the home education program shall be filed in the district school superintendent’s office within 30 days after said termination.

(b) The parent shall maintain a portfolio of records and materials. The portfolio shall consist of the following:

1. A log of educational activities that is made contemporaneously with the instruction and that designates by title any reading materials used.
2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student.

The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent for 2 years and shall be made available for inspection by the district school superintendent, or the district school superintendent’s agent, upon 15 days’ written notice. Nothing in this section shall require the district school superintendent to inspect the portfolio.
(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;
or
2. The student shall take any nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher;
or
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;
or
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.

(2) The district school superintendent shall review and accept the results of the annual educational evaluation of the student in a home education program. If the student does not demonstrate educational progress at a level commensurate with her or his ability, the district school superintendent shall notify the parent, in writing, that such progress has not been achieved. The parent shall have 1 year from the date of receipt of the written notification to provide remedial instruction to the student. At the end of the 1-year probationary period, the student shall be reevaluated as specified in paragraph (1)(c). Continuation in a home education program shall be contingent upon the student demonstrating educational progress commensurate with her or his ability at the end of the probationary period.

(3) A home education program shall be excluded from meeting the requirements of a school day.

(4) Home education students may participate in interscholastic extracurricular student activities in accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.15.

(5) Home education students may participate in the Bright Futures Scholarship Program in accordance with the provisions of ss. 1009.53-1009.539.

(6) Home education students may participate in dual enrollment programs in accordance with the provisions of ss. 1007.27(4) and 1007.271(10).
(7) Home education students are eligible for admission to community colleges in accordance
with the provisions of s. 1007.263.
(8) Home education students are eligible for admission to state universities in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the Board of Governors.
(9) Home education program students may receive testing and evaluation services at diagnostic a
nd resource centers, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.03.

History.–s. 106, ch. 2002-387; s. 82, ch. 2007-217.1002.41 Home education programs.–

Here is a link to the complete FL statutes for home education:

http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2010/Chapter1002